Trace Fossils

Definition

• Trace Fossils: Impressions left by organisms as they move.
  • Example: Footprints left in sediment.

Formation Process

• Initial Impression: Organism travels across soft sediment, leaving a footprint.
• Preservation: The footprint remains if:
  • The sediment hardens into rock before erosion.
  • Softer sediment covers it without damaging the print.

Key Points

• Trace fossils are not the remains of the organism itself but the activity it left behind.
• Conditions for formation are critical for preservation.