Paleo / geological time scale
The following is a detailed tabular overview of the history of the earth . The tables are structured according to the geological time scale , provided with numerical age information and list striking geological and evolutionary events as well as typical key fossils for each level . Each of the four eons ( Phanerozoic , Proterozoic , Archean , Hadaic ) is dealt with in a separate section with its own table. For each geological period there is a fold-out overview in the corresponding header.
The great table of the geological ages
The Phanerozoic Eon
The Phanerozoic was named as the “Aeon of Visible Fossils” ( ), because for a long time only fossils were known from this Aeon. Today, however, much older fossils are known that can be examined with a microscope or imaging methods .
- Duration 543,000,000 years
- Time span 0 to 543 mya
It is divided into three eras:
- Cenozoic (Earth Modern Age)
- Mesozoic Era ( Mesozoic Era)
- Paleozoic (ancient times)
General
Five major mass extinctions occurred in the Phanerozoic :
- End of the Cretaceous (transition from Mesozoic to Cenozoic, Cretaceous-Tertiary border )
- End of the Triassic
- End of the Permian , which affected almost all marine forms, among other things. (Transition from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic, Perm-Triassic border )
- End of the Devonian
- End of the Ordovician at the same time as the Upper Ordovician glaciation
There were four major mountain-building phases:
- In the Mesozoic and Cenozoic the Alpidic mountain formation , which took place from the late Triassic to the Neogene and unfolded, for example, the Alps , Pyrenees , Carpathians , Apennines and the Himalayas . This orogeny is still ongoing but has slowed down.
- In the Paleozoic there were two mountain-forming phases, the Variscan orogeny , which began in the Devonian , and the Caledonian orogeny as the first major Paleozoic orogeny (unfolded in the Silurian , prepared in the Ordovician ).
- From the Upper Proterozoic to the early Phanerozoic, the Cadomian Orogeny (650–510 mya ) extended, but most of it already took place in the Ediacarian and showed its last activities in the Cambrian .
Table of the Phanerozoic
period | epoch | step | Events | Beginning | |||||
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Cenozoic in generalThe New Earth Era begins at 65.5 mya and continues to this day. |
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quaternary |
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Quaternary Fourth Age |
Holocene The Current Epoch |
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from 9,500 BC Chr. |
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Pleistocene ice age also Diluvium younger ice age Homo sapiens |
Young Pleistocene |
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from 0.126 mya |
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Middle Pleistocene |
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from 0.781 mya |
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Old Pleistocene |
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from 1,806 mya |
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Gelasium |
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from 2.588 mya |
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Neogene in general |
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Neogen New period outdated designation: younger part of the Tertiary |
Pliocene grasses dominate steppe savannahs pre-human Australo- Pithecus in eastern Africa |
Piacenzium |
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from 3,600 mya |
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Zancleum parts of the Pannon |
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from 5,332 mya |
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Miocene dry climate steppes savannas mod. Large mammals |
Messinium parts of the Pannon |
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from 7,246 mya |
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Tortonium |
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from 11.608 mya |
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Serravallium |
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from 13.82 mya |
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Langhium |
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from 15.97 mya |
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Burdigalium |
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from 20.43 mya |
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Aquitanium |
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from 23.03 mya |
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Paleogene |
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Paleogene Old Period Obsolete name: older part of the Tertiary |
Oligocene large mammals first whales |
Chattium |
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from 28.4 (± 0.1) mya |
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Rupelium |
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from 33.9 (± 0.1) mya |
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Eocene dawn epoch warm, humid climate vast forest areas many small mammals large birds of prey |
Priobonium |
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from 37.2 (± 0.1) mya |
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Bartonium |
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from 40.4 (± 0.2) mya |
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lutetium |
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from 48.6 (± 0.2) mya |
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Ypresium |
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from 55.8 (± 0.2) mya |
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Paleocene primitive era dinosaur extinct post- effects of an asteroid strike |
Thanetium |
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from 58.7 (± 0.2) mya |
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Seelandium |
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from 61.1 (± 0.2) mya |
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Danium |
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from 65.5 (± 0.3) mya |
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Mesozoic era in generalThe Mesozoic Ages begin 251.0 (± 0.4) and end 65.5 (± 0.3) mya . The mesophytic course deviates from this. Mesophytic key fossils: dominance of gymnosperms ,cycads ( Cycadophyta ), conifers , ginkgo family ( Glossophyllum ), ferns ( Glossopteris ). |
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Chalk in general |
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Chalk Chalk period Named after the deposits of chalk |
Upper Cretaceous Younger Cretaceous Era |
Maastricht |
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from 70.6 (± 0.6) mya |
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Campanium |
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from 83.5 (± 0.7) mya |
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Santonium |
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from 85.8 (± 0.7) mya |
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Coniacium |
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from 89.3 (± 1.0) mya |
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Turonium |
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from 93.6 (± 0.8) mya |
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Cenomanium |
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from 99.6 (± 0.9) mya |
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Lower Cretaceous older Cretaceous epoch |
Albium |
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from 112.0 (± 1.0) mya |
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Aptium |
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from 125.0 (± 1.0) mya |
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Barremium |
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from 130.0 (± 1.5) mya |
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Skin rivium |
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from 133.9 (± 2.0) mya |
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Valanginium |
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from 140.2 (± 3.0) mya |
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Berriasium |
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from 145.5 (± 4.0) mya |
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Law in general |
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Jura Named after the Jura mountains |
Upper Jura Malm White Jura |
Tithonium also Portlandium (obsolete) |
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from 150.8 (± 4.0) mya |
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Kimmeridgium |
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155.6 (± 4.0) mya |
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Oxfordium |
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from 161.2 (± 4.0) mya |
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Middle Jura Dogger Brown Jura |
Callovium |
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from 164.7 (± 4.0) mya |
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Bathonium |
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from 167.7 (± 3.5) mya |
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Bajocium |
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from 171.6 (± 3.0) mya |
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Aalenium |
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from 175.6 (± 2.0) mya |
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Lower Jura Lias Black Jura |
Toarcium |
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from 183.0 (± 1.5) mya |
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Pliensbachium |
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from 189.6 (± 1.5) mya |
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Sinemurium |
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from 196.5 (± 1.0) mya |
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Hettangium |
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from 199.6 (± 0.6) mya |
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Triad |
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Trias Named as the three-part period |
Upper triad outdated: Keuper |
Rhaetium |
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from 203.6 (± 1.5) mya |
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Norium |
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from 216.5 (± 2.0) mya |
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Carnium |
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from 228.7 (± 2.0) mya |
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Middle Triassic outdated: Muschelkalk |
Ladinium |
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from 237.0 (± 2.0) mya |
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Anisium |
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from 245.0 (± 1.5) mya |
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Lower Triassic outdated: colored sandstone |
Olenekium |
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from 249.5 (± 0.7) mya |
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Indusium |
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from 251.0 (± 0.4) mya |
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Paleozoic in generalThe age of the earth begins 542.0 (± 1.0) and ends 251.0 (± 0.4) mya . |
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Perm in general |
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Perm Named after: the city of Perm outdated designation in Germany: Dyas divided into: Zechstein 257.3–251 and Rotliegend 302–257.3 |
Upper Permian Lopingium |
Changhsingium |
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from 253.8 (± 0.7) mya |
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Wuchiapingium |
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from 260.4 (± 0.7) mya |
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Middle Permian Guadalupian |
Capitanium |
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from 265.8 (± 0.7) mya |
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Wordium |
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from 268.0 (± 0.7) mya |
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Roadium |
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from 270.6 (± 0.7) mya |
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Lower Permian Cisuralium |
Kungurium |
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from 275.6 (± 0.7) mya |
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Artinskium |
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from 284.4 (± 0.7) mya |
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Sacmarium |
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from 294.6 (± 0.8) mya |
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Asselium |
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from 299.0 (± 0.8) mya |
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Carbon |
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Karbon Named after then fossiliertem carbon outdated sub- division into ( Silesium ) and ( dinantian ) |
Penny- sylvanium Upper Carbon |
Upper Penn sylvanium |
Gzhelium |
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from 303.4 (± 0.9) mya |
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Kasimovium |
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from 307.2 (± 1.0) mya |
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Medium Penny- sylvanium |
Moskovium |
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from 311.7 (± 1.1) mya |
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Lower Penn sylvanium |
Bashkirium |
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from 318.1 (± 1.3) mya |
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Mississ- ippium sub karbon |
Upper Mississ- ippium |
Serpukhovium |
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from 328.3 (± 1.6) mya |
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Middle Mississ- ippium |
Visa |
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from 345.3 (± 2.1) mya |
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Lower abuse issippium |
Tournaisium |
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from 359.2 (± 2.5) mya |
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Devonian in general |
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Devon Named after the county of Devonshire |
Upper Devonian |
Family |
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from 374.5 (± 2.6) mya |
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Frasnium |
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from 385.3 (± 2.6) mya |
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Middle Devonian |
Givetium |
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from 391.8 (± 2.7) mya |
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Eifelium |
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from 397.5 (± 2.7) mya |
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Lower Devonian |
Emsium |
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from 407.0 (± 2.8) mya |
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Pragium |
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from 411.2 (± 2.8) mya |
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Lochkovium |
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from 416.0 (± 2.8) mya |
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Silurian in general |
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Silurian Named after a Celtic Silurian tribe in south Wales |
Pridolium | no consistent subdivision available yet |
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from 418.7 (± 2.7) mya |
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Ludlow |
Ludfordium |
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from 421.3 (± 2.6) mya |
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Gorstium |
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from 422.9 (± 2.5) mya |
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Wenlock |
Homerium |
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from 426.2 (± 2.4) mya |
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Sheinwood |
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from 428.2 (± 2.3) mya |
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Llandovery |
Telychium |
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from 436.0 (± 1.9) mya |
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Aeronium |
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from 439.0 (± 1.8) mya |
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Rhuddanium |
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from 443.7 (± 1.5) mya |
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Ordovician general |
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Ordovician Named after a Celtic tribe in Wales Ordovician |
Upper Ordovician |
Brain antium |
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from 445.6 (± 1.5) mya |
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Katium |
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from 455.8 (± 1.6) mya |
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Sandbium |
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from 460.9 (± 1.6) mya |
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Middle Ordovician |
Darriwilium |
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from 468.1 (± 1.6) mya |
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Dapingium |
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from 471.8 (± 1.6) mya |
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Lower Ordovician |
Floium |
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from 478.6 (± 1.7) mya |
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Tremadocium |
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from 488.3 (± 1.7) mya |
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Cambrian |
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Cambrian Named for the ancient name of Wales Cambria |
Furongium Agnostus Olenus |
10th stage |
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from ≈492 mya |
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9th stage |
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from ≈496 mya |
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Paibium |
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from ≈499 mya |
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3rd series Paradoxides |
Guzhangium |
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from ≈503 mya |
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Drumium |
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from ≈506.5 mya |
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5th stage |
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from ≈510 mya |
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2. Olenellus series Holmia Redlichia |
4th stage |
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from ≈515 mya |
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3rd stage |
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from ≈521 mya |
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Terreneuvium |
2nd stage |
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from ≈528 mya |
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Fortunium |
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from ≈542.0 (± 1.0) mya |
The Proterozoic Eon
The Proterozoic Aeon is also called the “Aeon of the unicellular” . The entire period before 542 mya is also known as the Precambrian .
- Duration 1,958,000,000 years
- Period of time 542 to 2,500 mya
It is divided into three eras:
Paleo- / geological overview
Originally regarded as the aeon of the unicellular cells , the first multicellular cells are also known from this eon. The living beings of this time are today - measured against their ancestors - as complex because they have organelles. The boundary between the Cambrian and the older rock strata (outdated: Precambrian ) was for a long time based on a sudden increase in fauna at the beginning of the Cambrian.
The Proterozoic is characterized by geological, climatic and biological developments of global importance.
- From a geological point of view, the basis of today's geodynamic processes developed with the formation of solid, stable continental crust , the formation of new cratons , plate tectonics with the merging of individual crustal blocks to form continents , including supercontinents , but also their disintegration, opening and subduction of oceans , mountain formations , Formation of fractures and basins with deposits of sediment formations .
- Climatically significant was the change in the earth's atmosphere with the oxygen enrichment as a result of the Great Oxygen Disaster and the existence of several ice ages . Some also had global effects ( snowball earth ).
- Biological developments were characterized by the appearance of complex single cells with organelles and later also with cell nuclei ( eukaryotes ), microscopic single-cell acritics , macroscopic multicellular organisms , complex multicellular organisms with sexual reproduction , unicellular and multicellular cells capable of movement, bilateria (two-sided animals), algae-like plants as well especially the emergence of the Ediacaran fauna at the end of the aeon.
For the mountain-building phases see also mountain-building phases at a glance .
Table of the Proterozoic
A consistent subdivision of the periods is not yet available.
Era / age | period | Events | Beginning | |||
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Neoproterozoic new Proterozoikum neo Proterozoic Start: 1000 End: 542 (± 1.0) mya Duration: 458 million |
Ediacarium Named after the fossil fauna of the Ediacara Hills in South Australia formerly: Vendium |
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from ≈635 mya |
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Cryogenium Named as the frozen period |
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from ≈720 mya |
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Tonium |
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from 1,000 mya |
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Mesoproterozoic Middle Proterozoic Meso Proterozoic Start: 1600 End: 1000 mya Duration: 600 million |
Stenium |
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from 1,200 mya |
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Ectasium |
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from 1,400 mya |
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Calymmium |
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from 1,600 mya |
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Paleoproterozoic Early Proterozoic paleo- Proterozoic Start: 2500 End: 1600 mya Duration: 900 million |
Statherium |
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from 1,800 mya |
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Orosirium |
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from 2,050 mya |
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Rhyacium |
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from 2,300 mya |
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Siderium |
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from 2,500 mya |
The Archean Aeon
Also referred to as the eon of "ancient earth" .
- Duration 1,500,000,000 years
- Time span 2,500 to 4,000 mya
The Archean is divided into four eras:
Paleo- / geological overview
During the Archean, the earth continued to cool. Continental lithospheric plates , cratons and continents formed . Due to plate tectonic events, the first high mountains , rift fractures , thrusts and geological formations , in which important deposits can be found, emerged on the now stronger and more stable continental plates . Mighty plutons also intruded into the earth's plates. The Great Meteor Shower ( Great Bombardment ) that began in the Hadean , ended in the Eoarchean . During the entire aeon, thick layers of ribbon ore were deposited in the oceans .
After the loss of the original atmosphere , a new atmosphere was formed , which began with the first atmosphere and passed into the second atmosphere . In the oceans, microorganisms produced oxygen , which oxidized dissolved iron and hydrogen sulfide or its sulfides . As a result, hardly any oxygen could get into the atmosphere. In the Paleoarchean , 40,000 years of continuous rain fell , and the oceans were formed. In neoarchean a clearly ascertainable was cold period instead.
The evolution of life ranges from the chemical evolution in the Eoarchean through the development of prokaryotic cells to the division into the two phylogenetic domains bacteria and archaea at the beginning of the Paleoarchean . In the Paleoarchean, there is also the evolution of photosynthesis , first without releasing oxygen , then through the stromatolites forming cyanobacteria with the production of oxygen.
The predominant rock types in the Archean are mainly continental greenstone belts in granulite areas and submarine strip ores. For the mountain-building phases see also mountain-building phases at a glance .
Table of the Archean
A consistent subdivision is not yet available for the eras.
Era / age | Events | Beginning | |||
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Neoarchean New Archaic Neo- Archean Start: 2800 End: 2500 mya Duration: 300 million |
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from 2,800 mya |
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Mesoarchean Middle Archean meso Archean Start: 3200 End: 2800 mya Duration: 400 million |
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from 3,200 mya |
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Paleoarchean Early Archean paleo- Archean Start: 3600 End: 3200 mya Duration: 400 million |
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from 3,600 mya |
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Eoarchean dawn of Archean Eo- Archean Start: 4000 End: 3600 mya Duration: 400 million |
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from 4,000 mya |
The Aeon Hadean
The Aeon Hadean or "Aeon of the Earth's Formation" originally referred to the period that predated the oldest known rocks. Etymologically, the name refers to the Greek god Hades , who ruled the underworld of Greek mythology full of heat and disorder. The age was described by the geologist Preston Cloud (1972) as the period from which the oldest known stones come. Synonymous with the "Priscoan period" according to W. Brian Harland .
There is currently no binding subdivision of the Hadaikum.
- Duration around 600,000,000 years
- Time span ≈ 4,600 to 4,000 mya
Information about the age of the earth does not come from the rocks of the earth itself, but from special meteorites , the chondrites , of which it is assumed that they formed in the same period as the earth and have not changed since then - in contrast to the earth to have. The age is determined using isotope geochemistry . It was used to determine an age of around 4.568 billion years.
Paleo- / geological overview
One of the oldest known rocks is the Acasta gneiss from the Slave Craton / Northwest Canada with an age of around 4.03 bya. Rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt in northern Québec , Canada are similarly old. Their dating is still controversial and ranges from approx. 4.3 to approx. 3.8 bya.
The primordial atmosphere of the earth probably consisted of gaseous parts of the protoplanetary disk , such as hydrogen (H2) and helium (He) as well as small parts of methane (CH 4 ), ammonia (NH 3 ) and some noble gases . It was followed by the development of the First Atmosphere .
The first earthly hydrosphere was formed with liquid water. This is believed to have accumulated in a primordial ocean .
Presumably the chemo-evolutionary evolution , also called abiogenesis, developed, with which inorganic organic substances were created.
For the mountain-building phases see also mountain-building phases at a glance .
Table of the Hadaikum
Era / age | Events | Beginning | |||
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inconsistent divided start: approx ≈4.600 End: 4000 mya Duration: n.def. |
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from ≈4,600 mya |
Origin of the earth
An estimated 4.7 billion years ago, the earth formed from a protoplanetary disk . At that time the earth had little resemblance to our planet today and was exposed to constant cosmic bombardment.
Notes on the large table
- The information about the ages shown was taken from the International Chronostratigraphic Chart, status v2017 / 02 as well as the assigned Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) from the GSSP Table - All Periods of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) (see also WP- Article International Commission on Stratigraphy and Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point ) paleontologists often prefer to refer to zones, or more precisely: biozones , than to geological periods.
The nomenclature of these biozones is quite complex, for more information on the individual biozones see the articles of the respective geological ages. - The terms Tertiary and Quaternary were abolished in 2004 and replaced by Palaeogene and Neogene respectively. Since 2005, however, the ICS has given the Quaternary a new status as the sub-era of the Cenozoic.
- The division of the Carboniferous into Mississippian and Pennsylvanian is common only in North America. In Europe, carbon is divided into upper and lower .
- Research and more accurate dating capabilities over the past 30 years have shed new light on geological and paleontological events in the Precambrian. The stratigraphic nomenclature is still in the making, since 2004 the Ediacarium has officially preceded the Cambrian as a period. Outdated names for the Neoproterozoic or Ediacarian are: Vendium , Varangium , Protocambrian , Eocambrian or Precambrian , which were also used to denote the period immediately before the Cambrian.
The following abbreviations are used here:
- bya for English billion years ago or for German "billion (n) years ago" or "x billion (s) years ago"
- mya for English million years ago or for German "million (s) years ago" or "x million (s) years ago"
- tya for English thousand years ago, or for German "thousand years ago" or "x thousand years ago"
- tsd for German "thousand"
Web links
- stratigraphy.org - The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS)
- geosociety.org - The Geological Society of America's international guidance scale
- scotese.com - Earth maps of all geological ages since the late Precambrian