Geological time scale

1. ENTER
Geologic Time Scale
Author: Muhammad Shahzad
Assistant Professor: Mining Engineering Dept. UET Lahore, Pakistan

2. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Cryptic (4570 – 4150)
Formation of Earth (4567.17 to
4570 Ma)

3. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Cryptic (4570 – 4150)
Formation of Moon (4533 Ma)
Oldest known mineral, Zircon
(4406 ± 8 Ma) [Metamorphosed
sandstone conglomerate of Jack
Hills, Western Australia]

4. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Basin Group (4150 – 3920)
Oldest known rock (4030 Ma)
[The oldest known rock on Earth is
found along the northeast coast of
Hudson Bay, Canada.]
First lifeforms, RNA (4000 Ma)
Napier Orogeny in Antarctica
(4000 ± 200 Ma)

5. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Basin Group (4150 – 3920)
Oldest known rock (4030 Ma)
[The oldest known rock on Earth is
found along the northeast coast of
Hudson Bay, Canada.]
First lifeforms, RNA (4000 Ma)
Napier Orogeny in Antarctica
(4000 ± 200 Ma)

6. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Nectarian (3920 – 3850)
Formation of Nectaris Basin and other major lunar basins by large
impact events.

7. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Early Imbrian (3850 – 3800)
End of the Late Heavy Bombardment of the inner solar system.

8. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN HADEAN Early Imbrian (3850 – 3800)
Indirect photosynthetic evidence (e.g., kerogen) of primordial life

9. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Eoarchean (3800 – 3600)
Simple single celled life (probably bacteria and perhaps archaea)

10. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Paleoarchean (3600 – 3200)
First known oxygen-producing bacteria
Oldest cratons on the earth (Canadian Shield & Pilbera Craton)
Rayner Orogeny in Antarctica

11. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Paleoarchean (3600 – 3200)
First known oxygen-producing bacteria
Oldest cratons on the earth (Canadian Shield & Pilbera Craton)
Rayner Orogeny in Antarctica

12. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Paleoarchean (3600 – 3200)
First known oxygen-producing bacteria
Oldest cratons on the earth (Canadian Shield & Pilbera Craton)
Rayner Orogeny in Antarctica

13. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Mesoarchean (3200 – 2800)
First stromatolites (colonial cyanobacteria)
Humboldt Orogeny in Antarctica, Blake River Megacaldera Complex
begins to form (present Ontario & Quebec)

14. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Mesoarchean (3200 – 2800)
First stromatolites (colonial cyanobacteria)
Humboldt Orogeny in Antarctica, Blake River Megacaldera Complex
begins to form (present Ontario & Quebec)

15. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Mesoarchean (3200 – 2800)
First stromatolites (colonial cyanobacteria)
Humboldt Orogeny in Antarctica, Blake River Megacaldera Complex
begins to form (present Ontario & Quebec)

16. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Neoarchean (2800 – 2500)
Mantle overturn event
Abitibi greenstone belt (present Ontario & Quebec)

17. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN ARCHEAN Neoarchean (2800 – 2500)
Mantle overturn event
Abitibi greenstone belt (present Ontario & Quebec)

19. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Siderian (2500 – 2300)
Oxygen catastrophe

20. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Siderian (2500 – 2300)
Banded iron formations

21. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Siderian (2500 – 2300)
Gawler Craton

22. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Rhyacian (2300 – 2050)
Huronian Glaciation
Bushveld Formation

23. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Orosirian (2050 – 1800)
Oxygenic atmosphere
Vredford & Sudbury Basin asteroids impacts

24. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Orosirian (2050 – 1800)
Oxygenic atmosphere
Vredford & Sudbury Basin asteroids impacts
Glenburgh (Capricorn) Orogeny in Australia

25. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Orosirian (2050 – 1800)
Oxygenic atmosphere
Vredford & Sudbury Basin asteroids impacts
Glenburgh Orogeny in Australia
Kimban Orogeny in South Africa
Ruker Orogeny in Antarctica

26. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Paleoproterozoic
Statherian (1800 – 1600)
First complex single celled life: protists with nuclei
Mangaroon Orogeny in Western Australia
Kararan Orogeny in South Australia

27. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Mesoproterozoic
Calymmian (1600 – 1400)
Barramundi Orogeny, MacArthur Basin, Northern Australia
Isan Orogeny, Mount Isa Block, Queensland

28. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Mesoproterozoic
Ectasian (1400 – 1200)
Green algae in seas
Grenville Orogeny in North America

29. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Mesoproterozoic
Stenian (1200 – 1000)
Formation of Rudinia
Musgrave Orogeny,
Musgrave Block, Central
Australia

30. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Tonian (1000 – 850)
Rodinia Supercontinent persists.
Trace Fossils of multi celled eukaryotes

31. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Tonian (1000 – 850)
Beginning of
Adelaide
Geosyncline in
Australia

32. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Tonian (1000 – 850)
Pan-African
Orogeny

33. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Cryogenian (850 – 630)
Snowball Earth period

34. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Cryogenian (850 – 630)
Rodinia
landmass
begins to
break up

35. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Cryogenian (850 – 630)
Rodinia
landmass
begins to
break up

36. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Cryogenian (850 – 630)
Rodinia
landmass
begins to
break up

37. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Ediacaran (630 – 542)
Ediacaran biota flourish
worldwide in seas
Simple trace fossils of
worm-like Trichophysus,
etc.

38. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Ediacaran (630 – 542)
First sponges and trilobitomorphs
Soft-jellied creatures shaped like bags, discs, or quilts (like Dickinsonia)

39. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Ediacaran (630 – 542)
Taconic Orogeny in North America

40. Geologic Time Scale
PRECAMBRIAN PROTEROZOIC Neooproterozoic
Ediacaran (630 – 542)
Aravelli Range orogeny in
Indian subcontinent

41. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Cambrian (542
– 488.3)
Most modern phyla
First chordates
Trilobites, priapulid
worms, sponges,
inarticulate brachiopods
etc.

42. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Cambrian (542
– 488.3)
Anomalocarids

43. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Cambrian (542
– 488.3)
Many Ediacaran fauna die out
Prokaryotes, protists & fungi continue to present day
Gondwana emerges
Atmospheric CO2 content roughly 20-35 times present-day

44. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Ordovician
(488.3 – 443.7)
Invertebrates diversify into many types long straight-shelled
cephalopods. Early corals, articulate brachiopods, bivalves, ostracods,
many types of echinoderms (crinoids, cystoids, starfish, etc.) branched
graptolites, and other taxa all common.

45. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Ordovician
(488.3 – 443.7)
Invertebrates diversify into many types long straight-shelled
cephalopods. Early corals, articulate brachiopods, bivalves, ostracods,
many types of echinoderms (crinoids, cystoids, starfish, etc.) branched
graptolites, and other taxa all common.

46. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Ordovician
(488.3 – 443.7)
Condents appear
First green plants and fungi on land
Ice age at end of period

47. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Silurian (443.7
– 416.0)
First vascular plants, first millipedes and arthropleurids on land
First jawed fishes, armoured jawless fish populate the seas.

48. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Silurian (443.7
– 416.0)
Sea-scorpians reach large size
Beginning of Caledonian Orogeny, and the Scandinavian Mountains

49. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Silurian (443.7
– 416.0)
Beginning of Caledonian Orogeny

50. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Silurian (443.7
– 416.0)
Beginning of
Scandinavian
Mountains

51. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Silurian (443.7
– 416.0)
Beginning of
Caledonian Orogeny,
and the Scandinavian
Mountains

52. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Devonian (416
– 359.2)
First clubmosses, horsetails and
ferns appear

53. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Devonian (416
– 359.2)
First seed-bearing plants, first
trees and first insects
Early sharks, jawed fishes and
lobe-finned fishes rule the sea

54. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Devonian (416
– 359.2)
First amphibions still aquatic
Old Red Continent of
Euroamerica

55. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Devonian (416
– 359.2)
Acadian Orogeny for
Anti-atlas Mountains of
North Africa and
Applachian Mountains
of North America

56. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Mississippian
(359.2 – 318.1)
Large primitive trees
First land vertebrates
and amphibious sea-
scorpians

57. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Mississippian
(359.2 – 318.1)
Lobe-finned Rhizodonts dominant water
predators
Early sharks common in oceans
Corals, bryozoa, goniatites and
brachiopods very common
Trilobites and nautiloids decline
Glaciation in East Gonwana

58. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic
Pennsylvanian (318.1 – 299)
Winged insects radiate suddenly
Amphians common and diverse
First reptiles and coal forests
Highest ever atmospheric oxygen levels

59. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic
Pennsylvanian (318.1 – 299)
Uralian Orogeny

60. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Permian (299 –
251)
Landmasses unite into supercontinent Pangea
End of Permo-Carboniferous

61. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Permian (299 –
251)
Synapsid reptiles become plentiful
Cone-bearing gymnosperms (first
true seed bearing plants)

62. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Permian (299 –
251)
Beetles and flies
evolve
Permian-Triassic
event occur on 251
Ma, 95% life on earth
become extinct
Altaid Orogeny in Asia

63. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Paleozoic Permian (299 –
251)

64. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Mesozoic Triassic (251 –
199.6)
Archosaurs dominant on land as dinosaurs,
and as Ichthyosaurs and nothosaurs in
oceans, and in air as pterosaurs
First mammels Crocodilia appear

65. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Mesozoic Triassic (251 –
199.6)
Cimmerian Orogeny

66. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Mesozoic Jurrasic (199.6
– 145.5)
Gymnosperms & ferns common
Many types of dinosaurs such as sauropods,
carnosaurs and stegosuars
Mammels common but small
First birds and lizards
Sea urchins very common alongwith starfish
and sponges
CO2 levels 4-5 times the present-day level.

68. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Mesozoic Jurrasic (199.6
– 145.5)
Breakup of Pangea into Gondwanaland & Laurasia

69. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Mesozoic Cretaceous
(145.5 – 65.5)
Flowering plants with new types of insects.
Many new types of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurs, Titanosaurs, duck bills
and horned dinosaurs
Modern sharks
Breakup of Gondwana
Atmospheric CO2 close to present-day

70. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Paleogene
Paleocene (65.5 – 55.8)
Tropical climate
Modern plants appear
Extinction of dinosaurs
First large mammels
(up to bear or small
hippo size)
Alpine Orogeny in
Europe & Asia
Indian Subcontinent
collides with Asia (55
Ma)
Himalayan Orogeny

71. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Paleogene
Eocene (55.8 – 33.9)
Cooling climate
Primitive whales
First grasses
Reglaciation of Antarctica and formation of its ice age

72. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Paleogene
Oligocene (33.9 – 23.03)
Warm but cooling climate moving towards Icehouse
Rapid evolution and diversification of fauna, especially mammels
Major evolution and dispersal of flowering plants

73. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Neogene
Miocene (23.03 – 5.332)
Moderate Icehouse climate
Modern mammels & bird families
Horses and mastodons diverse
Kaikoura Orogeny, Carpathean orogeny, Hellenic orogeny begins and
continuous today

74. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Neogene
Pliocene (5.332 – 2.588)
Intensification of present Icehouse conditions,
Present ice age begins roughly 2.58 Ma; cool and dry climate
Many of the existing genera of mammels and recent mollusks
Homo habilis appear

75. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Quaternary
Pleistocene (2.588 – 0.01143)
Flourishing and then extinction of many large mammels
Evolution of anatomically modern humans
Quaternary Ice Age continues with glaciations
Further intensification of Icehouse conditions, roughly 1.6 Ma
Last glacial period (18000 – 15000)

76. Geologic Time Scale
CAMBRIAN PHANEROZOIC Cenozoic Quaternary
Holocene (0.01143 – recent)
Last glacial period ends
Rise of human civilization
Sahara forms from savannah
Agriculture begins
Stone age begin around 10000 BC, giving away to Copper age (3500
BC) and Bronze Age (2500 BC).
Cultural growth and technical advancement through the Iron Age
(1200 BC), giving rise to Classical antiquity such as Roman Empire and
even to the Middle Ages and present day