Geologic Time Scale

a timeline that illustrates Earth's history

based on geologic events and life forms. -
this is a system that chronologically relates
geological strata ( stratigraphy ) to time.
The table of geologic periods presented here,
agree with the nomenclature, dates and
standard color codes set forth by the
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON
STRATIGRAPHY (ICS)
 Eon
the largest time span of the Geologic time scale.
This geologic time scale is divided into two
Eons:
a. Precambrian Eon
refers to the earliest parts of Earth's History.

b. Phanerozoic Eon
the current geologic eon in the geologic time scale.
PRECAMBRIAN EON
is divided into 3 eons: Hadeon Eon, Archean Eon, and Proterozoic Eon.
 • Hadean Eon
occured 4.6 billion to 4 billion yrs. ago. During this time, the solar system
was forming within a cloud of dust and gas known as the solar nebula,
which eventually spawned planets, and etc.

- during this time, the earth started cooling and the puter
edge of the planet solidified molten lava to a solid crust.
Water rained from the atmosphere and created oceans.
 • Archean Eon
started 4 billion and 2.5 billion yrs. ago, the first form of life on our planet
was created in the oceans. - exactly when or how it happened is unknown,
but microfossils of this time indicate that life began in the oceans about 3.5
billion to 2.8 billion yrs. ago.

- by the end of the Archean, the ocean floor was covered in

a living mat of bacterial life.
 • Proterozoic Eon
also called the "Age of hidden life", started 2.5 billion yrs. ago. In this time,
enough shield rock had formed to start recognizable geologic processes
such as plate tectonics.

- contains many definite traces of primitive life-forms: it is

the remains of bacteria and blue-green algae, as well as the
first oxygen-dependent animals.
PHANAROZOIC EON
the time in which abundant animal and plant life has existed. It covers 541 million
yrs. to the present.
 Paleozoic Era
the era ran from about 542 million yrs. ago to 251 million yrs. ago.

- the era began with the breakup of one supercontinent and the formation of
another. Plants become widespread.

This era is divided into six periods of time. We have the Cambrian Period,
Ordovician Period, Silurian Period, Devonian Period, Carboniferous Period,
and Permian Period.
 Paleozoic era began with the:
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
53 million yrs. ago, this era is known for ushering in an explosion of
life on earth. This "Cambrian Explosion" included the evolution of
arthropods (ancestors of today's insects and crustaceans) and chordates
(animals with rudimentary spinal cords).
next is the: ORDOVICIAN PERIOD

occured 45 million yrs. ago, this period marked in the fossil record by
an abundance of marine invertebrates.

Perhaps the most famous of these invertebrates was the Trilobite- an

armored arthropod that scuttled around the seafloor for about 270
million yrs. before going extinct.
next is the: SILURIAN PERIOD
occurred 443 million to 416 million yrs. ago, this period saw the spread of jawless fish
throughout the seas. Mollusks and corals thrives in the oceans and land: the first
undisputed evidence of terrestrial life.

Mollusks and corals thrives in the oceans and land: the first undisputed evidence of
terrestrial life. This was the time when plants evolved, though they most likely did not
yet have leaves or the vascular tissue to siphon up water and nutrients.
next is the: CARBONIFEROUS
PERIOD
359 million to 299 million yrs. ago., long before birds evolved, tetrapods began laying
eggs on land for the first time during this period, allowing them to break away from
an amphibious lifestyle.

this era is sometimes referred to as the " Age of the Cockroaches" because roaches
ancient ancestor (Archimylacris eggintoni) was found all across the globe during the
Carboniferous.
the last of the Paleozoic era:
PERMIAN PERIOD
which occured 299 million to 251 million yrs. ago, this period would end with the
largest mass extinction ever: the Permian extinction.

Before the Permian mass extinction, though, the warm seas teemed with life. Coral
reefs flourished, providing shelter for fish and shelled creatures, such as nautiloids and
ammonoids.
 Mesozoic Era
This period which spans from about 252 million yrs. ago to about 66 million yrs.
ago was also known as the age of reptiles or the age of Dinosaurs became of its
infamous inhabitants

This is also known as the "Middle Life" era, life diversified rapidly and giant
reptiles, dinosaurs, and other monstrous beasts roamed the earth

contains the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods.

 the first of the Mesozoic era:
TRIASSIC PERIOD
occurred 252 million to 200 million yrs. ago, this period
saw the rise of reptiles and the first dinosaurs.
 next is the: JURASSIC PERIOD

occurred 200 million to 145 million yrs. ago, this period

marked the presence of dinosaurs and the first appearance
of birds.
 the last of the Mesozoic era:
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
occurred 145 million to 66 million yrs. ago, this period is
also known for its iconic dinosaurs such as Triceratops
and Pterosaurs such as Pteranodon.
 Cenozoic Era
This era began about 65 million yrs. ago and continues into the present, is the third
documented era in the history of earth.

The Cenozoic Era is a.k.a. the Age of Mammals because of the extinction of many
groups of giant mammals, allowing smaller species to thrive and diversify because
their predators no longer existed.

divided into three periods which are Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary Periods.
 the first of the Cenozoic era:
PALEOGENE PERIOD
occurred 65 million to 23 million yrs. ago, this period
consists of the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene Epochs.

Later in this period, rodents and small horses, such as Hyracotherium are coon and Rhinoceroses and
Elephants appear. As the period ends, dogs, cats and pigs become commonplace.
 next is the: NEOGENE PERIOD

occurred 23 million to 2.6 million yrs. ago, This period

includes the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs.

Bovids, including cattle, sheep, goats, antelope and gazelle, flourish during this period.
 the last of the Cenozoic Era:
QUATERNARY PERIOD
occurred 2.6 million to the present year, this period
consists of the Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs.

In this period, Cave lions, sabre-toothed cats, cave bears, giant deer, woolly rhinoceroses, and
woolly mammoths were prevailing species of the Quaternary period.
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