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GenBio 2_LESSON- 3_Geologic Time Scale

The Geologic Time Scale is a chronological system used to describe Earth's history, divided into Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs. Major divisions include the Precambrian and Phanerozoic Eons, with significant events like the Cambrian Explosion marking the emergence of diverse life forms. Each era reflects profound changes in the fossil record, often linked to extinction events and environmental shifts.

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2 views48 pages

GenBio 2_LESSON- 3_Geologic Time Scale

The Geologic Time Scale is a chronological system used to describe Earth's history, divided into Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs. Major divisions include the Precambrian and Phanerozoic Eons, with significant events like the Cambrian Explosion marking the emergence of diverse life forms. Each era reflects profound changes in the fossil record, often linked to extinction events and environmental shifts.

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GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

-is a system of chronological


dating that releases geological
stratigraphy to time.
-it is used to describe the timing
and relationships of events that
occurred during Earth’s history.
The Geologic Time Record is a tabular
representation of the major divisions of
the Earth’s history. The time intervals
are divided and described from the
longest to the shortest as EONS,
ERAS, PERIODS and EPOCHS.
EARTH’S TIME SCALE
1.Eons
2.Era
3.Period
4.Epoch
The geologic time scale is
broken up into:
•Eons Longest expanse
of geologic time
•Eras Next longest
expanse of geologic time
•Periods Third Longest
expanse of geologic time
•Epochs Shortest expanse
of geologic time
Eons represent the greatest
expanses of time. Eons are
divided into eras. Each era is
subdivided into periods.
Finally, periods are divided
into still smaller units called
epochs.
In Precambrian time
(older than 540 million
years ago) there isn’t as
much detail of the
geologic time scale.
Scientists have divided
the Precambrian into
Eons into the Proterozoic,
Archaean, and Hadean.
Mya
During the Precambrian time, there were fewer life
forms. These life forms are more difficult to
identify and the rocks have been disturbed.
There are some difficulties when trying to define the divisions of
the geologic time scale. For example, sedimentary rock may
contain particles that contain radioactive isotopes, but these
particles are not the same age as the rock in which they occur.
Radiometric dating of metamorphic rocks may also be
difficult. Sometimes the particular mineral may not
represent when the rock formed but rather when it was
metamorphosed. Sometimes in sedimentary layers
geologists hope to find fossils or ash layers that can be dated.
EON
-the largest division of the
geologic time scale, spans
hundreds to thousands of million
years
2 MAJOR EONS
1.Precambrian eon
-goes from the formation of the
earth to the time when multicellular
organisms first appeared
2. Phanerozoic eon
-covers the present time
EONS
1.Hadean
-formation
of the Earth
2. Archaean
-oldest
rocks, Earth’s
crust forms
EONS
3. Proterozoic
-life begins in the sea
4. Phanerozoic
Eons are made up of eras, divisions that span
time periods of tens to hundreds of millions of
years.
3 MAJOR ERAS
1.Paleozoic-age of marine life
2. Mesozoic-age of dinosaurs
3. Cenozoic (modern era)
(recent life) There are 3 eras
within the
Phanerozoic. The
(middle life)
paleozoic, which
means :ancient life,”
the Mesozoic, which
means “middle life,
and the Cenozoic,
(ancient life)
which means “recent
life.”
The periods of the Cenozoic are divided into still
smaller units called epochs. Epochs of other periods
are named early, middle, and late.
The divisions among Eras reflect major
changes in fossil record, including the
extinction and appearance of new life
forms.
Eras are divided into Periods, a unit of
geologic time in which a single type of
rock system is formed
EON ERA
Phanerozoic Cenozoic
Mesozoic
Paleozoic
Proterozoic
Archaean

Hadean
Extinction of Dinosaurs
Each era change comes at profound life changes
or extinction events.
• Climate Changes
• Disease
• Meteorite Impact
• Volcanic Eruptions
Each era is
subdivided into
periods, each of
which is
characterized by
somewhat less
profound change
in life forms as
compared with
eras.
CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION is the
belief that there was a sudden,
apparent explosion of diversity in
life forms about 545 million years
ago. The explosion created the
complexity of multi-celled
organisms in a relatively short time
frame of 5 to 10 million years. This
explosion also created most of the
major extant animal groups today.
The start of the Cambrian was
characterized by the breaking
up of supercontinent
Gondwana into smaller land
masses opening up new
environmental niches where
organisms can colonize and
specialize.
PERIODS
-is one of several
subdivisions of geologic time
enabling cross-referencing of
rocks and geologic events
from place to place
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE
Four eras
Precambrian; Paleozoic; Mesozoic; Cenozoic
Periods under the Paleozoic era
Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous,
Permian
Periods under the Mesozoic era
Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous
Periods under the Cenozoic era
Tertiary and Quaternary
EPOCHS
-beginning of the Earth’s
distinctive period
The Geologic
Time Scale

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