Fossil field trip
Assignment 5 – Fossil field trip
As outlined in the Unit 9 Notes, the final assignment in this course is to search for fossils in your region. You are expected to write a short report describing where you went, what type and age of rocks you found there and what they look like, what types of fossils you expected to find there, what you did find (if anything), and what you discovered about the depositional environment and/or climate in which the rocks were deposited.
Your report should include the following sections:
Introduction (15 marks)
Provide some background information on the fossil site that you have chosen to visit, including how you found out about it, and a summary of what has been written (or what others have told you) about the site and what types of fossils have been found there.
Location (10 marks)
Provide a description of the location and how to get there. Include a map that would allow someone else to find their way to the location. Provide information on when you went and who went with you.
Geology (25 marks)
Provide a brief description of the geology of the area you visited. Include the Group or Formation name if you can find it, and the age and the types of rock, plus photos of the exposed rocks of the area, both from a distance and close up. Describe the characteristics of the rock that has (or was expected to have) fossils in it.
Fossils (20 marks)
Include a description of what you found, or if you didn’t find anything, a description of what you expected to find, or what has been found by others at the location you visited. If you found fossils take some photos with as much detail as possible. If it is allowed, collect some fossil samples.
Depositional environment (25 marks)
Describe the type of environment that you think the rock was deposited in, based on the characteristics that you observed, the fossils that you found (or hoped to find), and on any references that you can find describing the geology of the area.
References (5 marks)
Provide references for any material that you looked up, and acknowledge any help that you received from individuals or paleontological organizations.
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