The Geological Time Scale

Recognize the relationship among

the units—era, epoch, and period
—into which the geologic time
scale is divided.
 What is the Earth’s time scale?

• The Geological time scale is a record of

the life forms and geological events in
Earth’s history.
• Scientists developed the time scale by
studying rock layers and fossils world
wide.
 Reading and About the
geologic time scale divisions
• The geologic history of the Earth is broken
up into hierarchical chunks of time. From
largest to smallest, this hierarchy
includes EONS, ERAS, PERIODS, AND
EPOCHS. All of these are displayed in the
portion of the geologic time scale shown
below.
• The Phanerozoic Eon is subdivided into
three major divisions: the PALEOZOIC,
MESOZOIC, AND CENOZOIC Eras. The
"-zoic" suffix comes from the root "zoo,"
which means animal.
 
• Cen-" means __RECENT_, "Meso-"
means _MIDDLE__, and "Paleo-" means
___ANCIENT_.
• The geologic time scale divides Earth’s long
history into units of time: There are 4 major
subdivisions of Geologic Time
• Eons which subdivides into eras
• Eras which subdivides into periods
• Periods which subdivides into epochs

Eons
Eras
Periods
Epochs
BIG E = E + P = EP
GEOLOGIC TIME QUESTIONS
1. Name the divisions in order from the
largest to the smallest?
• EONS, ERAS, PERIODS, & EPOCH
2. Name the divisions in order from the
smallest to the largest?
• EPOCH, PERIODS, ERAS, & EONS
3. Name the 3 Eras.
• PALEOZOIC, MESOZOIC, & CENOZOIC
4. What is the present day or modern day Eon, Era,
Period, and EPOCH we live in?
•EON: PHANEROZOIC
•ERA: CENOZOIC
•PERIOD: QUARTNERY
•EPOCH: HOLOCENE
5.Triassic is a __PERIOD_____.
• 
6. Precambrian has _3_ Eons.
• 
• 
7. Name the 1st period and which Era do it
belong to?
CAMBRIAN, PALEOZOIC ERA
8. _CENOZOIC_ is the only Era that contains
epochs.
• 
9. All Eras end with the suffix __ZOIC_.
10. All epochs end with the suffix
__OCENE__.
• 
• Cambrian being the first period is
important.
• With a more complete fossil record
available, the periods of the Cenozoic era
are subdivided further into epochs.
• Present day Earth is in the Cenozoic era
and the Quaternary period in the
Holocene epoch.
• Geologic time has not ended.
Term Prefix Meaning
Phanerozoic Phanero Visible or Apparent
Paleozoic Paleo Ancient or old
Mesozoic Meso Middle
Cenozoic Ceno Recent

The suffix Zoic means life forms or zoo.

Major information found on the geologic
time scale includes:

• Precambrian is the name given to the

earliest span of time in Earth history.
• Geologists divide the time between
Precambrian and the present into three
long units called eras (Paleozoic,
Mesozoic, Cenozoic).
• The names of the eras are important, as is
the order from oldest era to most recent.
 Major information found on
the geologic time scale
includes:

• During the first billion years of Earth’s

history, the land was covered with
volcanoes. Over the next 3 billion years,
simple life-forms began to live in oceans.
 The
Precambrian
Time!

By Kahli Veys
 Divisions of Geologic Time
• Geological time begins with Precambrian
Time. Precambrian time covers
approximately 88% of Earth’s history.
 Precambrian Timeframe
• 4.5 billion to 544 million years ago
 Precambrian Facts
• Is the longest part of Earth’s history
 What Happened During the
Precambrian Era?
• Earth formed
• Life arose
• First tectonic plates arose and began to
move
• Eukaryotic cells evolved
• Atmosphere became enriched in oxygen
• And, just before the end of the
Precambrian, complex multicellular
organisms, including the first animals,
evolved.
 Precambrian Animals
• Most organisms had soft bodies which looked like
modern jellyfish and worms
• Stromatolites: layered mats formed by colonies
or groups of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae
thought to be one of the earliest life forms on
Earth.)
• Invertebrates (animals with no backbone)
appeared near the end of the Precambrian Time
• Many Precambrian fossils are Trace fossils
 Precambrian Land Features
• Primarily covered by the ocean
 MASS EXTINCTION
• MASS EXTINCTION IS THE EVENT
THAT ENDED PRECAMBRIAN TIME.

• * glaciation event
• Precambrian time were marked by a
prolonged global ice age. This may
have led to widespread extinctions.
 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.
• Along with the study of the geologic time
scale, the changes in life forms, additions
and extinctions, are often accompanied by
changes in environmental conditions on
Earth. These environmental changes
have been influenced by the impact of
an asteroid or comet, climatic changes,
and volcanic activity.
 Volcanic activity

• From the earliest days while Earth was

forming to present day, volcanic activity
has been part of the nature of this
changing planet.
• During the Precambrian time volcanic
activity was one of the most natural
events, but lava flows, ash clouds in the
atmosphere, and heat made conditions
for life forms extremely difficult.
•  
• The eras of Earth history can be studied in
light of conditions on Earth, the effect of
those conditions on life-forms, and the
possibilities of rapid changes to both
(environmental conditions and life forms)
due to catastrophes.
 Paleozoic Era Timeframe
• 544 million to 248 million years ago
 Important Facts
• This division is known as ancient life.
•  
• During most of the Era, warm shallow seas
covered much of the planet.
•  
• At the end of this era, more than 90% of all
ocean species and 70% of all land species died
• Pangea was forming during this era as far as
coming together
 Animals
• Animals had shells and other hard body parts began to appear
• Began with invertebrates, such as Trilobites and
brachiopods which lived during this era
• Vertebrates (animals with backbones) arose during this era
such as fish amphibians, then arachnids and insects
• The earliest vertebrates were fishlike creatures without jaws
and had lungs instead of gills.
• some vertebrates adapted on land
• Near the end of this era reptiles became dominant
• Amphibians (reptiles) species developed the ability to lay eggs
 Land Features
• By the Devonian Period, forests began to grow on land
and
• Early land plants included simple mosses, ferns, and
then cone-bearing plants.
• By the end of the era, seed plants were common.
• The mass extinction that ended the era caused most
marine invertebrates as well as amphibians to
disappear.

• Mountains formed during this era (Appalachian Mtn.)

 FOUR Eras…
• PRE-CAMBRIAN – 88% of earth’s history

• Paleozoic (ancient life)

– 544 million years ago…lasted 300 million yrs

• Mesozoic (middle life)

– 245 million years ago…lasted 180 million yrs

• Cenozoic (recent life)

– 65 million years ago…continues through present day
 Today…
• Today we are in the Holocene Epoch of
the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic
Era.

Which unit is the largest?

Which unit is the smallest?
 Today…
• Today we are in the Holocene Epoch of
the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic
Era.

Which unit is the largest?

Which unit is the smallest?
 Paleozoic Era (Ancient Life)
• The Cambrian period is the 1st period of the Paleozoic
Era. “Age of the Trilobites”
• Explosion of life in the oceans began during this era.
• Most of the continents were covered in warm, shallow
seas.
– Invertebrates were dominate - Trilobites
– Fish emerged during this time
– Fish led to the arrival of amphibians
• The end of the Paleozoic era is called the “Age of Amphibians”
– Early land plants including mosses, ferns and cone-bearing
plants.
– The early coal forming forests were also formed during this
time.
 Paleozoic Era
• Much of the limestone quarried for building and
industrial purposes, as well as the coal deposits
of western Europe and the eastern United
States, were formed during the Paleozoic.

• The Cambrian (beginning) opened with the

breakup of the world-continent Rodinia and
closed with the formation of Pangaea, as the
Earth's continents came together once again.
– This event is thought to have caused the
climate changes that led to mass extinction
event.
• The Appalachian mountains were formed during
this time.
 Paleozoic Era
• At the end of the Paleozoic, the largest mass
extinction in history wiped out approximately
90% of all marine animal species and 70% of
land animals.
– Possible causes of this Mass Extinction Event
• Lowering of sea levels when the continents were
rejoined as Pangaea (convergent boundary)
• Increased volcanic activity (ash and dust)
• Climate changes – cooler climate
 Trilobites

• Lived in Earth’s ancient seas

• Extinct before the dinosaurs
came into existence
• Cambrian Period is know as
the “Age of the Trilobites”
(put in on table)
 Brachiopods

• Marine animals that resemble clams.

Early Fish

Early fish did not have jaws.

Some species of sharks
were in existence at this
time.
Frilled Shark that was found in Japan in January 2007. This shark was
considered a “living fossil”
 Early Land Plants

Mosses

Cone bearing plants

Ferns
 Mesozoic Era – Middle Life
• At the beginning of this era the continents
were joined as Pangaea.
• Pangaea broke up around the middle of
this era.
• Reptiles became the most abundant
animals because of their ability to adapt to
the drier climate of the Mesozoic Era.
– Skin maintains body fluids
– Embryos live in shells
• At the beginning of this era Pangaea formed
and during the Triassic Period, Pangaea
began to break up ( Pangaea _split__ into
2)
•  
• Ended when most of the land and ocean
species became extinct when an asteroid
collided with Earth
•  
• Known as the Age of _Dinosaurs____ or
the Age of _Reptiles___
•  
• _Dinosaurs______ lived during this era.
Throughout this era, some dinosaurs
became extinct as others adapted.
•  
• ___Reptiles__ became the most
abundant animals in this era
• During the Triassic Period, a tiny, mouse
like animal was the first _mammal____ to
appear (Small mammals and birds
appeared during this era)
•  
•  
• life diversified rapidly and giant reptiles
and dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
•  
• Modern _bird_ appeared
• Gymnosperms dominated the land.
•  
• __Gymnosperms____are plants that
produce seeds in cones like pine cones
•  
• _Angiosperms____ are flowering plants
which first appeared during at the end of
this era
• Time marked by rapid movements of
plates
• Scientists hypothesize that possibly a
large _asteroids__ or _comets__
impacted with Earth.
 Mesozoic Era
• Dinosaurs were also very active in this
era.
– First small dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic
Period.
– Larger and more abundant dinosaurs
appeared in the Jurassic Period.
• Small mammals and birds also appeared
during this era.
– The mammals were small, warm-blooded
animals. Hair covering their bodies.
• These characteristics help them survive in
changing environments.
 Mesozoic Era
• The main plant life of this time were
Gymnosperms or plants that produce seeds,
but no flowers.
– Pine Trees

• Angiosperms are Flowering plants that

during the END of this era.
 Mesozoic Era
• This era ended with a mass extinction event
about 65 million years ago.
– Many groups of animals, including the dinosaurs
disappeared suddenly at this time.

• Many scientists believe that this event was

caused by a comet or asteroid colliding with
the Earth.
 Mesozoic Era – Mass Extinction
Event
• Asteroid or Comet collides with Earth.

– Huge cloud of smoke and dust fills the air

– Blocks out sunlight
– Plants die
– Animals that eat plants die
– Animals that eat plant-eaters die.

• However, not all forms of life died during this

event. Many animals that you see today are
descendants from the survivors of this extinction
event.
Dinosaurs
Mesozoic Reptiles
Mesozoic Mammals
Mesozoic Plants

Flowering plants evolved

towards the end of the
Mesozoic Era.
• ABC brainstorming
 Cenozoic Era – Recent Life
• Began about 65 million years ago and continues
today!!!!!
– Climate was warm and mild.
– Marine animals such as whales and dolphins evolved.

• Mammals began to increase and evolve adaptations

that allowed them to live in many different
environments – land, air and the sea.
– Grasses increased and provided a food source for grazing
animals

• Many mountain ranges formed during the Cenozoic

Era
– Alps in Europe and Himalayas in India; Rocky Mountains in
the USA
 Cenozoic Era
• Growth of these mountains may have helped to
cool down the climate
– Ice Ages occurred late in the Cenozoic Era
(Quaternary Period).

• As the climate changed, the animals had to

adapt to the rise and fall of the oceans caused
by melting glaciers.

• This era is sometimes called the “Age of

Mammals”
 Cenozoic Era
• Marine animal examples:
– Algae, Mollusks, Fish and Mammals

• Land animal examples:

– Bats, Cats, Dogs, Cattle and Humans
– Humans are thought to have appeared around 3.5
million years ago (during the most recent period –
Quaternary).

• Flowering plants were now the most common

plant life.
Cenozoic Mammals
Flowering Plants were common
during the Cenozoic Era
 Impact of an asteroid or
comet
• What is the difference between asteroids
and comets? The main difference between
asteroids and comets is what they are
made of. Asteroids are made up of
metals and rocky material, while comets
are made up of ice, dust and rocky
material. Both asteroids and comets were
formed early in the history of the solar
system about 4.5 billion years ago.
• Asteroids formed much closer to the
sun, where it was too warm for ices to
remain solid. Comets formed farther
from the sun where ices would not
melt. Comets which approach the sun
loose material with each orbit because
some of their ice melts and vaporizes
to form a tail.
 Impact of an asteroid or
comet
• Earth’s atmosphere protects the planet
from many of the meteors that enter it,
resulting in their burning up before
striking the surface.
• At the end of the Mesozoic Era, when
reptiles, early birds and mammals thrived,
many groups of animals disappeared
suddenly.
• Scientists hypothesize that possibly a large
asteroid or comet impacted with Earth.
• This impact caused dust and smoke to
rise into the atmosphere and cause
climatic changes, as well as the dying of
many forms of plant life and animals that
depended on those plants for food.
• A major life form that disappeared at this
time was the dinosaur.
 Climatic changes
• Earth’s environments have many
different climates even today. Climate
is an ever-changing condition on Earth.

• Earliest life forms were influenced by the

climates produced by the forming
atmosphere and oceans of Earth.
•  
•  
• Life on land developed and flourished in the
tropical climates and warm shallow seas
during the Paleozoic Era. Throughout this
era as different land environments formed
and sea levels changed, new life forms
developed. Other life forms that could not
adapt or find suitable conditions, especially
many marine species, disappeared.
• During the Mesozoic era, many climate
changes occurred due to plate tectonics
and the movement of landmasses.
Plants and animals that survived through
this time had structures and systems that
allowed for greater adaptations, such as
seed coverings for plant seeds and
protective body coverings or constant
internal temperature for animals.
• During the present Cenozoic era,
climate conditions continue to change.
Major ice ages caused the climate to
become much cooler as ice sheets and
glaciers covered many areas of Earth.
Many mountain ranges formed causing
climate differences due to elevation and
due to location near those ranges.
•  
 Volcanic activity

• From the earliest days while Earth was

forming to present day, volcanic activity
has been part of the nature of this
changing planet.
• During the Precambrian time volcanic
activity was one of the most natural
events, but lava flows, ash clouds in the
atmosphere, and heat made conditions
for life forms extremely difficult.
• As continent collided and mountains
built up due to plate tectonics,
volcanoes also formed. What type of
boundary , stress, and fault is this?
__________________________________
• Volcanic activity continued to be
common in the Paleozoic era. During the
rapid movement of plates in the
Mesozoic era, collisions and subduction
produced extensive volcanic activity
around plate boundaries.
• Plate boundaries are still the location of
much of Earth’s volcanic activity.
• Very explosive volcanic activity can
send ash and dust high into the
atmosphere where it is carried great
distances around the Earth. The Sun
can be blocked for long periods of time.
This violent type of activity can disrupt
many of Earth’s processes and
ultimately the life forms that depend on
those processes.
•  
• The eras of Earth history can be studied in
light of conditions on Earth, the effect of
those conditions on life-forms, and the
possibilities of rapid changes to both
(environmental conditions and life forms)
due to catastrophes.