Earth Science-Geology Question. PLEASE HELP!!!!?

[veronika]

explain how it is possible that a given type of fossil may be found in a rock stratum at one outcrop, but missing from that same layer at another outcrop

[QFL24-7]

Basically, because fossils are not ubiquitous. Some fossils only form in certain places, and sometimes, the environment of deposition was slightly different so the animals did not live in the same place. You are never 100% going to find any fossil, with the main exception being microfossils.

[badabingbob]

This is due to the fact that the fossils deposition was not a gradual process, but a worldwide catastrophic event (Great flood, Noahs flood) that almost every ancient culture makes reference to. Scientists try to date strata by the fossils in some cases, and try to date fossils by the strata in other cases. A lot of circular reasoning and rationalization going on here.

[StandingFirm]

Simple. Think of it similar to a cemetery. If you find one on one side of the road, would you really expect to find one on the other side of the road? Not really, because bones are not spread evenly over the earth.Same thing with fossils -- they represent the remains of dead creatures and they are not spread equally across the ground. They didn't live equally spaced across the land and they didn't die that way. Additionally, things happen to the remains to keep them from being preserved in the rocks. For example, in the ocean currents may sweep an area clean constantly or even occasionally. On the land, floods, stream flow, mudflows, other "critters", etc. may disturb the remains so they are not found where they died or they may accumulate at the bottom of a ravine, etc.