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Geologic Ages
Flashcard set for each geologic eon, era, period, and epoch.
55
Geology
Undergraduate 1
02/04/2021

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Cards

Term
Hadean Eon
Definition
4.6 Ga - 4.0 Ga
Term
Archean Eon
Definition
4.0 Ga - 2.44 Ga
Term
Archean Eon
Definition
Notable events:
Early Bombardment Phase

Oldest zircon minerals found

Possible first appearance of plate tectonics
Term
Archean Eon
Definition
Notable events:
Stabilization of modern cratons

First stromatolites

Simple single-celled life
Term
Precambrian Supereon
Definition
4.6 Ga - 541.0 Ma
Term
Precambrian Supereon
Definition
Earliest part of Earth's history.
Term
Paleoproterozoic Era
Definition
2.5 Ga - 1.6 Ga
Term
Paleoproterozoic Era
Definition
Notable events:
Stabilization of first continents
Term
Mesoproterozoic Era
Definition
1.6 Ga - 1.0 Ga
Term
Mesoproterozoic Era
Definition
Notable events:
Formation of supercontinent Rodinia

Grenville Orogeny
Term
Neoproterozoic Era
Definition
1.0 Ga - 541.0 Ma
Term
Neoproterozoic Era
Definition
Notable events:
Heavy glaciation results in possible "Snowball Earth"

Earliest fossils of multicellular lifeforms
Term
Proterozoic Eon
Definition
2.5 Ga - 541.0 Ma
Term
Proterozoic Eon
Definition
Encompassing:
Paleoproterozoic era
Mesoproterozoic era
Neoproterozoic era
Term
Cambrian Period
Definition
541.0 Ma - 485.4 Ma
Term
Cambrian Period
Definition
Notable events:
Gondwana supercontinent formation

Major diversification of life

Trilobites
Term
Ordovician Period
Definition
485.4 Ma - 445.2 Ma
Term
Ordovician Period
Definition
Notable events:
Invertebrate diversity

Early corals

Conodonts

First Mass Extinction Event
(heavy ice age ~445Ma)
Term
Silurian Period
Definition
445.2 Ma - 419.2 Ma
Term
Silurian Period
Definition
Notable events:
First vascular plants

Bony fish appear
Term
Devonian Period
Definition
419.2 Ma - 358.9 Ma
Term
Devonian Period
Definition
Notable events:
The Age of Fishes

First ferns and seed-bearing plants appear

Acadian Orogeny
(initial Appalachia Mtn. event)

Mass Extinction Event
Term
Carboniferous Period
Definition
358.9 Ma - 298.9 Ma
Term
Carboniferous Period
Definition
Notable events:
Large primitive trees appear

First land vertebrates

Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse (cooling climate)
Term
Mississippian Epoch
Definition
358.9 Ma - 323.2 Ma
Term
Mississippian Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
Large primitive trees

Land vertebrates

North American sea-level rise (transgression)
Term
Pennsylvanian Epoch
Definition
323.2 Ma - 298.9 Ma
Term
Pennsylvanian Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
Amphibians common

First reptiles

Alleghanian Orogeny (Appalachia Mtns.)

Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse (cooling climate)
Term
Permian Epoch
Definition
298.9 Ma - 251.9 Ma
Term
Permian Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
Formation of Pangaea

Continued Appalachian Mtn. formation

Extensive mass extinction - Siberian Traps (95% all life dies)
Term
Paleozoic Era
Definition
541.0 Ma - 251.9 Ma
Term
Paleozoic Era
Definition
Encompassing:
Cambrian
Ordovician
Silurian
Devonian
Carboniferous
Permian
Term
Triassic Epoch
Definition
251.9 Ma - 201.3 Ma
Term
Triassic Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
First appearance of dinosaurs

Breakup of Pangaea drives mass extinction event
Term
Jurassic Epoch
Definition
201.3 Ma - 145.0 Ma
Term
Jurassic Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
"Golden Age" of dinosaurs :)

Beginning of Gondwana supercontinent breakup

Extinction of conodont
Term
Cretaceous Epoch
Definition
145.0 Ma - 65.5 Ma
Term
Cretaceous Epoch
Definition
Notable events:
Dinosaur evolution

Completion of Gondwana breakup

Laramide & Sevier Orogenies begin

K-T impact mass extinction event
Term
Mesozoic Era
Definition
251.9 Ma - 65.5 Ma
Term
Mesozoic Era
Definition
Notable events:
Age of Reptiles and Dinosaurs

Evolution of conifer trees

Breakup of Pangaea
Term
Paleocene Epoch
Definition
65.5 Ma - 55.8 Ma
Term
Eocene Epoch
Definition
55.8 Ma - 33.9 Ma
Term
Oligocene Epoch
Definition
33.9 Ma - 23.0 Ma
Term
Miocene Epoch
Definition
23.0 Ma - 5.3 Ma
Term
Pliocene Epoch
Definition
5.3 Ma - 2.58 Ma
Term
Pleistocene Epoch
Definition
2.58 Ma - 11.7 Ka
Term
Holocene Epoch
Definition
11.7 Ka - present
Term
Tertiary Period
Definition
65.5 Ma - 2.58 Ma
Term
Quaternary
Definition
2.58 Ma - present
Term
Cenozoic Era
Definition
65.5 Ma - present
Term
Tertiary Period
Definition
Encompasses:
Paleocene epoch
Eocene epoch
Oligocene epoch
Miocene epoch
Pliocene epoch
Term
Quaternary Period
Definition
Encompasses:
Pleistocene epoch
Holocene epoch
Term
Paleogene subperiod
Definition
Notable events:
Rise of mammals

General climate cooling leads to rise in conifer forests
Term
Quaternary Period
Definition
Notable events:
Rise of human species

Major glaciation event

GameStop stock surge
Term
Phanerozoic Eon
Definition
541.0 Ma - present
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