Gaps are created when an organism is killed during the formation of igneous rock, which then given the assignment as an “index fossil”.
Organisms that die and are not quickly buried in sediment will eventually become fossils after millions of years.
Fossilization is a rare phenomenon because an organism’s remains must be cover by sediment and stay undisturbed for thousands of years.
As metamorphic rock is changed into sedimentary rock, fossilized organisms are destroyed typically through weathering.
1 answer
The most accurate partial explanation for "gaps" in the fossil record is:
Fossilization is a rare phenomenon because an organism’s remains must be covered by sediment and stay undisturbed for thousands of years.
This statement addresses the rarity of fossilization and explains why certain organisms may not be represented in the fossil record, leading to gaps. Fossilization requires specific conditions to occur, and many organisms do not survive long enough to be buried and preserved.
