GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 To know the geological times and its importance.

 To recoginze rocks from different era.

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 What is the Geologic Time Scale?
Standard 8-2.4: Recognize the relationship among the units—era, epoch, and period—into which
the geologic time scale is divided.

What does the time scale represent?

 The geologic time scale divides up the history of the earth based on life-
forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of the planet.
These divisions are called geochronologic units (geo: rock, chronology:
time).
 Most of these life-forms are found as fossils, which are the remains or
traces of an organism from the geologic past that has been preserved in
sediment or rock. Without fossils, scientists may not have concluded that the
earth has a history that long precedes mankind.

 The Geologic Time Scale is divided by the following divisions:

 Eons: Longest subdivision; based on the abundance of certain fossils
 Eras: Next to longest subdivision; marked by major changes in the fossil
record
 Periods: Based on types of life existing at the time
 Epochs: Shortest subdivision; marked by differences in life
forms and can vary from continent to continent.
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 Divisions of Geologic Time
 The geologic history of Earth is marked by major
changes in:
 Earth’s surface,
 climate,
 and types of organisms.
 Geologists use these indicators to divide the
geologic time scale into smaller units.
 Rocks grouped within each unit contain
similar fossils
 each unit is generally characterized by fossils
of a dominant life-form.
 GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE
MYA ERA PERIOD EPOCH PLATE TECTONICS LIFE

-Mastadons become extinct

-Human culture flourishes
0.01 Holocene Beaches and barrier islands form
-Accelerating extinction of many
Quaternary species
-Modern humans develop
1.8 Pleistocene Ice sheets form -Asians arrive and settle the
Americas
-Volcanic activity in North
5.3 Pliocene America and Africa Hominids develop
-Grand Canyon forms
Cenozoic
Horses, mastadons, mammoths,
“Age of
23.8 Miocene Sandhills form in S.C. tigers, and camels live in South
Mammals”
Carolina
Appalachians uplift; erosion
33.7 Oligocene Cats, dogs, and apes appear
Tertiary increases
-Grass spreads widely
Sea levels rise; deposits of
-Diverse array of animals
54.8 Eocene marine sediments – limestone in
develop, including whales,
S.C.; land bridges form
rhinos, and elephants
Earthquakes common; Georgia -First horses appear (size of a
65.0 Paleocene Embayment, Cape Fear Arch cat)
forms in Southeast -Tropical plants dominate
Mass extinction occurs at the -T-Rex develops but number of
end of the period caused by a dinosaur species decline
144 Cretaceous meteorite impact (Dinosaurs, -Snakes appear and first
ammonites and 25% of marine primates appear
life become extinct) -Angiosperms appear
Mesozoic
“Age of Western US: orogeny of Rockies;
-First birds appear
206 Reptiles” Jurassic North America continues to
-Golden age of dinosaurs
rotate away from Africa
-Pangea begins to break apart First dinosaurs, mammals,
248 Triassic -Rocky Mountains and Sierra crinoids, and modern echinoids
Nevada form appear
-90% of Earth’s species become
extinct, including trilobites,
-Pangea forms
290 Permian blastoids, fish and amphibians
-Appalachians rise
because of heavy volcanism in
Siberia
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 -Reptiles develop from
Great swamps develop (future
320 Pennsylvanian amphibians
coal deposits

Carboniferous
-Flying insects appear

-First seed plants appear

Much of North America is under -Sea life flourishes including
354 Mississippian
water coral, brachiopods, blastoids,
and bryozoa

Paleozoic -Dominant animals: fish

Acadian Orogeny – SC
417 “Age of Devonian -Amphibians, evergreens and
metamorphism
Invertebrates” ferns appear
First land plants appear and land
443 Silurian Extensive erosion
animals follow
-Beginning of the construction of
-First animals with bones appear
South Carolina
-Dominant animals: marine
490 Ordovician -Great extinction due to growth
invertebrates including corals
of ice caps including in what is
and trilobites
now northern Africa
-Explosion of life
-All existing phyla came into
being here
S.C. near the equator; island arc
-Life forms in warm seas as
540 Cambrian continues to move toward North
oxygen levels rose enough to
America
support life
-Dominant animals: trilobites and
brachiopods
Earth takes 10 million years to
No life possible as the Earth
cool: initial atmosphere escapes
initially forms 4.6 billion years
into space (H&He) and the core
ago.
forms (Fe&Ni)
Simple, single-celled forms of life
Volcanic outgassing of water and
appear 3.8 billion years ago.
Precambrian carbon dioxide occurred for
4600 They will become more complex
(Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic Ages) millions of years, helping to build
and successful over the next 3
atmosphere and then oceans
billion years: Prokaryotes then
At 3 billion years ago, banded
Eukaryotes
iron formation rocks appear due
Cyanobacteria begins producing
to rising oxygen levels in the
free oxygen (photosynthesis)
atmosphere and sea

Modified after Carolina Rocks, contributed by J. Table of Contents 7

Westmoreland
Eons and Eras
 Eon: The largest unit of geologic unit of time
 Geologic time is divided into four eons:

 the Hadean eon,

 the Archean eon,

 the Proterozoic eon,

 the Phanerozoic eon.

 The first three eons are part of a time interval

commonly known as Precambrian Time.
 This 4 billion year interval contains most of

Earth’s history.
 Era:a unit of geologic time that
includes two or more periods
 After
Precambrian time the
Phanerozoic eon began.
 Thiseon is divided into smaller units of
geologic time called eras.
 Thefirst era of the Phanerozoic eon
was the Paleozoic Era, which lasted
292 million years.
 Paleozoic rocks contain fossils of a wide
variety of marine and terrestrial life
forms.
 After
the Paleozoic Era the
Mesozoic Era began and lasted
about 183 million years.
 Mesozoic fossils include early forms
of birds and reptiles.
 The present era is the Cenozoic
Era, which began 65 million years
ago. Fossils of mammals are
common in Cenozoic rocks.
 Period: a unit of geologic time that is longer than
an epoch but shorter than an era
 Epoch: a subdivision of geologic time that is
longer than an age but shorter than a period.
 Eras are divided into shorter time units called
periods.
 Each period is characterized by specific fossils

and is usually named for the location in which

the fossils were first discovered.
 Where the rock record is most complete and
least deformed, a detailed fossil record may
allow scientists to divide period into shorter time
units called epochs.
 Epochs may be divided into smaller units of time
called ages.
 Ages are defined by the occurrence of distinct
fossils in the fossil record.

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Eons:
Precambrian: Earliest span of
time
Phanerozoic: Everything since

Eras:
Paleozoic Periods:
Mesozoic Cambrian
Cenozoic Ordovician
Silurian
Devonian
Paleozoic
“Age of Carboniferous
Invertebrates” (Missipp. & Pennsylvanian)
Permian
Triassic Epochs:
Jurassic Paleocene
Cretaceous Eocene
Mesozoic Paleogene Oligocene
“Age of Neogene
Reptiles” Quaternary Miocene
Pliocene
Cenozoic
“Age of Pleistocene
Mammals” Holocene

We are living in the Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic Era,

Quaternary Period, Holocene Epoch……..BUT
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 The Earth Through Time
d 8-2.5: Illustrate the vast diversity of life that has been present on Earth over time by using the geolog

The Proterozoic:
 No life possible as the Earth initially
forms 4.6 billion years ago.
 Simple, single-celled forms of life appear
3.8 billion years ago, becoming more
complex and successful over the next 3
billion years: Prokaryotes then Eukaryotes
 Cyanobacteria begins producing free
oxygen (photosynthesis)
 Land masses gather to make up a
continent called “Rodinia”

Cambrian:
 Explosion of life
 All existing phyla come into being at this
time
 Life forms in warm seas as oxygen levels
rise enough to support life
 Dominant animals: Marine invertebrates
(trilobites and brachiopods)
 Supercontinent Gondwana forms near the
South Pole (note position of present-day
Florida)
PaleoMaps used with permission from Christopher Scotese and 13
are under copyright of C.R. Scotese, 2002

Table of Contents 19
Ordovician:
 The 1st animals with bones appear,
though dominant animals are still trilobites,
brachiopods and corals
 The beginning of the construction of
South Carolina
 A very cold time in Earth’s history: there
was a great extinction due to ice caps in
present-day Africa
 Four main continents: Gondwana,
Baltica, Siberia and Laurentia

Silurian:
 First land plants appear and land animals
follow
 Laurentia collides with Baltica and closes
Iapetus Sea.
 Coral reefs expand and land plants begin
to colonize barren land.
 First millipede fossils and sea scorpions
(Euryptides) found in this period
PaleoMaps used with permission from 14
Christopher Scotese and are under copyright Table of Contents 20
Devonian (Age of the
Fish)
 Pre-Pangea forms. Dominant
animal: fish
 Oceans still freshwater and fish
migrate from southern hemisphere
to North America.
 Present-day Arctic Canada was at
the equator and hardwoods began
to grow.
 Amphibians, evergreens and
ferns appear
 The Acadian Orogeny, leading to
S.C. metamorphism
PaleoMaps used with permission from Christopher Scotese and
Mississippian: are under copyright of C.R. Scotese, 2002
 First seed plants appear
 Much of North America is
covered by shallow seas and
sea life flourishes (bryoza,
brachipods, blastoids)

Pennsylvanian:
 Modern North America
begins to form
 Ice covers the southern
hemisphere and coal swamps
formed along equator.
 Lizards and winged insects 15
first appear.
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Permian:
 Last period of the Paleozoic
 Pangea forms. Reptiles
spread across continents.
 The Appalachians rise
 90% of Earth’s species
become extinct due to
volcanism in Siberia. This
marks the end of trilobites,
ammonoids, blastoids, and
most fish.

Triassic:
 First dinosaurs appear
 First mammals- small rodents appear
 Life and fauna re-diversify
 Rocky Mountains form.
 First turtle fossil from this period
 Pangea breaks apart

PaleoMaps used with permission from Christopher Scotese and

are under copyright of C.R. Scotese, 2002

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Jurassic:
 Pangea still breaking apart
 Dinosaurs flourish “Golden age of
dinosaurs”
 First birds appear
 North America continues to rotate
away from Africa

Cretaceous:
 T-Rex develops
 First snakes and primates
appear
 Deciduous trees and grasses
common
 First flowering plants
 Mass extinction marks the
end of the Mesozoic Era, with
the demise of dinoaurs and
25% of all marine life.
PaleoMaps used with permission from Christopher Scotese and are
under copyright of C.R. Scotese, 2002 Table of Contents 17
Tertiary:
 First horses appear and
tropical plants dominate
(Paleocene)
 Grasses spread and whales,
rhinos, elephants and other
large mammals develop. Sea
level rises and limestone
deposits form in S.C. (Eocene)
 Dogs, cats, and apes appear
(Oligocene)
 Horses, mastadons, camels,
and tigers roam free in S.C.
(Miocene)
 Hominids develop and the
Grand Canyon forms (Pliocene)

Quaternary:
 Modern humans develop and
ice sheets are predominant- Ice
age (Pleistocene)
 Holocene Humans flourish
(Holocene)

PaleoMaps used with permission from Christopher Scotese and

are under copyright of C.R. Scotese, 2002
Table of Contents 18
 Punctuated Events Through Geologic
Time
Standard 8-2.3: Explain how Earth’s history has been influenced by catastrophes (including the
impact of an asteroid or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that have affected the
conditions on Earth and the diversity of its life-forms.
 Environmental changes on earth are usually an indicator of a species
extinction (or a species addition). These changes can be brought about by an
asteroid or comet impact, volcanic activity, or climatic changes like the onset
of ice ages.

1. Impact:
 The most well-known extinction is the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Scientists think that this mass extinction was caused by a large comet that
impacted the earth in present-day Mexico, causing a massive quantity of dust
to rise up into the atmosphere, possibly blocking out the sun and affecting
the oxygen levels Earth. Many plants died, and the animals that depended
on those plant for life died as well. In addition, it may have become very cold
in a short period of time.
 It took millions of years for the earth to recover, and when it did, the large
dinosaurs were gone forever.
 Certain species of birds, however, did survive and began to flourish. Birds
are thought to be direct descendants of dinosaurs.
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2. Climate Changes
 Climate has always been a constantly changing phenomenon. The earliest
atmosphere was devoid of free oxygen, and it wasn’t until the earliest life forms
evolved that the present-day atmosphere began to form approximately 600 million
years ago.
 During the Paleozoic, warm shallow seas and tropical climates were common. Life
forms that could not adapt to these conditions disappeared.
 Throughout the Mesozoic era, plate movement shifted the continents and only the
animals and plants with the greatest ability to adapt could survive the extreme changes
in temperatures that occurred as a consequence. Plants with seed coverings and
animals with constant internal temperatures (warm-blooded) lived during this era.
 Climate continued to change during the Cenozoic and continues to change to this
day, as issues of “Global Warming” have been on the fore-front for over a decade. It
was only ~12,000 years ago that the world was in an “ice age” mode. Also, many
mountain ranges formed during this era, causing climate differences due to elevation
changes.
 Ice ages have occurred many times in Earth’s history. Climate shifts like these may
be caused by magnetic polar reversals or variation in the tilt of the earth (called
Milankovitch cycles). Obviously, not all life can adapt to the extreme cold. Also, not all
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3. Volcanic Activity

 Significant volcanic activity, which produced ash clouds in the air and lava flows on
the Earth’s surface, was common during the Precambrian. It was extremely hot, and
most life forms could not exist in these conditions.
 Volcanism is a common byproduct of tectonic plate collision. If one plate collides with
another and is pulled underneath it, a subduction zone is formed underneath the plates
and a volcanic arc forms on the Earth’s surface. During the Paleozoic and Mesozoic,
continents were regularly colliding with each other and volcanism was common. Plate
boundaries are still the most common sites of volcanoes today.

 If volcanism is significant enough to produce

mass quantities of ash and volatile gases, wind
can carry these into the upper atmosphere all
around the world, potentially enveloping the
earth in semi-darkness and reducing insulation
on earth. Obviously, this would have an effect
on all living things on Earth.
 A cause and effect phenomenon, catastrophic
events impact life on Earth, whether through an
extinction or creation of new traits for
adaptation to already existing plants and
animals. Table of Contents 21
 Why Extinction?
Standard 8-2.7: Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the
extinction of a species.
 Extinction of a species occurs when no more members of a particular species
remains. Extinction through time is very common, and, in fact, nearly 90 percent of all
species that ever lived on Earth are now extinct.
 Organisms that cannot survive a catastrophic or significant change in earth’s climate
usually become extinct. Extinctions are a way of clearing the path for new kinds of life
that is potentially more advanced. This is a natural part of life’s process.
 Natural phenomena that can contribute to the extinction of a species include global
climate changes, volcanic explosions, and celestial impacts.
 The influence of humans on the environment
do not include comet impacts or volcanism;
however, man has caused extinctions all the
same. Over the past few hundred years, man
has cut rainforests and woodland forests,
destroying natural habitats. Pollution from
industrial plants and vehicles has also affected
the air we breath and contributed to greenhouse
gases, which drive global warming. We are
looking at the potential extinction of many
species due to this warming trend.
 In addition to threatening less-adaptive
creatures than ourselves, man is negatively 22
impacting biological resources that our own Table of Contents
 What is the importance of geological time scale?

The geologic time scale is an important tool used to

portray the history of the Earth—a standard timeline
used to describe the age of rocks and fossils, and the
events that formed them.
 Applications of the Geologic Time Scale
[Link] Dating of Rocks and Fossils:
The Geologic Time Scale is used to determine the age of rocks,
fossils, and other geological formations. This is essential for
understanding the evolution of life on Earth and for reconstructing
past environments and ecosystems.

[Link] of Rock Strata:

The Geologic Time Scale is used to correlate rock strata across
different geographic regions. This allows geologists to reconstruct the
Earth’s history and to understand the relationships between different
geological events.

[Link] Change Studies:

The Geologic Time Scale is used to study climate change over long
periods of time. By analyzing rocks, fossils, and other geological
formations, scientists can reconstruct past climate conditions and
understand the mechanisms and causes of climate change.
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[Link] Biology:
The Geologic Time Scale is used by evolutionary biologists to
understand the evolution of life on Earth. It provides a framework
for understanding the relationships between different species and
for reconstructing the evolutionary history of different groups of
organisms.

[Link] Exploration:
The Geologic Time Scale is used by the petroleum, mineral, and
mining industries to explore and extract natural resources. A
knowledge of the age and depositional environment of rocks can be
used to identify potential resource-rich areas.
 ANSWERS FOR HOMEWORKS (page - 121)

4. bat
5. nearly 500 million years ago.
6. insect came first.
7. 1000 million years ago

ANSWERS FOR HOMEWORKS (page - 122 -123)

1. core
2. iron and nickel
3. shapes of continents fit together
Types of rocks and fossils from different continents match up
4. Because he can’t explain how continental drift happened.
5. Eurasian plate
6. Both earthquake and volcanoes occur due to severe movement of
tectonic plates caused by Earth’s internal heat.