Fossils are the remains of creatures which existed long ago. Fossils range from thousands of years to many millions of years in age. The earliest fossils date from around 600 million years ago, however recent reports suggest bacteria may have existed up to 3 billion years earlier. To put this in context, the dinosaurs became extinct just 65 million years ago.
Not all former life was preserved as fossils, in fact the vast majority simply vanished without trace. The most likely materials to survive fossilisation are the hard parts such as shells and objects which in life were constructed from resistant materials, such as Coral. In order for softer materials to survive, the conditions must be extremely favourable.
Fossils come in a variety of sizes, from minute traces to large skeletons. Trace fossils are clues to former life, they result from the activities or presence of creatures and plants. Examples of these traces include footprints, burrows and root tunnels. At the larger end of the scale, fossils also include bones, the largest of which belong to the dinosaurs, which existed between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods.
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2007-04-23 02:56:08
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answer #1
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answered by prthyu 3
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Fossils are the mineralized remains of animals or plants or other traces such as footprints. The totality of fossils and their placement in rock formations and sedimentary layers (strata) is known as the fossil record. The study of fossils is called paleontology.
2007-04-23 01:27:45
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answer #2
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answered by Rohan K 1
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Fossils are those annoying little facts that can't be explained by any of the Biblical (so called "theories") explanations of creation.
2007-04-23 16:53:13
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answer #3
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answered by Amphibolite 7
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fossils r the remains of living beings
2007-04-23 01:14:18
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answer #4
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answered by sweety 2
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Fossils are remains. It also an evidence for evolution.
2007-04-23 02:46:49
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answer #5
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answered by princess 2
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Fossils are apparantly what remains when mineral substances take the place of organic remains or of footprints or other impressions that keep their shape after hardening.
2007-04-23 01:25:28
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answer #6
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answered by william a 6
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