Question

7. What is an index fossil? What do index fossils reveal about other material found with
them?

Answer 1

Index fossils are easily recognizable fossils that provide an indication of the age of rocks. They can also reveal information about the other material found with them.

Step-by-step explanation:

An index fossil is a type of fossil that is used for dating and correlating rock strata. These fossils are easily recognizable, abundant, existed for a short period of time, and had a wide geographic distribution. When an index fossil is found in a rock, it provides an indication of the rock's age. For example, if a belemnite fossil is found in a rock, it can be inferred that the rock is from the Mesozoic era. Index fossils can also reveal information about the other material found with them. For instance, if a rock also contains index fossils of a different species, it suggests that the rock is from the same geological time period.

Answer 2

Index fossils are fossils that are widespread but only existed for a short period of time. Index fossils help scientists to find the relative age of a rock layer and match it up with other rock layers. Living fossils are organisms that haven't changed much in millions of years and are still alive today.