Geologic Time Scale Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the scientific discipline concerned with the description of rock successions and their interpretation in terms of a general time scale?

Stratigraphy

What is the study of the history of life on Earth based on fossils?

Paleontology

The Hadean Eon is characterized by a partially molten surface, volcanism, and asteroid impacts.

True (A)

The Archean Eon is characterized by the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Proterozoic Eon is characterized by the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an organism that lived during the Ediacaran period?

<p>Dickinsonia costata</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major spans/eras of time in the Phanerozoic Eon?

<p>Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Cambrian Period is considered the "Age of the Trilobites".

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The end of the Paleozoic Era is associated with a large mass extinction.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mesozoic Era is associated with the supercontinent Pangea.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Mesozoic Era is known as the "Age of Reptiles".

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Cenozoic Era is characterized by a cooler climate.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Cenozoic Era is known as the "Age of Mammals".

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two periods in the Cenozoic Era?

<p>Paleogene and Neogene</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Tertiary Period is also known as the Paleocene epoch.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Quaternary Period includes the Pleistocene epoch.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Geologic Time Scale

A chronological representation of Earth's history, divided into events and eras based on geological and biological changes.

Paleontology

The study of the history of life on Earth through fossils, examining remains and traces of ancient organisms.

Stratigraphy

A branch of geology concerned with rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification), essential for understanding geological history.

Radiometric Dating

A technique used to date materials based on the decay of radioactive isotopes, determining the age of rocks and fossils in years.

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Hadean Eon

The earliest eon of Earth's history (4.6 billion to 4 billion years ago), characterized by molten conditions and violent impacts.

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Archean Eon

The eon following the Hadean (4 billion to 2.5 billion years ago) marked by the formation of the Earth's crust and early life forms.

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Proterozoic Eon

The eon from 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago showing major changes like oxygen accumulation and emergence of multicellular life.

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Phanerozoic Eon

The current eon (541 million years ago to present) characterized by abundant fossil evidence of life and significant biological diversity.

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Paleozoic Era

An era (541 to 252 million years ago) marked by the initial diversification of life in the oceans and development of land life.

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Mesozoic Era

The age of dinosaurs (252 to 66 million years ago), characterized by the rise of reptiles and breakup of Pangaea.

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Cenozoic Era

The current era (66 million years ago to present), known as the age of mammals following the extinction of dinosaurs.

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Cambrian Period

The first period of the Paleozoic Era (541 to 485 million years ago), notable for the 'Cambrian explosion' of life.

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Ordovician Period

The period after Cambrian (485 to 444 million years ago) marked by diverse marine life and first land plants.

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Silurian Period

The period after the Ordovician (444 to 419 million years ago), known for the first jawed fish and vascular plants.

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Devonian Period

Known as the 'Age of Fishes' (419 to 359 million years ago), with significant fish diversification and early land plants.

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Carboniferous Period

The period (359 to 299 million years ago) known for extensive coal deposits and the first winged insects.

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Permian Period

The last period of the Paleozoic Era (299 to 252 million years ago) ending with the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.

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Triassic Period

The first period of the Mesozoic Era (252 to 201 million years ago) marked by the rise of dinosaurs and modern reptiles.

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Jurassic Period

The period of dinosaurs' dominance (201 to 145 million years ago), with lush vegetation and the first birds.

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Cretaceous Period

The last period of the Mesozoic Era (145 to 66 million years ago) known for flowering plants and the extinction of dinosaurs.

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Pleistocene Epoch

An epoch of the Quaternary Period (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) marked by the last ice age and the rise of modern humans.

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Holocene Epoch

The current epoch of the Quaternary Period (11,700 years ago to present) characterized by human civilization and environmental changes.

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Mass Extinction Event

A widespread and rapid decrease in biodiversity on Earth, with the most notable occurring at the end of the Paleozoic Era.

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Continental Drift

The gradual movement of continents across Earth's surface, a concept first proposed by Alfred Wegener.

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Evolution

The process through which species change over time through adaptations and natural selection.

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Fossil Record

The preserved remains or traces of organisms, essential for studying Earth's biological history.

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Anthracosaurs

Early amphibian-reptiles that appeared in the Carboniferous period and are ancestors of modern reptiles.

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Ediacaran Biota

The first complex multicellular life known from the Proterozoic, dating back to approximately 600 million years ago.

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Quaternary Period

The most recent geological time period (2.6 million years ago to present), marked by the development of humans and significant climate changes.

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Study Notes

Geologic Time Scale Overview

  • The geologic time scale (GTS) is a representation of Earth's history, detailing the sequence of events and major divisions of time.
  • Scientists developed the GTS by studying fossils and rock layers worldwide.
  • The scale spans the entire history of Earth and is categorized into four major divisions: eons, eras, periods, and epochs.

Eon

  • Eons are the largest divisions of geologic time, spanning hundreds to thousands of millions of years.
  • The Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago, along with the solar system.
  • Life on Earth emerged approximately 3.5 billion years ago.
  • The eons, in order of increasing age, are: Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic.

Hadean Eon

  • The Hadean Eon is the earliest eon, lasting from 4.6 to 4.0 billion years ago.
  • Characterized by a partially molten surface, volcanism, and asteroid impacts.
  • The Earth was a molten planet during this time.
  • The Earth's continental and oceanic crust began to solidify.

Archean Eon

  • The Archean Eon followed the Hadean, lasting from 4.0 to 2.5 billion years ago.
  • The formation of Earth's crust, atmosphere, and seas happened during this time.
  • Early forms of life, such as prokaryotic archaea and bacteria appeared.
  • Stromatolites, layered microbial structures were among the early life forms found.
  • Further evidence of early life forms show up in the fossil record.
  • The Archean era saw the formation of the continents and initial tectonic activity.

Proterozoic Eon

  • The Proterozoic Eon lasted from 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago.
  • Accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere, marking a pivotal shift in the composition and conditions of the early Earth. This resulted in the decline of some primitive life forms due to oxygen toxicity and emergence of new life forms.
  • The emergence of cyanobacteria during this time was crucial to the increase of oxygen in the atmosphere.
  • Multicellular organisms, including eukaryotes, began to appear

Phanerozoic Eon

  • The Phanerozoic Eon includes the last 541 million years and is marked by visible forms of life.
  • Three Eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.

Era

  • Eras are subdivisions of eons reflecting major changes in life forms and geological processes.
  • The three eras are: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.

Paleozoic Era

  • The Paleozoic Era represents ancient life, lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago.
  • Includes periods like Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian.
  • Key events and life forms include the Cambrian Explosion, the rise of fish and early land plants, and the formation of large coal forests.
  • The end of the Paleozoic was marked by a mass extinction, the largest in Earth's history, wiping out nearly 90% of marine species and 70% of land animals.

Mesozoic Era

  • The Mesozoic, encompassing middle life, spans from 252 to 66 million years ago.
  • It's known as the "Age of Reptiles".
  • Includes periods like Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous.
  • Pangaea began to break up around the middle of the Mesozoic Era.
  • Dinosaurs were abundant, as well as other reptile species.
  • Flowering plants appeared at the end of the Mesozoic Era.
  • A mass extinction marked the end of the Mesozoic Era, which wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species.

Cenozoic Era

  • The Cenozoic era, or "Age of Mammals", spans from 66 million years ago to the present day.
  • Includes periods like Paleogene and Neogene, further divided into epochs like Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene, Holocene.
  • The rise and diversification of mammals, and the continued evolution of other life forms, took place during this era.
  • The Cenozoic era saw major changes in climate, including ice ages, and the continued development of continents and the formation of the Grand Canyon.
  • Humans evolved during this time, with the first humans appearing around 3.5 million years ago.

Period and Epochs

  • Periods and epochs are subdivisions of eras that showcase more specific timeframes and life forms.
  • The periods are Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary period, subdivided into epochs.
  • Many notable life forms and events are documented in these periods, including the appearance of first horses and mammals, along with the diversification of plants and other organisms.

How Organisms Form and Evolve

  • Adaptations arise from variations within populations, allowing organisms to survive in evolving environments.
  • These changes accumulated over time result in species evolving or developing from their ancestors.
  • The fossil record demonstrates this lineage and ancestral development of life.

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Geologic Time Scale Lesson 3 PDF

Description

Explore the Geologic Time Scale and its major divisions, including eons, eras, periods, and epochs. This quiz covers the formation of Earth, the emergence of life, and the characteristics of different eons such as Hadean and Archean. Test your knowledge of Earth's history and the development of its geological timeline.

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