resource sheet geology identifying fossils
TRANSCRIPT
Based on Davis and Eves (1988)
RESOURCE SHEET Geology Identifying fossils Key for Identification of Common Fossil Organisms
1 Displays radial or imperfect-radial symmetry go to 2
Displays bilateral symmetry in at least one plane go to 6
Displays no apparent symmetry go to 13
2 Tapering; cylindrical; cigar- or cone-shaped go to 3
Composed of segments or plates; may or may not taper go to 4
3 Smooth, cigar-shaped; radiating calcite needles in cross-section = MOLLUSCA (Cephalopods)
Poorly developed radial symmetry; tapering; irregular horn or cone-shape; several may grow together as
a colony = CNIDARIA (Corals)
Small (1-5mm); football-shaped = PROTISTA (Forams)
4 Tapering; stacked circular segments = MOLLUSCA (Cephalopods)
Non-tapering; stacked discs or plates; discs may have small protrusions; may have hole in centre of
discs = ECHINODERMATA (Crinoid Stems)
Composed of interlocking segments or plates go to 5
5 Rosebud-shaped = ECHINODERM (Blastoids)
Cup- or flower-shaped; cup may have many branching appendages (arms); may be attached to crinoid
stem = ECHINODERMATA (Crinoids)
6 Coiled forms, snail-like go to 7
Non-coiled forms go to 8
7 Coiled in plane of bilateral symmetry; may show internal walls or partitions = MOLLUSCA (Cephalopods)
Perfect to irregular coil perpendicular to plane of symmetry; may show internal walls or partitions; snail
like = MOLLUSCA (Gastropods)
8 Shell halves equal or nearly equal in shape and size go to 9
Shell halves unequal in size and shape go to 10
Circular- to heart-shaped; flattened disc or domed go to 10
Tapering, cone, tusk, or horn shaped go to 11
Body segmented into distinct head, thorax (body), and tail regions go to 12
Leaf- or fern-like; commonly found on bedding surfaces of mud/siltstones = LEAF FOSSIL
9 Plane of symmetry parallel to shell half = MOLLUSCA (Bivalves)
Plane of symmetry perpendicular to shell, as well as parallel to shell half = MOLLUSCA (Bivalves)
10 Shell halves unequal in size and shape; larger shell half often shows a prominent beak with strong ridge;
smaller half often has a prominent depression = BRACHIOPODA (Brachs)
Circular- to heart-shaped; flattened disc or domed; star pattern on upper surface; like a sand dollar
= ECHINODERMATA (Echinoids)
11 Cone- or horn-shaped (may be irregular); transverse walls or partitions (like spokes on a wheel)
= CNIDARIA (Corals)
Tusk-shaped; smooth or ribbed external surface; opening at both ends; no internal walls or partitions
= MOLLUSCA (Scaphapods)
12 Bug-like; divided into three body lobes; may have appendages; often only semi-circular head and tail
regions are preserved = ARTHROPODA (Trilobites)
Appendages often very distinct; resembles crab, shrimp, or crayfish = ARTHROPODA (Crustaceans)
13 May show coiling, but without internal transverse walls or partitions go to 14
Not coiled go to 15
Based on Davis and Eves (1988)
14 Coiled like a horn; low spired; opening of shell very large; ribbed surface (may be concentric); two mirror
image shells may be present = MOLLUSCA (Bivalves)
Tightly coiled; most are high spired; looks like a snail = MOLLUSCA (Gastropods)
Solid spiral ridge around a central axis; resembles a corkscrew = BRYOZOA (Ramose Bryozoa)
15 Resembles a narrow saw blade; straight or curved; may be joined like branching leaves go to 16
Irregular cone-shaped; longitudinal and radial walls or partitions go to 16
Composed of radiating mass of polygonal or circular tubes go to 16
Resembles a clam or oyster shell; shell not symmetrical go to 17
Cup-shaped; branching arms; flower-like; may have attached stem go to 17
Lace-like; usually thin sheets go to 17
Branching, twig-like go to 18
Resembles woody material; commonly replaced by quartz; wide variety of colours = PETRIFIED WOOD
16 Resembles a narrow saw blade; straight or curved; may be joined like branching leaves; commonly
appears as carbon film on flat surfaces of shales and slates = HEMICHORDATA (Graptolites)
Irregular cone-shaped; longitudinal and radial walls or partitions = CNIDARIA (Corals)
Composed of radiating mass of polygonal or circular tubes containing radial walls or partitions
= CNIDARIA (Colonial Corals)
17 Resembles a clam or oyster shell; shell not symmetrical = MOLLUSCA (Bivalves)
Cup-shaped; branching arms; flower-like; may have attached stem = ECHINODERMATA (Crinoids)
Lace-like; usually thin sheets = BRYOZOA (Fenestrae Bryozoa)
18 Covered with minute pores or openings = BRYOZOA (Ramose Bryozoa)
Evenly distributed 1-4mm openings or pores; radial partitions in openings = CNIDARIA (Corals)
Radial symmetry
Bilateral symmetry
No apparent symmetry
A Level GeologyWinstanley College For years 10 and 11
Introduction: our island in space
When you gaze out toward the horizon from a mountaintop the Earth seems endless, and before the modern era, many people thought it was. But toastronauts flying to the moon, the Earth looks like a small, shining globe – they can see half the planet from a single glance. From the astronauts’ perspective, we are all living on an island in space. Earth may not be endless, but it is a very special planet: its temperature and composition, unlike those of other planets in the Solar System, make it habitable.
The processes that have created and allowed life to flourish are all wrapped up in Geology. It is very easy to forget Geology but it is all around; it is our buildings and monuments, our landscapes and our home.
What will we be doing?
In this booklet we will look at:
• What is Geology?
• Fossil focus
• Climate change
• Careers
Activities are located throughout
What is geology?
What is geology?
Rocks & Minerals
Rocks & Minerals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsIebVCr0zk
What is geology?
Past Life
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-become-a-palaeontologist.html
What is geology?
Climate Change
What is geology?
Geohazards
https://www.geologieportal.ch/en/themes/geological-hazards.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M07a2_KiDLI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ThCibkHQw
What is geology?
Engineering
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geology-Career-Pathways/Careers/Job-Sectors/Engineering-Geology-Sector
Fossil Focus
Here we will look at the classification of life and how we can interpret past life
What are fossils?
Fossil Focus
• Remains of once living organisms
• >10,000 years old
• Undergone the process of fossilisation
Fossil Focus
For hundreds of years before the 18th century, central and western Europeans had been digging up strange-looking bones along lakebeds and riverbanks. What made the spectacular skeleton of the marine reptile Mosasaurus important was that it was the first fossil to be positively identified (by the naturalist Georges Cuvier) as belonging to an extinct species. From this point on, scientists realized they were dealing with creatures that lived, and died, millions of years before humans had evenappeared on Earth. Mosasaurus was later used to suggest continental drift which later was integrated with other evidence towards plate tectonics…
Fossil Focus
Baby Mammoth (40 Ka), Russian Arctic
Small lizard preserved in amber, Dominican Republic
Ant preserved in amber, Dominican Republic
Fossil Focus
Grypania spiralis ~1.3 Ga
Fossil bacteria
Early eukaryote?
Fossil Focus
Pikaia, an early chordate
Fossil Focus
A marine reptile (Ichthyosaur)- do you notice anything strange?
Fossil Focus
A marine reptile (Ichthyosaur) it is seemingly giving birth to life young,so not all reptiles laid eggs…
Fossil Focus
The oldest queue?
Fossil Focus: classification
Life is classified based primarily on anatomical features (this is called morphology)
• Over the next few slides you will describe and identify the group of fossil based on what you can observe
• the fossil identification guide to note the key features andidentify the fossil
• This helps to build important observation and recording skills
Fossil activity
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 1
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 2
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 3
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil (note the symmetry
between the valves)
Fossil 4
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 5
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 6
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 7
Fossil Focus: classification
Use the fossil identification
guide to note the key
features and identify the
fossil
Fossil 8
Fossil Focus: classificationHow did you get on?
FOSSIL 1: leafFOSSIL 2: Arthropoda (trilobite)- like a crabFOSSIL 3: Mollusca (gastropod)- a type of snailFOSSIL 4: Mollusca (bivalve)FOSSIL 5: Cnidaria (coral)FOSSIL 6: foraminiferaFOSSIL 7: Echinodermata (Echinoids) – sea urchinFOSSIL 8: petrified wood
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeHow fossils lived
We can also look at the features on fossils to identify
how they lived (we call this mode of life)
We will focus on the mode of life of the fossil group:
trilobites
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeHow fossils lived
DOMAIN EukaryaKINGDOM AnimaliaPHYLUM ArthropodaCLASS TrilobitaORDERFAMILYGENUSSPECIES
Trilobites are an extinct group of marine invertebrates and were similar to crabs
Segments
head
tail
eyeaxis
Fossil Focus: mode of life
Trilobites were very diverse having many different forms, with
different modes of life (more than 22,000 species are known)
Fossil Focus: mode of life
There are several different modes of life for trilobites. This is how we
describe mode of life
Benthonic= on or in the sea floor
Walking on sediment or burrowing
Pelagic= in the water column
Actively swimming or floating
HOW WOULD YOU
RECOGNISE THESE?
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeRecognising mode of life
Benthonic= on or in the sea floor
Walking on sediment- lots of
segments, eyes on side of head,
may contain spines
Burrowing- typically no spines, very
big central region (axis), thin, eyes
small on side or head or on long
stalks, lots of segments, streamline
Pelagic= in the water column
Actively swimming- eyes facing forward or
down, may contain spines, lots of segments
for swimming, thin, may contain gaps
between segments, large convex head
Floating- few segments, no eyes, head and
tail look very similar
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil activity 2Identify the mode of life on the next slides, note down important
features
Benthonic= on or in the sea floor
Walking on sediment or burrowing
Pelagic= in the water column
Actively swimming or floating
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 1
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 2
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 3
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 4
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 5
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeFossil 6
Fossil Focus: mode of lifeHow did you get on?
FOSSIL 1: Benthonic, burrowerFOSSIL 2: Pelagic, active swimmerFOSSIL 3: Pelagic, floatingFOSSIL 4: Benthonic, walking on seafloorFOSSIL 5: Pelagic, active swimmerFOSSIL 6: Benthonic, burrower
Fossil Focus: ecosystems
Based on what you have done we can identify fossils in rocks, determine there mode of life. Some fossils also can tell us the environment to which they lived.
All of these can be used to show fossil assemblages though time and how they respond to changing conditions, such as climate change
Climate Change
Today, climate change represents a great challenge. In the past climate has changed many times resulting in warming or cooling.
Rapid climate change can result in significant changes in the biosphere, sometimes triggering Mass Extinctions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOLbE8frMrM
Around 650 millionyears ago the whole Earth was encased in ice: this is called SNOWBALL EARTH
Watch the video below and note the following• Evidence for it• What caused it• How did the climate warm
ending Snowball Earth• Effects on life
CareersThere are many career options open to you in geology including:
• Engineering• Energy• Climatology• Hydrology• Earth and planetary scientist• Hazards and risk management• Environmental scienceOther careers that geology strongly compliments includes: physical geography, archaeology & ancient history, anthropology, evolutionary biology, marine biology
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/careersTry out the Geological Society's career pathway:
Further reading
Why study geology?
The Earth is around 4.6 billion years old. Geology provides a record of Earth’s history; it’s past climate and life are preserved in the layers of rock like pages in a book. Without the study of geology, we would not know that dinosaurs existed, that continents move or the importance of microorganisms in shaping our planet.
Moreover, geology also plays a central role in managing our resources, civil engineering and managing natural hazards. Geology is not an obvious subject choice for many but due to climate change and our ever dwindling natural resources it has never been more important.
The night sky is ablaze with stars, hundreds of billions in our galaxy alone and many of these are brighter and much larger than our sun. On the scale of galaxies and stars, the planets of our solar system are little more than grains of sand caught momentarily in the light of the sun. But on those motes of dust, for over four billion years, great stories have played out unseen. During the A Level we will look into some of those stories that have shaped the solar system and the habitable world in which we live.
The “pale blue dot”, photographed by Voyager 1 as it heads out of the solar system…The Earth can just be seen as it catches the suns rays.