11th

Quarter 2 MODULE 9: GRADE

Geologic Time Scale

 Introduction:

The Time Intervals

• A longer length of time can be divided into a
number of shorter periods of time, all of the same
length.

• Geologic time scale spans Earth’s entire history

and is separated into divisions.
The Geologic Time Scale Divides Earth’s
History.

• Geologic Time Scale is an important tool used to portray the

history of the Earth – a standard timeline used to describe the age
of rocks and fossils, and the events that formed them.

• Geochronologic units divides up the history of the earth based on

life-forms that have existed during specific times since the
creation of the planet.

• Most of these life-forms are found as fossils, which are the

remains or traces of an organism from the geologic past that has
been preserved in sediment or rock.
Divisions of Geologic Time
The geologic time scale is arranged so the oldest time divisions are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Eon:
01 Longest subdivision and the
02 Era:
Next to longest subdivision;
largest unit of time. Earth’s 4.6- marked major changes in the fossil
billion-year history is divided into record.
four eons; based on the
abundance of certain fossils.

03 Period:
Each era is subdivided into a
04 Epoch:
Shortest subdivision; marked by
number of periods; based on differences in life forms and can
types of life existing at the time. vary from continent to continent.
Precambrian Time
• It is the earliest part of Earth's history,

• The Earth was spinning rapidly, and the molten lava was flowing, which took only six hours for a
day to last.

• About 4.5 billion years ago, the planet was hit by an object as huge as Mars. Some of the molten
debris created another sphere moving around the Earth now known as the moon.

• As the Earth started to cool down, rain poured down from the sky for millions of years, creating the
bodies of water. In these bodies of water, abiogenesis took place. Key elements combined together
forming the foundation of all life forms – the DNA. These molecule created the first organism -
Cyanobacteria.

• These microorganisms evolved and later developed the ability to harness the energy from the sun
and produced oxygen. These oxygen molecules reacted with iron, forming iron oxide, consulting our
major land mass.

• Later, they escaped into the atmosphere, creating the ozone layer as well as the formation of solid
continents, making the crust more suitable for living organisms that lead to Cambrian Explosion.
Phanerozoic Eon
The most recent eon is the Phanerozoic, began around 544
million years ago. Its start marks the beginning of a fast increase
in the diversity, or variety, of life.

It is divided into three eras:

 1. Paleozoic, whose name means “ANCIENT LIFE”.
 2. Mesozoic, whose name means “MIDDLE LIFE”.
 3. Cenozoic, whose name means “RECENT LIFE”.
The Paleozoic Era
• First era of the Phanerozoic eon. All life forms lived in the ocean such as fish, the first
animals with backbones, and aquatic plants developed during this time.

•Toward the end of this era, life moved onto land. Later, plants began to occupy the
land and soon some forms of fishes also conquered the land.

•The first amphibians emerged from the ocean and lived on land. However, the
amphibians could only reside near water for them to deposit their eggs.

•A mass extinction occurred at the end of the Paleozoic era, 248 million years ago. A
mass extinction is when many different life forms all die out, or become extinct, at
once. This extinction may have been caused when volcanic eruption filled up the
atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
The Mesozoic Era
• It is best known for the dinosaurs that ruled Earth or the age of dinosaurs which spans
the next 183 million years.

• Mammals, birds, and flowering plants also first appeared during the Mesozoic.

• Parts of North America were covered by a vast sea. The super continental Pangaea
began to separate, forming the Rocky Mountains.

• The end of the Mesozoic marks the end of the dinosaurs and many other animals in
another mass extinction. This extinction may have been caused by one or more giant
asteroids that slammed into Earth, throwing huge amounts of dust into the air. The
dust blocked the sunlight, causing plants to die and, along with them, many animals.
The Cenozoic Era
• The most recent era that began 65 million years ago and continues today.

• Often called the Age of Mammals because mammals became the dominant species and the first
primates evolved.

• Major coastal during this era, creating mountains like Himalayas, connecting north and South
America.

• About 10 million years ago, new plant species emerged and dominated the land, giving way to
grassland.

• Early primates inhabited most of the treetops but as the grassland emerged, they moved to
explore it. With tall grasses, they started walking on two feet and free hands. They later evolved to
become the first humans: the hominid. From that day on present time, humans dominated the
planet.
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