These are fossils, living organisms (plants and animals) which have been preserved by turning into rock. Not many plants and animals are lucky enough be turned into fossils, Fossilization happens when the organism dies, the conditions are just right and the remains are buried quickly. Some can be millions of years old and give us insight to extinct ancient creatures and worlds. Out of the 3 rock types, fossils are found most commonly in sedimentary rock as the conditions it forms do not destroy the remains”
Fossils on display:
(See last pages of this book to see pictures of what the fossils would have look like alive.)
- Trilobite 540 520 million years old million years old
- Trilobites were arthropods beetles that lived in shallow seas millions of years
ago. This one is 540-520 million years old!
- Can you see its legs?
- Ammonite. 240 million years old inside.
- Ammonites lived under the sea; they were shells with squid like animals this one is 240 million years old and formed crystals during the fossilization.
- Can you see the crystals in the internal chambers?
- Endocerus 451 million years old
- Endocerus were shelled creatures long and thin with tentacles coming out of the
end. This fossil sample is 451 million years old and shows many grouped together in the same layer.