Module 6

Fossil Dating
and
Geologic Time Scale
 Review: Fossils

• A fossil is a remnant of any ancient animal or

plant that has been preserved in rock.
• The age of fossil is equal to the age of rock
on which it is found.
RELATIVE AND
ABSOLUTE DATING
1. Relative dating 2. Absolute dating --
-- determine use radiometric
whether the rock vs dating techniques to
is older or determine how long
younger than ago the rock formed
other rocks in the exact number
of years
Diagram showing Relative Dating and Radiometric Dating
 Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element which differ in
neutron number, and consequently in nucleon number.

All isotopes of a given element have the same number of protons but

different numbers of neutrons in each atom.

• When isotopes become

unstable, they
are radioactive.

• This radioactive atom

releases energy. This process
is called radioactive decay.
 Half-life
is the time needed
For half of a
Sample of a
radioactive
substance to
undergo
radioactive
decay.
Diagram showing half-life decomposition.
Pause
Geologic Time Scale
Is a system of chronological measurement that relates
stratigraphy to time.
It describes the timing and relationships between
events that have occurred throughout Earth’s history.
It was developed in the 1800s using the relative dating
of rocks
 Precambrian
• It is 87% of Earth’s History.
•The Precambrian time is made up of 3 large

eons totaling over 4 Byrs:

• Hadean – “hell-like”
• Archean – “ancient”
• Proterozoic – “first life”

•Any information from this time period is sketchy.

•Erosion has destroyed most of the rocks and

fossils.
•Any fossils that have survived are rare and
simple in structure
 Hadean
Eon
• Hellfire & Brimstone
• From 4600 – 3800 Mya
• The Solar System is still forming through planetary
bombardment
• Sun was only 70% as bright
• Massive volcanism created the young atmosphere which was
probably made up of CO2 (carbon dioxide),H2O (water), CH4,
(Methane)& NH3 (ammonia)
• No fossils were found during this time.
• Formation of the Moon
Archean Eon
•From 3800 – 2500 Mya

•Surface of the earth turns from molten to solid rock

•Oceans formed from water vapor condensation

•Oldest rocks known have been dated to this eon

•Potentially the first simple bacteria/algae fossils were

found
•Noxious atmosphere was very depleted of oxygen

•Continents begin to form

from small islands

 Proterozoic Eon
•From 2500 – 570 Mya

•Largest Eon (~2 Byrs total)

•Bacteria enriches the atmosphere with oxygen

—ozone layer forms too (good)
•Supercontinent Rodinia formed around 800 Mya
•Simple multi-cell fossils were discovered

•Eukaryotic cell fossils were also observed

• Due to extensive glaciations there was an ice

age
that covered the entire Earth -- “Snowball
Earth”
Phanerozoic Eon – “visible life”
•Is composed of three Eras spanning from 570 Mya to present
• Paleozoic – “ancient life”
• Mesozoic – “middle life”
• Cenozoic – “recent life”

•A great diversity of land and ocean organisms was observed

•Fossil record indicated complex organisms thrive during this

time.
•Several mass extinctions were also observed.

•We are still currently living in the Phanerozoic Eon

 Paleozoic Era – “Cambrian Explosion”
•It spans from 570 – 245 Mya

• It is divided into 7 Periods

• Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian,

Pennsylvanian, Permian
• At the beginning of the Cambrian, the fossil record goes
through an exponential increase in diversity and
complexity
• The supercontinent Pangaea was formed.
Paleozoic Era
Ordovician – Cambrian Periods

“Age of Invertebrates”

The sea was alive

with life.
Devonian – Silurian Periods
“Age of Fishes”
Mississippian-Pennsylvanian-Permian Periods
“Age of Amphibians”

Land continues to
develop into lush
forests.

Aquatic animals
Started to invade
and
inhabit the land.
 Mesozoic – Age of Reptiles
•Mesozoic Era has 3 Periods from 245 – 66 Mya
• Triassic
• Jurassic
• Cretaceous

•Pangaea begins to break apart to form Laurasia and

Gondwanaland and eventually the current continents
•Warmer climates dominated

•Gymnosperms (non-flowering, naked seed) appear and

become the dominant plant
Cenozoic Era – Age of Mammals

•This is composed of 2 Periods spanning from 66 Mya to

present day
• Tertiary
• Quaternary

•7 Epochs are contained within the two periods

• Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene,
Pleistocene, & Holocene
•We are now in the Holocene
Cenozoic Era
End