Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the term 'Proterozoic' mean?
What does the term 'Proterozoic' mean?
Earlier life
The Proterozoic eon is the longest geologic eon.
The Proterozoic eon is the longest geologic eon.
True (A)
Which of the following is NOT an era of the Proterozoic eon?
Which of the following is NOT an era of the Proterozoic eon?
- Archean (correct)
- Mesoproterozoic
- Neoproterozoic
- Paleoproterozoic
Which of these periods is NOT part of the Paleoproterozoic Era?
Which of these periods is NOT part of the Paleoproterozoic Era?
Which of the following is known to have occurred during the Paleoproterozoic era?
Which of the following is known to have occurred during the Paleoproterozoic era?
What is the 'boring billion' stage of Earth history?
What is the 'boring billion' stage of Earth history?
Which of the following is NOT a known feature of the Mesoproterozoic era?
Which of the following is NOT a known feature of the Mesoproterozoic era?
What is the third of three subdivisions of the Proterozoic Eon?
What is the third of three subdivisions of the Proterozoic Eon?
Which of the following periods is associated with the Neoproterozoic era?
Which of the following periods is associated with the Neoproterozoic era?
Which of the following is NOT a feature known to have occurred during the Neoproterozoic era?
Which of the following is NOT a feature known to have occurred during the Neoproterozoic era?
What type of life forms dominated early microbial life during the Proterozoic era?
What type of life forms dominated early microbial life during the Proterozoic era?
What role did cyanobacteria play?
What role did cyanobacteria play?
What are stromatolites?
What are stromatolites?
When did the Ediacaran Biota emerge?
When did the Ediacaran Biota emerge?
What were the Ediacaran Biota?
What were the Ediacaran Biota?
Which of the following are environmental influences that allowed for the creation of life during the Proterozoic?
Which of the following are environmental influences that allowed for the creation of life during the Proterozoic?
Flashcards
Proterozoic Eon
Proterozoic Eon
The geologic eon after the Archean and before the Cambrian, characterized by the development of earlier life forms.
Paleoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic Era
The first era of the Proterozoic Eon, spanning from 2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago.
Siderian Period
Siderian Period
A period within the Paleoproterozoic Era, known for the Great Oxidation Event.
Rhyacian Period
Rhyacian Period
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Orosiotrian Period
Orosiotrian Period
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Statherian Period
Statherian Period
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Great Oxidation Event
Great Oxidation Event
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Glaciation Events
Glaciation Events
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Banded-Iron Formations
Banded-Iron Formations
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Early Eukaryotes
Early Eukaryotes
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Continental Crust Development
Continental Crust Development
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Mesoproterozoic Era
Mesoproterozoic Era
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Calymmian Period
Calymmian Period
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Ectasian Period
Ectasian Period
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Stenian Period
Stenian Period
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Rodinia
Rodinia
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Columbia
Columbia
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Neoproterozoic Era
Neoproterozoic Era
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Tonian Period
Tonian Period
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Cryogenian Period
Cryogenian Period
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Ediacaran Period
Ediacaran Period
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Ediacaran Fauna
Ediacaran Fauna
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Environmental Changes
Environmental Changes
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Early Microbial Life
Early Microbial Life
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Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria
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Stromatolites
Stromatolites
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Study Notes
Proterozoic Eon
- Proterozoic means "earlier life," implying simpler, smaller organisms than today's.
- It follows the Archean eon and precedes the Cambrian period.
- It's the longest geologic eon, lasting from 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago.
Eras and Periods of the Proterozoic
- The Proterozoic is divided into three eras: Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic.
Paleoproterozoic Era
- Spanning 2.5 billion to 1.6 billion years ago.
- This era is also known as the "boring billion" stage.
- Includes the Siderian, Rhyacian, Orosirian, and Statherian periods.
Mesoproterozoic Era
- Spanning 1.6 billion to 1 billion years ago.
- Often referred to as "boring billion" stage.
- Includes the Calymmian, Ectasian, and Stenian periods.
Neoproterozoic Era
- Spanning 1 billion to 541 million years ago.
- Includes the Tonian, Cryogenian, and Ediacaran periods.
Key Features of the Proterozoic
- Paleoproterozoic: Significant for the great oxidation event, banded-iron formations, and the development of the continental crust. Also includes early eukaryotes (more complex cells).
- Mesoproterozoic: Marked by the formation of the supercontinent Rodinia.
- Neoproterozoic: Characterized by significant climate changes including glaciation events and the emergence of the Ediacaran fauna, a diverse group of early multicellular life forms.
- Life Forms :Early microbial life, dominated by single-celled organisms like cyanobacteria, stromatolites, and the Ediacaran biota (early multicellular organisms with soft bodies, such as Dickinsonia and Charnia).
Environmental Influences
- Climate changes, including glaciation events, played a crucial role in the development of life.
- Rising oxygen levels were also vital to the evolution of life forms.
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