clay

fossils

igneous rocks

silt

catastrophism

uniformitarianism

catastrophism

uniformitarianism

An organisms is rapidly buried. The sediments and minerals replace the tissues.

An organism is buried slowly. Only bones can become fossils

the impression left by an organism

a copy of the organism, like a statue

the impression in a rock left by the organism

a copy of the organisms made of sediment

yes

no

biologists

specialologists

paleontologists

scientologists

They're really cool.

They are evidence of ancient environments.

They can show how sea level rise could happen.

We can't learn anything by studying fossils.

carbon film

mineral replacement

cast fossil

trace fossil

relationships between past organisms and current organisms

past organisms only

current organisms only