Time-Scale-Geology

8/7/2019 Time-Scale-Geology

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EonErathem or

Era

System,Subsystem or

Period,Subperiod

Series or

Epoch

P

ha

n

e

r

o

zo

i

c

Cenozoic65.5 million years ago

to Present"Age of Recent

Life"

An era of geologic

time from the

beginning of the

Tertiary period to the

present. Its name isfrom Greek and

means "new life."

The Cenozoic,

Mesozoic, andPaleozoic

Eras are part

of the

Phanerozoic

Eon

Quaternary1.8 million years ago to the Present

The second period of the Cenozoicera. It contains two epochs: the

Pleistocene and the Holocene. It is

named after the Latin word "quatern"

(four at a time).

The several geologic eras were

originally named Primary,

Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary.

The first two names are no longer

used. Tertiary and Quaternary have

been retained but used as period

designations.

Holocene11,477 years ago

(+/- 85 years) tothe Present

An epoch of the

Quaternary

period. It is

named after the

Greek words

"holos" (entire)

and "ceno"(new).

Pleistocene1.8 million to

approximately11,477 (+/- 85

years) years ago

"The Great Ice

Age"

An epoch of the

Quaternary

period. It is

named after the

Greek words"pleistos" (most)

and "ceno"

(new).

Tertiary65.5 to 1.8 million years ago

The first period of the Cenozoic era(after the Mesozoic era and before

the Quaternary period).

Pliocene5.3 to 1.8 million

years ago

Final epoch of

the Tertiary

period. It is

named after theGreek words

"pleion" (more)and "ceno"

(new).

Miocene


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23.0 to 5.3 million

years ago

A epoch of the

upper Tertiary

period. It is

named after the

Greek words

"meion" (less)and "ceno"

(new).

Oligocene33.9 to 23.0

million years ago

An epoch of the

early Tertiaryperiod. It is

named after the

Greek words"oligos" (little,

few) and "ceno"(new).

Eocene55.8 to 33.9

million years ago

An epoch of the

lower Tertiary

period. Its name

is from the Greekwords "eos"

(dawn) and

"ceno" (new).

Paleocene65.5 to 58.8

million years ago

Earliest epoch of

the Tertiaryperiod. It is

named after theGreek words

"palaois" (old)

and "ceno"

(new).


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EonErathem or

Era

System,Subsystem or

Period,Subperiod

Series

or

Epoch

P

h

a

n

er

o

z

o

i

c

Mesozoic251.0 to 65.5 million

years ago

"Age of Medieval

Life"

An era of geologic time

between the Paleozoicand the Cenozoic. The

word Mesozoic is from

Greek and means

"middle life."

The Cenozoic,

Mesozoic, and

Paleozoic Eras

are part of the

Phanerozoic

Eon

Cretaceous145.5 to 65.5 million years ago

"The Age of Dinosaurs"

The final period of the Mesozoic era. The

name is derived from the Latin word for

chalk ("creta") and was first applied to

extensive deposits of this age that formwhite cliffs along the English Channel

between Great Britain and France.

Late orUpper

Early or

Lower

Jurassic199.6 to 145.5 million years ago

The middle period of the Mesozoic era. Itis named after the Jura Mountains between

France and Switzerland, where rocks of

this age were first studied.

Late or

Upper

Middle

Early or

Lower

Triassic251.0 to 199.6 million years ago

The earliest period of the Mesozoic era.The name Triassic refers to the threefold

division of rocks of this age in Germany.

The Break-up of the continent Pangea ...MORE

Late or

Upper

Middle

Early or

Lower

EonErathem or

Era

System,Subsystem or

Period,Subperiod

Series or

Epoch

P

h

Paleozoic542.0 to 251.0

million years ago

"Age of Ancient

Life"

Permian299.0 to 251.0 million years ago

The final period of the Paleozoic era. It is

named after the province of Perm, Russia,

where rocks of this age were first studied.

Lopingian

Guadalupian

Cisuralian
http://breakup_of_pangea%28%29/http://breakup_of_pangea%28%29/http://breakup_of_pangea%28%29/


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a

n

e

ro

z

o

i

c

An era of geologic

time, from the end

of the Precambrianto the beginning of

the Mesozoic. The

word Paleozoic is

from Greek and

means "old life."

Development ofthe EasternPiedmont ...

Taconic Orogeny...MORE

The

Cenozoic,

Mesozoic,

and

Paleozoic

Eras are

part of the

Phanerozoic

Eon

NOTE: all series/epochs of theSilurian and the Permian have

been named. Although the usageof these names is preferred,

"lower/early", "middle", and"upper/late" are still acceptable as

informal units (lowercase) forthese two systems/periods.

Carboniferous359.2 to 299.0

million years ago

A period of time

in the Paleozoic

era that includes

the

Pennsylvanian

and Mississippianperiods.

Pennsylvanian318.1 to 299.0

million years ago

"The Coal Age"

A period of the

Paleozoic era. It is

named after thestate of

Pennsylvania

where rocks of

this age are

widespread.

Late or

Upper

Middle

Early or

Lower

Mississippian359.2 to 318.1

million years ago

A period of the

Paleozoic era. It is

named after theMississippi River

valley, which

contains good

exposures of rocksof this age.

Late or

Upper

Middle

Early or

Lower

Devonian416.0 to 359.2 million years ago

A period of the Paleozoic era. It is namedafter Devonshire, England, where rocks of

this age were first studied.

Late or

Upper

Middle

Early or

Lower

Silurian Pridoli
http://taconic_orogeny%28%29/http://taconic_orogeny%28%29/http://taconic_orogeny%28%29/http://taconic_orogeny%28%29/


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