Fossil Field Trip Lab

2022

 

 

 

     Indiana limestone formed millions of years ago when much of Indiana was covered by a warm, shallow sea. In this ancient sea, calcium-rich marine organisms such as coral thrived.  When these organisms died, the left behind their hard body parts and, after millions of years, the remains accumulated forming a very thick layer on the sea floor.  In succeeding millennia this calcium carbonate layer was buried, compacted, and transformed into limestone.  Fortunately, parts of many organisms that lived in the sea during the Late Ordovician Period of the Early Paleozoic Era (544-419 my)*, such as Corals, Brachiopods, Bryozoa, Echinoderms, Mollusks, and Arthropods, have been preserved as fossils within this limestone; such as around the Richmond area.

* Paleozoic Era (Early and Late) stretched from 544-240 my

Procedure:

Having collected and cleaned your fossils as directed, answer the following questions with the best response.  Use resources provided to help answer the questions and identifying your fossils.

Short Answer: 2 points each

 

1. Name the approximate location where your fossils were found:

 

2. What Period “and” Era do most of your fossils belong??

 

3. Approximately how old are your fossils?

 

4. The fossils were created with the help of what chemical that made up their hard parts (ie shells)?

 

5. What can the fossils tell you about the “area” at the time the fossils lived?

 

Drawing: 5 points possible  

 

Choose only one of your best fossils

 

- Draw the fossil in the space provide

- Describe any fossil characteristics

   -shape, size, color, texture, etc….   

 

Table: 10 points total

 

Approximately, how many of each do you have that fall under the following Phylum/Class(es): Include those in your “slab” as well; however, if you have more than 10; then write 10+

 

Mollusks Gastropods, Clams/Oysters, Cephalopods

Echinoderms Blastoids w/ or     w/o Crinoids

Brachiopods

Bryozoans      Coral

Arthropods    Trilobites,  Invertebrates

Cnidarians  Horn Corals

 

                                                                     (numbers in each box)

 

Porifera Sponges	Worms	Fish	Plants         Ferns	Trace     Tracks,     Burrows	Unknowns

                                                                     (numbers in each box)