Understanding Fossils and Paleontology

• Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past.
• Fossils can preserve hard parts like bones and shells, as well as soft tissues in exceptional conditions.
• The fossil record is a term used to describe the total number of fossils discovered and the information they provide about the history of life on Earth.
• The study of fossils is known as paleontology.
• Fossil record is incomplete due to the selective preservation of organisms and lack of discovery of many fossils.
• The process of fossilisation includes permineralisation, replacement, cast and mould formation, carbonisation and imprintation.

Types of Fossils

• Body fossils: These include parts of organisms, such as bones, teeth, and shells.
• Trace fossils: These include signs of biological activity, such as footprints, burrows and coprolites.
• Chemical fossils: Also called chemofossils, these include biochemical and chemical residues.

Dating Fossils

• Relative dating and absolute/numerical dating are the two methods for dating fossils and rocks.
• Relative dating establishes a sequence of events but does not provide exact dates.
• Absolute dating provides a numerical age using techniques like radiometric dating.
• Radioactive decay, half-life, and radiocarbon dating are key concepts in understanding absolute dating.

Interpreting Fossils

• Fossils provide information about the past climate and environment, known as paleoenvironment.
• Fossils demonstrate evidence of evolution, showing how species have changed over time.
• Index fossils are useful for dating and correlating the age of rocks, being known to have lived over a short time range but have a wide geographical distribution.
• Fossil assemblages can help determine the relative age of rocks.
• Paleontologists use biostratigraphy, the study of the vertical distribution of fossils within rocks, to detect changes over geological time.

Fossils and Geological Resources

• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are biogenic substances formed from the remains of dead plants and animals over millions of years.
• The formation of fossil fuels involves processes of compaction, heat and pressure, and requires specific environmental conditions.
• Coal formation follows a sequence from peat, lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous to anthracite.
• Oil and natural gas are typically found in sedimentary rocks and are associated with source rocks, reservoir rocks, and trap structures.
• Fossil fuels exploration involves methods like seismic surveying, drilling, and geological mapping.
• Overreliance on fossil fuels has environmental impacts, including air pollution and climate change.

Preservation and Conservation

• Fossils are non-renewable resources that need to be proteced for future research and education.
• Fossil sites may be designated as protected areas, or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), to avoid damage and unauthorized collection.
• There is a legal and ethical responsibility for collection and trade of fossils, with some requiring permits or restricted under law.