Download Rock and Fossil Investigation

Analyzing Rock Strata and Fossils Investigation
Name______________________________________
Date_____________________
Directions:
Welcome to the wonderful world of stratigraphy. You are all now certified expert scientists and it is
your job to look at the pictures of the rock layers in the envelope to see what we can learn from the
past. The Layers are lettered and are listed on the left side of the picture. You will be using computers
to research. Use the picture below to:




Research under what conditions do each type of rock form
Look at the fossils that are in each of the layers of rock and determine the climate during the
time they were living
Determine the approximate age of each layer
Put the layers in order from oldest to youngest
Rock Type
Conditions Rocks Form
Sandstone
Shale
Limestone
Dolomite
Name of Organisms
Climate
Approx. Time/Period
Crinoids
Ichthyosaur
Brachiopod
Pelecypod
Foraminifera
Gastropod
Sharks Tooth
Placoderm
Horn Corral
Eurypterid
Graptolite
Trilobite
Ammonite
Once you have the layers in the proper order answer the following questions
1. What do you notice about the organisms when you put them in order from oldest to youngest?
List at least three things
a.
b.
c.