Geologic ages of earth history: Difference between revisions

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The geological ages refer to periods of marked change in the processes and events in the entire history of the earth. These changes have been delineated by physical evidence found in the earth’s lithosphere. Ages are also noted in reference to the types of organisms found in the fossil record down to the present day. Changes are marked by (but not exclusive of) such processes as volcanic activity, flooding, and seismic activity.  
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The geologic history of the [[earth]] is preserved and documented in its [[rock (geology)|rocks]]. The oldest fragment of earth's [[crust]] known so far, a detrital [[zircon]] [[crystal]], is 4.4 billion years old.<ref name=”OldZircon”>[http://www.geology.wisc.edu/zircon/Wilde_et_al.PDF Letter to Nature] Wilde SA., Valley JW., Peck WH., Graham CM., 2001. Evidence from detrital zircons for the existence of continental crust and oceans on the Earth 4.4 Gyr ago. Nature, v. 409, pp. 175-178. "No crustal rocks are known to have survived since the time of the intense meteor bombardment that affected Earth between its formation about 4,550Myr ago and 4,030Myr, the age of the oldest known components in the Acasta Gneiss of northwestern Canada." </ref><ref>[http://www.uky.edu/AS/Geology/webdogs/glossary/defs.htm Definitions] Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky. ''Detrital'' refers to "loose grains of minerals or rocks that have been eroded from other rocks or earth materials. A detrital sedimentary rock is one that is composed of grains that derive from preexisting rocks. A quartz sandstone, for example, is typically composed of quartz grains that were eroded away from an extant body of rock (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary)".</ref> Since then, rocks have registered the events on our planet, an archive that becomes increasingly complete over time.


Different schemata for the geologic ages do exist but there is a great deal of consensus as well as generalised omissions. Therefore many sources will note ages that others do not and visa versa.  
Geologists use the term [[Age (geology)|age]] to refer to specific nomenclature that is much more exact than common use (see "nomenclature" below). '''Geological ages''', in common use, refer to periods of marked change in the processes and events in the entire history of the [[earth]]. These changes have been delineated by physical evidence found in the earth’s [[Earth science|lithosphere]]. Ages are also noted in reference to the types of organisms found in the fossil record down to the present day. Changes are marked by (but not exclusive of) such processes as volcanic activity, flooding, and seismic activity.


=History=
[[Geologist]]s describe and study the geologic time in two distinct ways. On the one hand, they try to measure the geologic time as a physical quantity: this is the aim of a field of [[Earth science]]s called [[geochronometry]]. The geologic time is most commonly measured with methods based on the [[radioactive decay]] of long-lived unstable [[isotope]]s present in the earth's [[crust]], and is expressed in [[Ma]] (i.e., millions of years ago).


Determining geological ages and configuring current schema is a direct outgrowth of research into natural radioactive decay that began with French physicist Henry Becquerel's discovery of the radioactive decay of uranium in 1896. Employing radioactivity to determine geologic time was first suggested in 1905 by New  Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford. Rutherford had determined that radioactive decay in any given material proceeds at a constant rate. Those elements are present in geologic samples and their radioactivity can be measured in extreme lengths of time.<ref> E. Rutherford’s work was reported in numerous publications: ''Radioactivity'' 1904, Cambridge University Press 2nd Edition 1905, (pp580); ''Radioactive Transformations'' (1906) Charles Scribner's Sons, NY  (pp287) From his Silliman Memorial Lectures at Yale University, March 1905. For a comprehensive list of his related publications refer to [http://www.rutherford.org.nz/bibliography.htm Rutherford's Publications] Rutherford.org.nz</ref> In 1907, radiochemist Bertram Borden Boltwood (Massachusets) published his schema for geologic ages that incorporated radioactive decay measures.<ref>Boltwood, Bertram (1907) ''The Ultimate Disintegration Products of the Radio-active Elements. Part II. The disintegration products of uranium.''  American Journal of Science series 4, volume 23, pages 77-88</ref> Boltwood’s premise for his dating method was that the decay of uranium suggested that geologic age could be determined by ratios of uranium, thorium and lead contained in the rocks. This produced values of extreme lengths of time, some exceeding two billion years. Boltwood’s ages have since been revised but his calculations indicating from hundreds to thousands of millions of years are still considered correct.<ref>[http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/geoage.htm Geologic Age] USGS Learning Web. Retrieved 16 April, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www7.nationalacademies.org/archives/Brief_History_Division_of_Earth_Sciences.html A Brief History of the Division of Earth Sciences] National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 April, 2007</ref>
On other hand, geologic time can be described by establishing a hierarchical scheme of relative [[geochronology|time subdivisions]]. This was the only representation of geologic time before radioactive decay was discovered, but it is still widely used in the current geologic practice and research. The boundaries of major relative time subdivisions, and especially those of the [[geochronology|erathems]], are marked by [[Extinction|mass extinction]]s, in turn associated with physical events such as extreme volcanic activity and bolide impacts (bolides are extraterrestrial bodies, asteroids or a meteors for example, that strike or impact the earth.)<ref>[http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/epubs/bolide/introduction.html#what_is_a_bolide Chesapeake Bay Bolide] Woods Hole Field Center, U.S. Geological Survey. “There is no consensus on its [bolide] definition, but we use it to mean an extraterrestrial body in the 1-10-km size range, which impacts the earth at velocities of literally faster than a speeding bullet (20-70 km/sec = Mach 75), explodes upon impact, and creates a large crater. "Bolide" is a generic term, used to imply that we do not know the precise nature of the impacting body . . . whether it is a rocky or metallic asteroid, or an icy comet, for example. or climate changes recognized globally.” Retrieved June 4, 2007</ref> <ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2320287 A Greek-English Lexicon] Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott (1940 edition). The word “bolide” is derived from the Greek word βολις, (bolis) which refers to a  projectile, a missile or javelin, in hunting or warfare. It is also used to indicate a “flash” of light as in “astrapôn bolides”, literally "lightning flash". It may also refer to “a cast of the dice", which, given the catastrophic and unpredictable events that ensue when a bolide strikes the earth, is an ironic metaphor for bolide influence on earth’s history.</ref>
 
However, the [[GSSP|definition of time-rock units]] must follow a formal procedure, implying that some boundaries are placed at completely arbitrary positions. Indeed, this is the case for most of the minor divisions ([[age (geology)|ages]]) of the geologic time.
 
The identification, description and quantification of geologic time involves, in addition to geochronometry, the fields of [[Stratigraphy|stratigraphy]] (the sub-discipline of [[geology]] studying the relationships of strata in time and space), [[Biostratigraphy|biostratigraphy]] (the use of fossils for ordering and correlating strata in relative time), and [[Geochronology|geochronology]] (the study of geological time itself).<ref name=GeoTimeLamont-Doherty>[http://rainbow.ldeo.columbia.edu/courses/v1001/geotime2.html Geological Time] Climate Modeling and Diagnostics Group, Division of Ocean and Climate Physics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University</ref>
 
When relative time subdivisions are coupled with absolute (measured) ages, they constitute a ''Geologic time scale'', which is the main topic of this article.
 
Different geological time scales exist and the issues involved in arriving at a meaningful date can be very complex.<ref>[http://earth-time.org/earthtime_sience.pdf A Call for Telling Better Time over the Eons] Richard A. Kerr (2003) Science vol 302:14 October</ref> Many regionalised time scales carry variations and omissions, but a reasonable consensus was reached on the 2004 geologic time scale by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).<ref name=”Timescale”>Gradstein FM., Ogg JG., and Smith AG., 2004, A Geologic Time Scale 2004. Cambridge University Press.</ref>  Subdivisions and absolute ages of this article are based mostly on this publication.
 
==History==
The underlying premises or basic ideas about geological ages and time scales in modern earth science are from people who worked during the period spanning the late 17th to the19th centuries. In 1669, '''Nicolaus Steno''' <ref>born Niels Steensen in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1638, died 1686[http://dadlnet.uni2.dk/~d228265/steno/steno.htm]</ref> described the '''principle of original horizontality''' composed of four basic geologic principles that today are the fundamental concepts of stratigraphy<ref> ''De solido intra solidum naturaliter contento dissertationis prodromus'', or ''Preliminary discourse to a dissertation on a solid body naturally contained within a solid.'' (The book's title is often simply abbreviated to '''Prodromus'''.)</ref>:
*'''Superposition of strata''': Sedimentary materials are deposited from a fluid (particles in solution) onto a solid surface, ergo the strata above did not exist when lower stratum was formed;
*'''Initial horizontality of strata''': Sedimentary materials are laid down laterally in a continuous horizontal manner (stratum),
*'''Stratal continuity''': Superposition (stacking) occurs according to age—younger rocks are deposited on top of older rock;
*'''Cross cutting relationships''': Deviation from horizontal layers (stratum) is altered after the material is deposited—earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.
 
So, like layers of paint, the different layers are laid down with the oldest on the very bottom and the youngest on top, then the next and so on. The key to this is understanding that at the time, the processes forming the earth were a complete mystery and explanations could be very convoluted and completely wrong. Steno’s work was a major breakthrough and he has been called the '''father of modern geology'''.
 
In 1795, '''James Hutton''' proposed the '''principle of uniformitarianism''', later developed by '''Charles Lyell''' (''Principles of Geology'', published 1830). This principle defines natural geologic processes as uniform in frequency and magnitude throughout time. This is a critical concept in other fields as well, the principle that natural phenomena in process in the far distant past are proceeding in the present time. The magnitude of the processes were considered to be unchanged and all change was the result of the ‘sum of small effects’. Conceptually this came to mean that the earth is very old. How old was originally posited to be in the tens of millions of years but later work by '''Ernest Rutherford''' changed this dramatically.
 
The next phase of development in this field was from a canal builder in 19th century England, '''William Smith''', In 1815 Smith produced a geologic map of England demonstrating the '''principle of biotic succession''': The different types of animals that had lived and died in that region over immense periods of time had changed and left their fossils attesting to their existence. Simply put the principle of biotic succession says that fossils are found in rocks in a very definite order. Smith’s work has been incorporated to use fossils to define increments or stages within a relative time scale. Many of the ages are in fact named for the presence of life at those times. <ref>[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/histgeoscale.html The Geologic Time Scale in Historical Perspective] University of California Museum of Paleontology</ref><ref>[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/steno.html Nicholas Steno] University of California Museum of Paleontology</ref><ref>[http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/histgeol/steno/steno.htm Nicolaus Steno] James S. Aber, History of Geology, Emporia State University</ref><ref name=GeoTimeLamont-Doherty/>
 
Determining geological ages and configuring current schema today is a direct outgrowth of research into natural [[radioactive decay]] that began with French physicist '''Henry Becquerel''''s discovery of the radioactive decay of [[uranium]] in 1896. Employing radioactivity to determine geologic time was first suggested in 1905 by New  Zealand physicist '''Ernest Rutherford'''. Rutherford had determined that radioactive decay in any given material proceeds at a constant rate. Those elements are present in geologic samples and their radioactivity can be measured in extreme lengths of time.<ref> E. Rutherford’s work was reported in numerous publications: ''Radioactivity'' 1904, Cambridge University Press 2nd Edition 1905, (pp580); ''Radioactive Transformations'' (1906) Charles Scribner's Sons, NY  (pp287) From his Silliman Memorial Lectures at Yale University, March 1905. For a comprehensive list of his related publications refer to [http://www.rutherford.org.nz/bibliography.htm Rutherford's Publications] Rutherford.org.nz</ref> In 1907, radiochemist '''Bertram Borden Boltwood''' (Massachusetts) published his schema for geologic ages that incorporated radioactive decay measures.<ref>Boltwood, Bertram (1907) ''The Ultimate Disintegration Products of the Radio-active Elements. Part II. The disintegration products of uranium.''  American Journal of Science series 4, volume 23, pages 77-88</ref> Boltwood’s premise for his dating method was that the decay of uranium suggested that geologic age could be determined by ratios of uranium, thorium and lead contained in the rocks. (Lead is the product of the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium.) This produced values of extreme lengths of time, some exceeding two billion years. Boltwood’s ages have since been revised but his calculations indicating from hundreds to thousands of millions of years are still considered correct.<ref>[http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/geoage.htm Geologic Age] USGS Learning Web. Retrieved 16 April, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www7.nationalacademies.org/archives/Brief_History_Division_of_Earth_Sciences.html A Brief History of the Division of Earth Sciences] National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 April, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/geohist.html#Radiometric History of Radiometric Dating] Changing Views of the History of the Earth</ref>
 
==Definitions==
Determining the age of the earth from physical evidence involves a number of fields that are strongly interrelated. Often the terms are intermingled while the goals and methods may be similar or different.
 
*Stratigraphy: The study of the order in which units of rock are deposited.
*Stratum (pl. strata): A unit of sedimentary rock, bounded on the upper and lower limits by different layers of rock (bedding planes and that are reasonably persistence on a lateral plane. In other words, a definable, physically obvious, layer of rock.
*Formation: A unit of rocks which is consistently recognizable over wide areas. Formations are employed to make geological maps.
*Period: The time-span over which a geological system was deposited. Time-units correspond to a recognised and defined body of rock defined by methods used in stratigraphic palaeontology.
*System: the rocks laid down during a Period (Carboniferous, Jurassic, etc.) For example, the Cretaceous System was created during the Cretaceous Period.
<ref>[http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm Geological Society of London]</ref>
 
For largely pragmatic reasons, earth history needs to be subdivided into smaller portions. However, any period has different aspects:
 
*'''Lithostratigraphic Units''': Rocks are deposited in successive layers which have chemically and mineralogically distinct characteristics. The subdivision of the rock successions leads to the distinction of Groups, Formations, and Members.<ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/litho.htm Lithostratigraphic units] International Stratigraphic Guide</ref>
*'''Biostratigraphic Units''': Distinctive characteristics of fossils of animals and plants which exist for limited periods of time in recognisable biozones permit the delineation rocks of certain ages in which they are deposited.<ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/bio.htm Biostratigraphic units] International Stratigraphic Guide</ref>
*'''Chronostratigraphic Units''': Geochonographic measures of absolute time leads to chronostratigraphy and enables the subdivision of systems into Series and Stages.<ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/chron.htm Chronostratigraphic units] International Stratigraphic Guide</ref>
*'''Magnetostratigraphic Units''': Measurable magnetic properties of rocks may vary between different strata. These variations become the bases for different kinds of stratigraphic units known collectively as "magnetostratigraphic polarity units"  or "magnetozones".<ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/magn.htm Magnetostratigraphic polarity units]International Stratigraphic Guide</ref>
 
These subdivisions are done locally as well as globally. All hierarchically ordered units better serve research if they are fixed by sound boundaries that can be easily correlated worldwide. <ref>[http://wwwalt.uni-wuerzburg.de/palaeontologie/Stuff/casu6.htm Cambrian Stratigraphy] International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy, International Commission on Stratigraphy</ref>


==Nomenclature==
==Nomenclature==
A common nomenclature for geological ages are in descending order (largest span of time to narrowest):
The ICS nomenclature for stratigraphic units is both Chronostratigraphic and Geochronological. They are positioned here in descending order (largest span of time to narrowest):
*Eon
*Era
*Period
*Subperiod
*Epoch
*Age


These demarcations are delineated by length of time in millons of years
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" width="60%"
! Chronostratigraphic units
! Geochronologic units
|- style="background:rgb(225,225,175)"
|
* [[Eonothem]]
** [[Erathem]]
*** [[System (geology)|System]]
**** [[Series (Geology|Series]]
***** [[Stage (geology)|Stage]]
****** Substage
|
* [[Eon]]
** [[Era (geology)|Era]]
*** [[Period (geology)|Period]]
**** [[Epoch (geology)|Epoch]]
***** [[Age (geology)|Age]]
****** Subage
|}
 
There are two meanings for "age": one is the fundamental chronostratigraphic unit [[Age (geology)]], the other is the result an absolute datation, e.g., a radiometric datation, and is a number (e.g., the Induan age begun ca. 252 Ma, where "252 Ma" is a radiometric age). So "Induan" is an age, but to construe the "Triassic" as an age is an error: "Triassic" is a period.
 
These demarcations are delineated below in length of time in millions of years.


==Schemata==
==Schemata==
Global definitions of chronostratigraphic boundaries are the purview of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). While there are regional stratigraphic schemata that will vary considerably, there are international standards with which these various schema do agree and are referred to. The recommendations for Global Standard Stratotype-section and Points (GSSP) which demarcate the boundaries of the strata and ultimately define the age of the earth are processed through a sequence of stages. Stratigraphic boundaries are proposed to the sub-commission on a particular geologic stage who then submit their recommendations to the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) for official acceptance. The ICS then refer their recommendations to the Executive Committee of IUGS for ratification. In this way, geologists the world over refer to a standard reference for the worldwide correlation of the boundary.
This distinguishes between lithostratigraphic definitions which can vary a great deal from region to region and chronostratigraphic definitions which are meant to set internationally defined standards. Whereas the lithostratigraphic studies denote physical characteristics of the strata (mineral and biotic sequences for example), the chronostratigraphic studies use various methods combining analysis of fossil records and radiometric studies to provide relative and absolute dating.<ref> see for example the [http://www.episodes.org/backissues/212/88-93%20CASTRO.pdf Introduction] Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) of the Piacenzian Stage (Middle
Pliocene)</ref>
===Eons===
===Eons===
*Phanerozoic Eon
====Phanerozoic====
:Beginning approxmately 543 million years ago (mya) to present
Beginning approximately 543 [[Ma]] (million years ago), the '''Phanerozoic''' eonothem is represented by rocks containing abundant fossil evidence. The word has Greek roots, deriving from ''Phaneros'' (Greek: ''φανερος'') means “visible”, and ''zooikos'' (Greek: ''ζωικός'') means “of or pertaining to animal”. The Phanerozoic spans, indeed, the time when abundant life forms became evident.<ref name=WoodhouseEnglish-Greek-Dictionary>[http://colet.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/chuck/woodhouse_pages.pl?page_num=954] Woodhouse English Greek Dictionary</ref><ref name=Dorlands>Dorlands Illustrated Medical Dictionary</ref>
*Precambrian Eon
:Beginning approxmately 4,500 mya and ending approximately 543 mya


===Era===
The '''Phanerozoic Eon''' encompasses three eras (in descending order  to oldest):
The '''Phanerozoic Eon''' encompasses three eras (in descending order  to oldest)
*Cenozoic Era (65 mya to today)
*Cenozoic Era (65 mya to today)
From the Greek word ''kainos'' (καινος), meaning ''fresh'' or ''new'' and ''zoikos'' (ζωικός), ''of or pertaining to animals'', combined here to denote new life. This marked the end of a major extinction of dinosaurs, foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils etc. and the emergence of an abundance of mammalian life.<ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/geowhen/stages/Cenozoic.html Cenozoic] GeoWhen Database</ref><ref name=Dorlands/><ref name=WoodhouseEnglish-Greek-Dictionary/>
*Mesozoic Era (248 to 65 mya)
*Mesozoic Era (248 to 65 mya)
*Paleozoic Era (543 to 248 mya)
*Paleozoic Era (543 to 248 mya)


The '''Precambrian Eon''' encompasses three eras (in descending order to oldest)
 
*Proterozoic Era (2500 to 543 mya)
{| class="wikitable" border="3" style="font-size:95%; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"  cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
*Archaean (3800 to 2500 mya)
|-
*Hadean (4500 to 3800 mya)
! width="25%" | [[Erathem]]/[[Era (geology)|Era]]
! width="25%" | [[System (geology)|System]]/[[Period (geology)|Period]]
! width="25%" | [[Series (geology)|Series]]/[[Epoch (geology)|Epoch]]
! width="25%" | [[Stage (geology)|Stage]]/[[Age (geology)|Age]]
|-
| rowspan="22" style="border: 1px solid rgb(250,253,1);border-left: 20px solid rgb(250,253,1)" | [[Cenozoic]]<ref>The [[Cenozoic]] (or Cainozoic) is subdivided into two sub-eras: [[Tertiary]] and [[Quaternary]]. In the 2004 [[Geologic time scale]], the base of the Quaternary corresponds to the base of the [[Gelasian]] (i.e., within the Pliocene). This convention is at odds with traditional  use of the term [[Quaternary]], which is usually intended as the [[Pleistocene]]+[[Holocene]], and is currently hotly debated (cf. GRADSTEIN et al., 2004)</ref>
| rowspan="13" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,232,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,232,0)" | [[Neogene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,251,240);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,251,240)" | [[Holocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,251,240);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,251,240)" | &nbsp;
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,247,176);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,247,176)" | [[Pleistocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,247,176);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,247,176)" | Upper/Late
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,247,176);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,247,176)" | Middle/Mid
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,247,176);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,247,176)" | [[Lower/Early]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,153)" | [[Pliocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,153)" | [[Gelasian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,153)" | [[Piacenzian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,153)" | [[Zanclean]]
|-
| rowspan="6" style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Miocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Messinian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Tortonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Serravallian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Langhian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Burdigalian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(255,255,0)" | [[Aquitanian]]
|-
| rowspan="9" style="border: 1px solid rgb(253,154,82);border-left: 20px solid rgb(253,154,82)" | [[Paleogene]]
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,224,144);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,224,144)" | [[Oligocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,224,144);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,224,144)" | [[Chattian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,224,144);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,224,144)" | [[Rupelian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,209,59);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,209,59)" | [[Eocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,209,59);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,209,59)" | [[Priabonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,209,59);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,209,59)" | [[Bartonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,209,59);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,209,59)" | [[Lutetian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,209,59);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,209,59)" | [[Ypresian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(235,192,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(235,192,109)" | [[Paleocene]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(235,192,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(235,192,109)" | [[Thanetian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(235,192,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(235,192,109)" | [[Selandian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(235,192,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(235,192,109)" | [[Danian]]
|-
| rowspan="30" style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,197,202);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,197,202)" | [[Mesozoic]]
| rowspan="12" style="border: 1px solid rgb(197,229,71);border-left: 20px solid rgb(197,229,71)" | [[Cretaceous]]
| rowspan="6" style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | Upper/Late
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Maastrichtian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Campanian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(255,255,0);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Santonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Coniacian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Turonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,243,152);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,243,152)" | [[Cenomanian]]
|-
| rowspan="6" style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | Lower/Early
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Albian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Aptian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Barremian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Hauterivian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Valanginian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,170,84);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,170,84)" | [[Berriasian]]
|-
| rowspan="11" style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,244,224);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,244,224)" | [[Jurassic]]
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(179,226,230);border-left: 20px solid rgb(179,226,230)" | Upper/Late
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(179,226,230);border-left: 20px solid rgb(179,226,230)" | [[Tithonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(179,226,230);border-left: 20px solid rgb(179,226,230)" | [[Kimmeridgian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(179,226,230);border-left: 20px solid rgb(179,226,230)" | [[Oxfordian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(130,215,232);border-left: 20px solid rgb(130,215,232)" | Middle/Mid
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(130,215,232);border-left: 20px solid rgb(130,215,232)" | [[Callovian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(130,215,232);border-left: 20px solid rgb(130,215,232)" | [[Bathonian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(130,215,232);border-left: 20px solid rgb(130,215,232)" | [[Bajocian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(130,215,232);border-left: 20px solid rgb(130,215,232)" | [[Aalenian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,160,198);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,160,198)" | Lower/Early
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,160,198);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,160,198)" | Toarcian
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,160,198);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,160,198)" | [[Pliensbachian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,160,198);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,160,198)" | [[Sinemurian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,160,198);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,160,198)" | [[Hettangian]]
|-
| rowspan="7" style="border: 1px solid rgb(107,1,125);border-left: 20px solid rgb(107,1,125)" | [[Triassic]]
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(228,197,225);border-left: 20px solid rgb(228,197,225)" | Upper/Late
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(228,197,225);border-left: 20px solid rgb(228,197,225)" | [[Rhaetian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(228,197,225);border-left: 20px solid rgb(228,197,225)" | [[Norian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(228,197,225);border-left: 20px solid rgb(228,197,225)" | [[Carnian]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(177,137,193);border-left: 20px solid rgb(177,137,193)" | Middle/Mid
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(177,137,193);border-left: 20px solid rgb(177,137,193)" | [[Ladinian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(177,137,193);border-left: 20px solid rgb(177,137,193)" | [[Anisian]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(152,57,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(152,57,153)" | Lower/Early
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(152,57,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(152,57,153)" | [[Olenekian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(152,57,153);border-left: 20px solid rgb(152,57,153)" | [[Induan]]
|-
| rowspan="48" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,192,160);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,192,160)" | [[Paleozoic]]
| rowspan="9" style="border: 1px solid rgb(240,64,40);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,64,40)" | [[Permian]]
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(250,154,163);border-left: 20px solid rgb(250,154,163)" | [[Lopingian]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(250,154,163);border-left: 20px solid rgb(250,154,163)" | [[Changhsingian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(250,154,163);border-left: 20px solid rgb(250,154,163)" | [[Wuchiapingian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(240,150,82);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,150,82)" | [[Guadalupian]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(240,150,82);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,150,82)" | [[Capitanian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(240,150,82);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,150,82)" | [[Wordian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(240,150,82);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,150,82)" | [[Roadian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(202,60,64);border-left: 20px solid rgb(202,60,64)" | [[Cisuralian]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(202,60,64);border-left: 20px solid rgb(202,60,64)" | [[Kungurian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(202,60,64);border-left: 20px solid rgb(202,60,64)" | [[Artinskian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(202,60,64);border-left: 20px solid rgb(202,60,64)" | [[Sakmarian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(202,60,64);border-left: 20px solid rgb(202,60,64)" | [[Asselian]]
|-
| rowspan="7" style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,171,160);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,171,160)" | [[Carboniferous]]
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,196,181);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,196,181)" | [[Pennsylvanian]]<ref name="CarSubSys">The [[Pennsylvanian]] and [[Mississippian]] have the rank of subsystems. However, all but the last Carboniferous [[Series (geology)|series]] comprise only one [[Stage (geology)|stage]] and have been omitted from this scheme</ref>
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,196,181);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,196,181)" | [[Gzhelian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,196,181);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,196,181)" | [[Kasimovian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,196,181);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,196,181)" | [[Moscovian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,196,181);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,196,181)" | [[Bashkirian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,148,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,148,109)" | [[Mississippian]]<ref name="CarSubSys"/>
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,148,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,148,109)" | [[Serpukhovian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,148,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,148,109)" | [[Visean]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(103,148,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(103,148,109)" | [[Tournaisian]]
|-
| rowspan="7" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203,140,55);border-left: 20px solid rgb(203,140,55)" | [[Devonian]]
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(204,206,169)" | Upper/Late
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(204,206,169)" | [[Famennian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(204,206,169)" | [[Frasnian]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,165,109)" | Middle/Mid
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,165,109)" | [[Givetian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,165,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,165,109)" | [[Eifelian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,148,73);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,148,73)" | Lower/Early
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,148,73);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,148,73)" | [[Emsian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,148,73);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,148,73)" | [[Pragian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,148,73);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,148,73)" | [[Lochkovian]]
|-
| rowspan="8" style="border: 1px solid rgb(179,226,208);border-left: 20px solid rgb(179,226,208)" | [[Silurian]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(245,251,240);border-left: 20px solid rgb(245,251,240)" | [[Pridoli]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(245,251,240);border-left: 20px solid rgb(245,251,240)" | [[Pridoli]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,244,224);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,244,224)" | [[Ludlow]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,244,224);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,244,224)" | [[Ludfordian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(226,244,224);border-left: 20px solid rgb(226,244,224)" | [[Gorstian]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(197,232,195);border-left: 20px solid rgb(197,232,195)" | [[Wenlock]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(197,232,195);border-left: 20px solid rgb(197,232,195)" | [[Homerian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(197,232,195);border-left: 20px solid rgb(197,232,195)" | [[Sheinwoodian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,215,179);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,215,179)" | [[Llandovery]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,215,179);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,215,179)" | [[Telychian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,215,179);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,215,179)" | [[Aeronian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(153,215,179);border-left: 20px solid rgb(153,215,179)" | [[Rhuddanian]]
|-
| rowspan="7" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0,146,112);border-left: 20px solid rgb(0,146,112)" | [[Ordovician]]
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,192,146);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,192,146)" | Upper/Late
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,192,146);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,192,146)" | [[Himantian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,192,146);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,192,146)" | [[Katian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,192,146);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,192,146)" | [[Sandbian]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,156,104);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,156,104)" | Middle/Mid
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,156,104);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,156,104)" | [[Darriwilian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(65,156,104);border-left: 20px solid rgb(65,156,104)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(1,128,85);border-left: 20px solid rgb(1,128,85)" | Lower/Early
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(1,128,85);border-left: 20px solid rgb(1,128,85)" | [[Floian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(1,128,85);border-left: 20px solid rgb(1,128,85)" | [[Tremadocian]]
|-
| rowspan="10" style="border: 1px solid rgb(64,133,33);border-left: 20px solid rgb(64,133,33)" | [[Cambrian (geology)|Cambrian]]
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(215,211,170);border-left: 20px solid rgb(215,211,170)" | [[Furongian]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(215,211,170);border-left: 20px solid rgb(215,211,170)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(215,211,170);border-left: 20px solid rgb(215,211,170)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(215,211,170);border-left: 20px solid rgb(215,211,170)" | [[Paibian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(200,190,120);border-left: 20px solid rgb(200,190,120)" | ''Unnamed''
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(200,190,120);border-left: 20px solid rgb(200,190,120)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(200,190,120);border-left: 20px solid rgb(200,190,120)" | [[Drumian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(200,190,120);border-left: 20px solid rgb(200,190,120)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(182,174,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(182,174,109)" | ''Unnamed''
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(182,174,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(182,174,109)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(182,174,109);border-left: 20px solid rgb(182,174,109)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| rowspan="2" style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,169,75);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,169,75)" | ''Unnamed''
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,169,75);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,169,75)" | ''Unnamed''
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(102,169,75);border-left: 20px solid rgb(102,169,75)" | ''Unnamed''
|}
 
====Precambrian====
The name is derived from ''Cambria'', the Roman word for ''Wales'', the area where the rocks of the Cambrian Period was first studied. ''Pre-'' indicates the ages before the rocks dated in Wales.<ref>[http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/glossary.htm Glossary] Illinois State Geological Survey</ref>Not actually termed an ‘Eon' by the ICS. Beginning approximately 4,500 mya and ending approximately 543 mya, the Precambrian encompasses about 88% of the earth's entire existence.
The '''Precambrian''' encompasses three eons (in descending order to oldest), subdivided into eras:
*Proterozoic Eon (2500 to 543 mya)
**Neoproterozoic (900 to 543 mya)
**Mesoproterozoic (1600 to 900 mya)
**Paleoproterozoic (2500 to 1600 mya)
*Archaean Eon (3800 to 2500 mya)
**Neoarchean (2800 mya to 2500 mya)
**Mesoarchean (3200 to 2800 mya)
**Paleoarchean (3600 to 3200 mya)
**Eoarchean  (no lower limit defined to 3600 mya)
*Hadean Eon (4500 to 3800 mya – Not Recognised by the International Commission on Stratigraphy)
 
While the International Commission on Stratigraphy does not define a beginning of the Archean, it is commonly regarded as that time when the earth solidified. The oldest known earth rocks are about 3.8 billion years old and that is a figure often used to mark the beginning of the Archean Era.
 
The ''Hadean Eon'' is divided into varying era schemes but none are recognised by the ISC. The Hadean is the period of time the earth was forming literally from a gaseous cloud as the solar system and the sun were forming. The only rocks on earth that date from that period are meteorites which are about 4.5 billion years old (the oldest lunar rocks are also about 4.5 billion years old). Technically, the Hadean is not a geologic eon since there are no rocks on the planet from the time of formation. The oldest known earth rocks are about 3.8 billion years old and would have formed after the earth turned from a molten to a solid state. The Hadean is not recognised by the International Commission on Stratigraphy.<ref>[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/precambrian/hadean.html Hadean time] University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved April 17, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/geowhen/stages/Hadean.html Hadean Eon] GeoWhen Database</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable" border="3" style="font-size:95%; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"  cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|-
! width="33%" | [[Eonothem]]/[[Eon]]
! width="33%" | [[Erathem]]/[[Era (geology)|Era]]
! width="33%" | [[System (geology)|System]]/[[Period (geology)|Period]]
|-
| rowspan="10" style="border: 1px solid rgb(251,154,148);border-left: 20px solid rgb(251,154,148)" | [[Proterozoic]]
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,179,67);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,179,67)" | [[Neoproterozoic]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,179,67);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,179,67)" | [[Ediacaran]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,179,67);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,179,67)" | [[Cryogenian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(254,179,67);border-left: 20px solid rgb(254,179,67)" | [[Tonian]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(253,180,105);border-left: 20px solid rgb(253,180,105)" | [[Mesoproterozoic]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(253,180,105);border-left: 20px solid rgb(253,180,105)" | [[Stenian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(253,180,105);border-left: 20px solid rgb(253,180,105)" | [[Ectasian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(253,180,105);border-left: 20px solid rgb(253,180,105)" | [[Calymmian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(247,67,115);border-left: 20px solid rgb(247,67,115)" | [[Paleoproterozoic]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(247,67,115);border-left: 20px solid rgb(247,67,115)" | [[Statherian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(247,67,115);border-left: 20px solid rgb(247,67,115)" | [[Orosirian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(247,67,115);border-left: 20px solid rgb(247,67,115)" | [[Rhyacian]]
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(247,67,115);border-left: 20px solid rgb(247,67,115)" | [[Siderian]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(249,155,197);border-left: 20px solid rgb(240,2,127)" | [[Archean]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(249,155,197);border-left: 20px solid rgb(249,155,197)" | [[Neoarchean]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(249,155,197);border-left: 20px solid rgb(249,155,197)" | &nbsp;
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(234,102,177);border-left: 20px solid rgb(234,102,177)" | [[Mesoarchean]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(234,102,177);border-left: 20px solid rgb(234,102,177)" | &nbsp;
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(244,68,159);border-left: 20px solid rgb(244,68,159)" | [[Paleoarchean]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(244,68,159);border-left: 20px solid rgb(244,68,159)" | &nbsp;
|-
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(218,2,127);border-left: 20px solid rgb(218,2,127);" | [[Eoarchean]]
| style="border: 1px solid rgb(218,2,127);border-left: 20px solid rgb(218,2,127);" | &nbsp;
|}
 
The geological ages were originally demarcated into '''Primary''', '''Secondary''', '''Tertiary''' and '''Quaternary Eras'''. Giovanni Arduino (circa 1759) proposed that all of geologic time should be broken up into three great orders: the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. In 1829, Jules Desnoyers proposed the term "Quaternary" to describe of rocks younger than the youngest Tertiary deposits. The eras have since been renamed and Tertiary and Quaternary were merged into the Cenozoic as “periods” not eras. However, the boundary between the Tertiary (65 to 1.8 mya) and Quaternary (1.8 mya to today) were ambiguously defined and these terms have in turn been replaced. The International Commission on Stratigraphy now endorses the terms '''Paleogene''' and '''Neogene''' to subdivide the Cenozoic Era with a provisional demarcation of the '''Quaternary''' at the end of the era<ref name=USGS_GeoTime>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/divisions.html Major Divisions of Geologic Time] USGA </ref><ref>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/geowhen/TQ.html Whatever happened to the Tertiary and Quaternary?] GeoWhen Database, Robert A. Rohde
Physics Department, University of California at Berkeley</ref><ref name=ISC>[http://www.stratigraphy.org/cheu.pdf International Stratigraphic Chart] International Commission on Stratigraphy, 2007</ref>


===Period===
===Period===
The '''Cenozoic Era''' encompasses two periods (in descending order to oldest)
====Cenozoic Era====
*Quaternary (1.8 mya to today)
In descending order to oldest:
*Tertiary (65 to 1.8 mya)
*Quaternary (end of Neogene to present day - see note below)
*Neogene (23.03 mya to Quaternary Period)  
*Paleogene (65.5 to 23.03 mya)


The Cenozoic was originally demarcated into Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Eras. The eras have been merged into Cenozoic and the Quaternary and Tertiary have been retained as “periods” not eras.<ref name USGS-GeoTime>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/divisions.html Major Divisions of Geologic Time] USGA </ref>
The current stratigraphic schema for the Cenozoic places the Quaternary at the end of the Neogene spanning a period of time beginning 2.6 million years ago or beginning 1.8 mya till the present time. However, the ICS has asterisked the Quaternary as ‘not yet decided’.<ref name=ISC/>


The '''Mesozoic Era''' has three periods
====Mesozoic Era====
*Cretaceous (144 to 65 mya)
*Cretaceous (144 to 65 mya)
*Jurassic (206 to 144 mya)
*Jurassic (206 to 144 mya)
*Triassic (248 to 206 mya)
*Triassic (248 to 206 mya)


The '''Paleozoic Era''' has six periods
====Paleozoic Era====
[[Image:Ohio fossil 8677.JPG|Brachiopods, bryozoans and crinoid stems from Ordovician Limestone, [[Batavia, Ohio]]|right|thumb]]
 
*Permian (290 to 248 mya)
*Permian (290 to 248 mya)
*Carboniferous (354 to 290 mya)
*Carboniferous (354 to 290 mya)
*Devonian (417 to 354 mya)
*Devonian (417 to 354 mya)
*Silurian (443 to 417 mya)
*Silurian (443 to 417 mya)
*Ordovician (490 to 443 mya)
*Ordovician (48 to 443 mya)
*Cambrian (543 to 490 mya)
*[[Cambrian (geology)|Cambrian]] (542 to 488 mya)
 
The '''Proterozoic Era''' has three periods
*Neoproterozoic (900 to 543 mya)
*Mesoproterozoic (1600 to 900 mya)
*Paleoproterozoic (2500 to 1600 mya)
 
The '''Archean Era''' and the '''Hadean Era''' are not divided into periods
 
==Sources==
*US Geological Survey [http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/divisions.html] Major Divisions of Geologic Time. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*USGS [http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/geoage.htm] Geologic Age. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*OTS Heavy Oil Science Center [http://www.lloydminsterheavyoil.com/geoages.htm] Geological Ages of the Earth. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*University of California Museum of Paleontology [http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html] Web Geological Time Machine. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*Dinosauria On-line [http://www.dinosauria.com/dml/history.htm] Geologic Ages of Earth History. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*Raven, P. H., R. F. Evert, and S. E. Eichorn. (1999). Biology of Plants. New York: W. H. Freeman and Co. Worth Publishers.
*Harland, W. Brian, Richard Armstrong, Allan Cox, Craig Lorraine, Alan Smith and David Smith. (1990). ''A Geologic Time Scale 1989''. New York: Cambridge University Press. Cited in Dinosauria. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
*Gradstein, F.M., F.P. Agterberg, J.G. Ogg, J. Hardenbol, P. van Veen, J. Thierry and Z. Huang. (1995). ''A Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous time scale'', pp. 95-126. IN W.A. Bergrgren, D.V. Kent, M.-P. Aubry & J. Hardenbol (eds.), Geochronology, Time Scales, and Global Stratigraphic Correlation. SEPM Special Publication No. 54.  Cited in Dinosauria. Retrieved 15, April, 2007
 
==References ==
<references/>


[[Category:CZ Live]]
==References==
[[Category:Earth Sciences Workgroup]]
{{reflist|2}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

Latest revision as of 07:00, 21 August 2024

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Geologic_ages_of_earth_history&printable=yes
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

The geologic history of the earth is preserved and documented in its rocks. The oldest fragment of earth's crust known so far, a detrital zircon crystal, is 4.4 billion years old.[1][2] Since then, rocks have registered the events on our planet, an archive that becomes increasingly complete over time.

Geologists use the term age to refer to specific nomenclature that is much more exact than common use (see "nomenclature" below). Geological ages, in common use, refer to periods of marked change in the processes and events in the entire history of the earth. These changes have been delineated by physical evidence found in the earth’s lithosphere. Ages are also noted in reference to the types of organisms found in the fossil record down to the present day. Changes are marked by (but not exclusive of) such processes as volcanic activity, flooding, and seismic activity.

Geologists describe and study the geologic time in two distinct ways. On the one hand, they try to measure the geologic time as a physical quantity: this is the aim of a field of Earth sciences called geochronometry. The geologic time is most commonly measured with methods based on the radioactive decay of long-lived unstable isotopes present in the earth's crust, and is expressed in Ma (i.e., millions of years ago).

On other hand, geologic time can be described by establishing a hierarchical scheme of relative time subdivisions. This was the only representation of geologic time before radioactive decay was discovered, but it is still widely used in the current geologic practice and research. The boundaries of major relative time subdivisions, and especially those of the erathems, are marked by mass extinctions, in turn associated with physical events such as extreme volcanic activity and bolide impacts (bolides are extraterrestrial bodies, asteroids or a meteors for example, that strike or impact the earth.)[3] [4]

However, the definition of time-rock units must follow a formal procedure, implying that some boundaries are placed at completely arbitrary positions. Indeed, this is the case for most of the minor divisions (ages) of the geologic time.

The identification, description and quantification of geologic time involves, in addition to geochronometry, the fields of stratigraphy (the sub-discipline of geology studying the relationships of strata in time and space), biostratigraphy (the use of fossils for ordering and correlating strata in relative time), and geochronology (the study of geological time itself).[5]

When relative time subdivisions are coupled with absolute (measured) ages, they constitute a Geologic time scale, which is the main topic of this article.

Different geological time scales exist and the issues involved in arriving at a meaningful date can be very complex.[6] Many regionalised time scales carry variations and omissions, but a reasonable consensus was reached on the 2004 geologic time scale by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).[7] Subdivisions and absolute ages of this article are based mostly on this publication.

History

The underlying premises or basic ideas about geological ages and time scales in modern earth science are from people who worked during the period spanning the late 17th to the19th centuries. In 1669, Nicolaus Steno [8] described the principle of original horizontality composed of four basic geologic principles that today are the fundamental concepts of stratigraphy[9]:

  • Superposition of strata: Sedimentary materials are deposited from a fluid (particles in solution) onto a solid surface, ergo the strata above did not exist when lower stratum was formed;
  • Initial horizontality of strata: Sedimentary materials are laid down laterally in a continuous horizontal manner (stratum),
  • Stratal continuity: Superposition (stacking) occurs according to age—younger rocks are deposited on top of older rock;
  • Cross cutting relationships: Deviation from horizontal layers (stratum) is altered after the material is deposited—earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.

So, like layers of paint, the different layers are laid down with the oldest on the very bottom and the youngest on top, then the next and so on. The key to this is understanding that at the time, the processes forming the earth were a complete mystery and explanations could be very convoluted and completely wrong. Steno’s work was a major breakthrough and he has been called the father of modern geology.

In 1795, James Hutton proposed the principle of uniformitarianism, later developed by Charles Lyell (Principles of Geology, published 1830). This principle defines natural geologic processes as uniform in frequency and magnitude throughout time. This is a critical concept in other fields as well, the principle that natural phenomena in process in the far distant past are proceeding in the present time. The magnitude of the processes were considered to be unchanged and all change was the result of the ‘sum of small effects’. Conceptually this came to mean that the earth is very old. How old was originally posited to be in the tens of millions of years but later work by Ernest Rutherford changed this dramatically.

The next phase of development in this field was from a canal builder in 19th century England, William Smith, In 1815 Smith produced a geologic map of England demonstrating the principle of biotic succession: The different types of animals that had lived and died in that region over immense periods of time had changed and left their fossils attesting to their existence. Simply put the principle of biotic succession says that fossils are found in rocks in a very definite order. Smith’s work has been incorporated to use fossils to define increments or stages within a relative time scale. Many of the ages are in fact named for the presence of life at those times. [10][11][12][5]

Determining geological ages and configuring current schema today is a direct outgrowth of research into natural radioactive decay that began with French physicist Henry Becquerel's discovery of the radioactive decay of uranium in 1896. Employing radioactivity to determine geologic time was first suggested in 1905 by New Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford. Rutherford had determined that radioactive decay in any given material proceeds at a constant rate. Those elements are present in geologic samples and their radioactivity can be measured in extreme lengths of time.[13] In 1907, radiochemist Bertram Borden Boltwood (Massachusetts) published his schema for geologic ages that incorporated radioactive decay measures.[14] Boltwood’s premise for his dating method was that the decay of uranium suggested that geologic age could be determined by ratios of uranium, thorium and lead contained in the rocks. (Lead is the product of the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium.) This produced values of extreme lengths of time, some exceeding two billion years. Boltwood’s ages have since been revised but his calculations indicating from hundreds to thousands of millions of years are still considered correct.[15][16][17]

Definitions

Determining the age of the earth from physical evidence involves a number of fields that are strongly interrelated. Often the terms are intermingled while the goals and methods may be similar or different.

  • Stratigraphy: The study of the order in which units of rock are deposited.
  • Stratum (pl. strata): A unit of sedimentary rock, bounded on the upper and lower limits by different layers of rock (bedding planes and that are reasonably persistence on a lateral plane. In other words, a definable, physically obvious, layer of rock.
  • Formation: A unit of rocks which is consistently recognizable over wide areas. Formations are employed to make geological maps.
  • Period: The time-span over which a geological system was deposited. Time-units correspond to a recognised and defined body of rock defined by methods used in stratigraphic palaeontology.
  • System: the rocks laid down during a Period (Carboniferous, Jurassic, etc.) For example, the Cretaceous System was created during the Cretaceous Period.

[18]

For largely pragmatic reasons, earth history needs to be subdivided into smaller portions. However, any period has different aspects:

  • Lithostratigraphic Units: Rocks are deposited in successive layers which have chemically and mineralogically distinct characteristics. The subdivision of the rock successions leads to the distinction of Groups, Formations, and Members.[19]
  • Biostratigraphic Units: Distinctive characteristics of fossils of animals and plants which exist for limited periods of time in recognisable biozones permit the delineation rocks of certain ages in which they are deposited.[20]
  • Chronostratigraphic Units: Geochonographic measures of absolute time leads to chronostratigraphy and enables the subdivision of systems into Series and Stages.[21]
  • Magnetostratigraphic Units: Measurable magnetic properties of rocks may vary between different strata. These variations become the bases for different kinds of stratigraphic units known collectively as "magnetostratigraphic polarity units" or "magnetozones".[22]

These subdivisions are done locally as well as globally. All hierarchically ordered units better serve research if they are fixed by sound boundaries that can be easily correlated worldwide. [23]

Nomenclature

The ICS nomenclature for stratigraphic units is both Chronostratigraphic and Geochronological. They are positioned here in descending order (largest span of time to narrowest):

Chronostratigraphic units Geochronologic units

There are two meanings for "age": one is the fundamental chronostratigraphic unit Age (geology), the other is the result an absolute datation, e.g., a radiometric datation, and is a number (e.g., the Induan age begun ca. 252 Ma, where "252 Ma" is a radiometric age). So "Induan" is an age, but to construe the "Triassic" as an age is an error: "Triassic" is a period.

These demarcations are delineated below in length of time in millions of years.

Schemata

Global definitions of chronostratigraphic boundaries are the purview of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). While there are regional stratigraphic schemata that will vary considerably, there are international standards with which these various schema do agree and are referred to. The recommendations for Global Standard Stratotype-section and Points (GSSP) which demarcate the boundaries of the strata and ultimately define the age of the earth are processed through a sequence of stages. Stratigraphic boundaries are proposed to the sub-commission on a particular geologic stage who then submit their recommendations to the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) for official acceptance. The ICS then refer their recommendations to the Executive Committee of IUGS for ratification. In this way, geologists the world over refer to a standard reference for the worldwide correlation of the boundary.

This distinguishes between lithostratigraphic definitions which can vary a great deal from region to region and chronostratigraphic definitions which are meant to set internationally defined standards. Whereas the lithostratigraphic studies denote physical characteristics of the strata (mineral and biotic sequences for example), the chronostratigraphic studies use various methods combining analysis of fossil records and radiometric studies to provide relative and absolute dating.[24]

Eons

Phanerozoic

Beginning approximately 543 Ma (million years ago), the Phanerozoic eonothem is represented by rocks containing abundant fossil evidence. The word has Greek roots, deriving from Phaneros (Greek: φανερος) means “visible”, and zooikos (Greek: ζωικός) means “of or pertaining to animal”. The Phanerozoic spans, indeed, the time when abundant life forms became evident.[25][26]

The Phanerozoic Eon encompasses three eras (in descending order to oldest):

  • Cenozoic Era (65 mya to today)

From the Greek word kainos (καινος), meaning fresh or new and zoikos (ζωικός), of or pertaining to animals, combined here to denote new life. This marked the end of a major extinction of dinosaurs, foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils etc. and the emergence of an abundance of mammalian life.[27][26][25]

  • Mesozoic Era (248 to 65 mya)
  • Paleozoic Era (543 to 248 mya)


Erathem/Era System/Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age
Cenozoic[28] Neogene Holocene  
Pleistocene Upper/Late
Middle/Mid
Lower/Early
Pliocene Gelasian
Piacenzian
Zanclean
Miocene Messinian
Tortonian
Serravallian
Langhian
Burdigalian
Aquitanian
Paleogene Oligocene Chattian
Rupelian
Eocene Priabonian
Bartonian
Lutetian
Ypresian
Paleocene Thanetian
Selandian
Danian
Mesozoic Cretaceous Upper/Late Maastrichtian
Campanian
Santonian
Coniacian
Turonian
Cenomanian
Lower/Early Albian
Aptian
Barremian
Hauterivian
Valanginian
Berriasian
Jurassic Upper/Late Tithonian
Kimmeridgian
Oxfordian
Middle/Mid Callovian
Bathonian
Bajocian
Aalenian
Lower/Early Toarcian
Pliensbachian
Sinemurian
Hettangian
Triassic Upper/Late Rhaetian
Norian
Carnian
Middle/Mid Ladinian
Anisian
Lower/Early Olenekian
Induan
Paleozoic Permian Lopingian Changhsingian
Wuchiapingian
Guadalupian Capitanian
Wordian
Roadian
Cisuralian Kungurian
Artinskian
Sakmarian
Asselian
Carboniferous Pennsylvanian[29] Gzhelian
Kasimovian
Moscovian
Bashkirian
Mississippian[29] Serpukhovian
Visean
Tournaisian
Devonian Upper/Late Famennian
Frasnian
Middle/Mid Givetian
Eifelian
Lower/Early Emsian
Pragian
Lochkovian
Silurian Pridoli Pridoli
Ludlow Ludfordian
Gorstian
Wenlock Homerian
Sheinwoodian
Llandovery Telychian
Aeronian
Rhuddanian
Ordovician Upper/Late Himantian
Katian
Sandbian
Middle/Mid Darriwilian
Unnamed
Lower/Early Floian
Tremadocian
Cambrian Furongian Unnamed
Unnamed
Paibian
Unnamed Unnamed
Drumian
Unnamed
Unnamed Unnamed
Unnamed
Unnamed Unnamed
Unnamed

Precambrian

The name is derived from Cambria, the Roman word for Wales, the area where the rocks of the Cambrian Period was first studied. Pre- indicates the ages before the rocks dated in Wales.[30]Not actually termed an ‘Eon' by the ICS. Beginning approximately 4,500 mya and ending approximately 543 mya, the Precambrian encompasses about 88% of the earth's entire existence. The Precambrian encompasses three eons (in descending order to oldest), subdivided into eras:

  • Proterozoic Eon (2500 to 543 mya)
    • Neoproterozoic (900 to 543 mya)
    • Mesoproterozoic (1600 to 900 mya)
    • Paleoproterozoic (2500 to 1600 mya)
  • Archaean Eon (3800 to 2500 mya)
    • Neoarchean (2800 mya to 2500 mya)
    • Mesoarchean (3200 to 2800 mya)
    • Paleoarchean (3600 to 3200 mya)
    • Eoarchean (no lower limit defined to 3600 mya)
  • Hadean Eon (4500 to 3800 mya – Not Recognised by the International Commission on Stratigraphy)

While the International Commission on Stratigraphy does not define a beginning of the Archean, it is commonly regarded as that time when the earth solidified. The oldest known earth rocks are about 3.8 billion years old and that is a figure often used to mark the beginning of the Archean Era.

The Hadean Eon is divided into varying era schemes but none are recognised by the ISC. The Hadean is the period of time the earth was forming literally from a gaseous cloud as the solar system and the sun were forming. The only rocks on earth that date from that period are meteorites which are about 4.5 billion years old (the oldest lunar rocks are also about 4.5 billion years old). Technically, the Hadean is not a geologic eon since there are no rocks on the planet from the time of formation. The oldest known earth rocks are about 3.8 billion years old and would have formed after the earth turned from a molten to a solid state. The Hadean is not recognised by the International Commission on Stratigraphy.[31][32]

Eonothem/Eon Erathem/Era System/Period
Proterozoic Neoproterozoic Ediacaran
Cryogenian
Tonian
Mesoproterozoic Stenian
Ectasian
Calymmian
Paleoproterozoic Statherian
Orosirian
Rhyacian
Siderian
Archean Neoarchean  
Mesoarchean  
Paleoarchean  
Eoarchean  

The geological ages were originally demarcated into Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Eras. Giovanni Arduino (circa 1759) proposed that all of geologic time should be broken up into three great orders: the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. In 1829, Jules Desnoyers proposed the term "Quaternary" to describe of rocks younger than the youngest Tertiary deposits. The eras have since been renamed and Tertiary and Quaternary were merged into the Cenozoic as “periods” not eras. However, the boundary between the Tertiary (65 to 1.8 mya) and Quaternary (1.8 mya to today) were ambiguously defined and these terms have in turn been replaced. The International Commission on Stratigraphy now endorses the terms Paleogene and Neogene to subdivide the Cenozoic Era with a provisional demarcation of the Quaternary at the end of the era[33][34][35]

Period

Cenozoic Era

In descending order to oldest:

  • Quaternary (end of Neogene to present day - see note below)
  • Neogene (23.03 mya to Quaternary Period)
  • Paleogene (65.5 to 23.03 mya)

The current stratigraphic schema for the Cenozoic places the Quaternary at the end of the Neogene spanning a period of time beginning 2.6 million years ago or beginning 1.8 mya till the present time. However, the ICS has asterisked the Quaternary as ‘not yet decided’.[35]

Mesozoic Era

  • Cretaceous (144 to 65 mya)
  • Jurassic (206 to 144 mya)
  • Triassic (248 to 206 mya)

Paleozoic Era

Brachiopods, bryozoans and crinoid stems from Ordovician Limestone, Batavia, Ohio
  • Permian (290 to 248 mya)
  • Carboniferous (354 to 290 mya)
  • Devonian (417 to 354 mya)
  • Silurian (443 to 417 mya)
  • Ordovician (48 to 443 mya)
  • Cambrian (542 to 488 mya)

References

  1. ↑ Letter to Nature Wilde SA., Valley JW., Peck WH., Graham CM., 2001. Evidence from detrital zircons for the existence of continental crust and oceans on the Earth 4.4 Gyr ago. Nature, v. 409, pp. 175-178. "No crustal rocks are known to have survived since the time of the intense meteor bombardment that affected Earth between its formation about 4,550Myr ago and 4,030Myr, the age of the oldest known components in the Acasta Gneiss of northwestern Canada."
  2. ↑ Definitions Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky. Detrital refers to "loose grains of minerals or rocks that have been eroded from other rocks or earth materials. A detrital sedimentary rock is one that is composed of grains that derive from preexisting rocks. A quartz sandstone, for example, is typically composed of quartz grains that were eroded away from an extant body of rock (igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary)".
  3. ↑ Chesapeake Bay Bolide Woods Hole Field Center, U.S. Geological Survey. “There is no consensus on its [bolide] definition, but we use it to mean an extraterrestrial body in the 1-10-km size range, which impacts the earth at velocities of literally faster than a speeding bullet (20-70 km/sec = Mach 75), explodes upon impact, and creates a large crater. "Bolide" is a generic term, used to imply that we do not know the precise nature of the impacting body . . . whether it is a rocky or metallic asteroid, or an icy comet, for example. or climate changes recognized globally.” Retrieved June 4, 2007
  4. ↑ A Greek-English Lexicon Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott (1940 edition). The word “bolide” is derived from the Greek word βολις, (bolis) which refers to a projectile, a missile or javelin, in hunting or warfare. It is also used to indicate a “flash” of light as in “astrapôn bolides”, literally "lightning flash". It may also refer to “a cast of the dice", which, given the catastrophic and unpredictable events that ensue when a bolide strikes the earth, is an ironic metaphor for bolide influence on earth’s history.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Geological Time Climate Modeling and Diagnostics Group, Division of Ocean and Climate Physics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
  6. ↑ A Call for Telling Better Time over the Eons Richard A. Kerr (2003) Science vol 302:14 October
  7. ↑ Gradstein FM., Ogg JG., and Smith AG., 2004, A Geologic Time Scale 2004. Cambridge University Press.
  8. ↑ born Niels Steensen in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1638, died 1686[1]
  9. ↑ De solido intra solidum naturaliter contento dissertationis prodromus, or Preliminary discourse to a dissertation on a solid body naturally contained within a solid. (The book's title is often simply abbreviated to Prodromus.)
  10. ↑ The Geologic Time Scale in Historical Perspective University of California Museum of Paleontology
  11. ↑ Nicholas Steno University of California Museum of Paleontology
  12. ↑ Nicolaus Steno James S. Aber, History of Geology, Emporia State University
  13. ↑ E. Rutherford’s work was reported in numerous publications: Radioactivity 1904, Cambridge University Press 2nd Edition 1905, (pp580); Radioactive Transformations (1906) Charles Scribner's Sons, NY (pp287) From his Silliman Memorial Lectures at Yale University, March 1905. For a comprehensive list of his related publications refer to Rutherford's Publications Rutherford.org.nz
  14. ↑ Boltwood, Bertram (1907) The Ultimate Disintegration Products of the Radio-active Elements. Part II. The disintegration products of uranium. American Journal of Science series 4, volume 23, pages 77-88
  15. ↑ Geologic Age USGS Learning Web. Retrieved 16 April, 2007
  16. ↑ A Brief History of the Division of Earth Sciences National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 April, 2007
  17. ↑ History of Radiometric Dating Changing Views of the History of the Earth
  18. ↑ Geological Society of London
  19. ↑ Lithostratigraphic units International Stratigraphic Guide
  20. ↑ Biostratigraphic units International Stratigraphic Guide
  21. ↑ Chronostratigraphic units International Stratigraphic Guide
  22. ↑ Magnetostratigraphic polarity unitsInternational Stratigraphic Guide
  23. ↑ Cambrian Stratigraphy International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy, International Commission on Stratigraphy
  24. ↑ see for example the Introduction Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) of the Piacenzian Stage (Middle Pliocene)
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 [2] Woodhouse English Greek Dictionary
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Dorlands Illustrated Medical Dictionary
  27. ↑ Cenozoic GeoWhen Database
  28. ↑ The Cenozoic (or Cainozoic) is subdivided into two sub-eras: Tertiary and Quaternary. In the 2004 Geologic time scale, the base of the Quaternary corresponds to the base of the Gelasian (i.e., within the Pliocene). This convention is at odds with traditional use of the term Quaternary, which is usually intended as the Pleistocene+Holocene, and is currently hotly debated (cf. GRADSTEIN et al., 2004)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 The Pennsylvanian and Mississippian have the rank of subsystems. However, all but the last Carboniferous series comprise only one stage and have been omitted from this scheme
  30. ↑ Glossary Illinois State Geological Survey
  31. ↑ Hadean time University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved April 17, 2007
  32. ↑ Hadean Eon GeoWhen Database
  33. ↑ Major Divisions of Geologic Time USGA
  34. ↑ Whatever happened to the Tertiary and Quaternary? GeoWhen Database, Robert A. Rohde Physics Department, University of California at Berkeley
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 International Stratigraphic Chart International Commission on Stratigraphy, 2007
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