Explain how fossils, and especially microfossils, can be used to help determine ancient

depositional environments. What will be an ideal response?


Marine versus terrestrial organisms are relatively easy to distinguish, based on a comparison with
their living counterparts. Geologists must determine, though, whether the organism lived where
they were buried or whether their remains were transported there. Microfossils are particularly
useful, because many specimens can be recovered from small samples.
Strong invertebrate shells usually indicate a high energy environment, such as the intertidal zone;
fragile fossils indicate low-energy environment. Coral reefs indicate warm, shallow marine
environments. Marine microfossils are particularly important because so many can be retrieved
in a single core sample.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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An equivalent map projection preserves true shape

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Ice and snow must be present for an avalanche to occur

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Deposits made directly by a glacier consist of

a. clay. d. silt. b. well-sorted sediment. e. poorly sorted sediments. c. sand.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following statements describes the path of polar orbiting satellites?

A. They orient to an area west of the previous orbit on each orbit. B. They follow a line of constant latitude around the earth. C. They remain above a fixed point over the north or south pole. D. They pass directly over the same place on each successive orbit.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences