FOSSILS

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How Fossils Form; Mini scientist-grade microscopes, Fossil ID books

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Page 2  Misc. Fossils: Manatee (dugong), gator, oreodont, bison, horse, walrus, barracuda, weevil, turtle, deer, fish, whale

Page 3  Misc. Fossils: Porpoise/dolphin, shark, ground sloth, marlin, bonita snout, drum fish, snake, sawfish, rhino, camel, glyptodont, armadillo, tapir, ray, stingray, modern stingray barbs, porcupine fish, seal, llama, ferns, orthoceras, shells

Page 4  AMMONITES from Seven Countries

Page 5  Enchodus Fossil fish teeth, Cephalopod, Starfish, Fossil bugs, Fossil fish

Page 6  Fossil oosiks of seal, walrus; modern oosiks of raccoon, badger, river otter, coyote, fox, pine marten; Ode to an Oosik; Fossil Fox teeth

Page 7  Trilobites & trilobite matrix

Page 8  Petoskey coral

Page 9  Aurora and Ocean Lakes FOSSIL FESTIVALS, and Fossil Identification Photos

Page 10  Virtual Tour of Dinosaur World--Plant City, FL, Dinosaur Photos

Page 11  Virtual Tour of the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park, Colorado

Page 12  Virtual Tour of the Page Museum (La Brea Tar Pit Fossils)

Page 13  Outreach Program-Auburn University Fossil Education 

Page 14  Walking with Dinosaurs - Arena Spectacular - Virtual View

HOW ARE FOSSILS FORMED & FOUND?

1.  An animal dies.  Fossils form best if the carcass is covered quickly with sediment  (water and mud).

2.  The flesh rots away, and the bones are slowly covered with layered sediment.

3.  "Permineralization" occurs if some or all of the original material remains, but has been strengthened by minerals that were dissolved in the water that soaked into the bony structure.

4.  "Petrification" occurs if water that contained minerals soaks into the pores of the bony structure, entirely replacing them with minerals.

5.  Weathering.  Earth movements and/or erosion, cause the fossil to become exposed.

Whatever COLOR of the minerals in the sediment that covers the animal, that is the color the fossil will become!  Here is a chart that will identify the colors of the minerals:

Here's Glenn and Heidi's favorite tip:

BUY A MINI MICROSCOPE, Scientist quality!  45x magnification ultraviolet LED Illuminated pocket microscope with storage case.  UV light can be used for close inspection of: gems, minerals, fossils, tiny shark teeth in jaws, bugs, in short-anything in the natural world you are curious enough to want to see up close.

Requires 3AG7 batteries (included);

#MICRO-1

(26 available)  $10

Another great set!  12 identified specimens with information card on each, including shell, algae, ammonite, crinoids, wood, gastropod and more!  Generous sized specimens are 1" or more.  Geological time scale included.

(NOTE:  Please see the "Zoobooks and books" category for more I.D. books!)

Great  book, 2001 reprint of the "Fossil Vertebrates - Beach and Bank Collecting for Amateurs" book by M.C. Thomas, 72 pages of instructions and black-and-white photos of fossil fragments that can be found in the U.S. A MUST for anyone that has started collecting fossils.(See the Book section for MORE choices!)

Fossil book is full of illustrations and good basic descriptions of invertebrate fossils, vertebrate fossils and plants, along with "what are fossils", "how to collect fossils" and a survey of life era by era.  Pocket size is 6" x 4", 160 pages.  Great for the amateur fossil lover!