Brain Teasers
Fossils
Fun: (2.68)
Difficulty: (1.4)
Puzzle ID: #27676
Submitted By: metallicman Corrected By: sugarnspice4u7
Submitted By: metallicman Corrected By: sugarnspice4u7
Science
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.Science
Two scientists, Fred and Liz, were working at a dig site to find fossils. They both had just gotten their degrees in Geology and were very excited to start work.
Fred had suspected that Liz wasn't who she said she was, mostly because she messed up terms and almost seemed to lack some basic skills in excavation and classification of fossils. One day Liz was looking at a well-preserved fossil when Fred walked in. He decided to test her and asked, "What kind of rock is that preserved in?" She answered back, "Igneous of course!" He then knew that she didn't have a degree in Geology and told the boss who, of course, fired her. What answer should she have given?
Fred had suspected that Liz wasn't who she said she was, mostly because she messed up terms and almost seemed to lack some basic skills in excavation and classification of fossils. One day Liz was looking at a well-preserved fossil when Fred walked in. He decided to test her and asked, "What kind of rock is that preserved in?" She answered back, "Igneous of course!" He then knew that she didn't have a degree in Geology and told the boss who, of course, fired her. What answer should she have given?
Hint
Think about the three rock typs: Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary.Also think about how well preserved the fossil is.
Answer
The correct answer should have been Sedimentary. During the process of a bone becoming a fossil it is very fragile. During the Igneous rock process the rock must be melted to create a different rock, therefore melting the fossil. Metamorphic may have been a correct answer, but the fossil was well preserved. Very uncommon is a fossil found in metamorphic rock, and if it is it is found in terrible condition because the metamorphic process used heat and pressure which would also destroy the fossil. The only way a fossil can survive in metamorphic rock is if the rock was only just slightly changed, and the fossil would be in terrible condition.Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Cool teaser! I got it right! I remember learning this in year 7.
Great teaser tinman! Makes me want to run out and look for fossils! Can you imagine actually finding a really important one?
Hey, any fossil is important!
I only knew that fossils were usually in sedimentary but I didn't know why the other's were wrong. Fun teaser.
Tinman we are going to have to add professor to the beginning of your name! Fun teaser and very good explanation.
Thi "old fossil" really enjoyed your teaser.
very good, very good. I got it, like, the only teaser here that I actually got.
Great teaser! Informative as well as entertaining!! Nice job!
just out of curiosity, though, couldnt a fossil possibly somehow get into the melted pre-igneous rock, as its cooling, and then it cools around it, thereby preserving it quite well? dunno how farfetched that is....
Good idea, but the rock would be to hot and ruin it.
That is a good idea though. And it made me brainstorm!
That is a good idea though. And it made me brainstorm!
I just studied fossils in science class...I got it right too! Yay me!
Great teaser! Keep 'em coming!
Great teaser! Keep 'em coming!
nice one i liked it now i whant to find a fossil
Nice and easy.
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