The Earth is 4.6 Billion years old
This has been broken down into 4 major time periods (Eras).
The 4 Time Eras are not equal in length.
The last one hasn’t ended yet The first one is extremely long
The Pre-Cambrian Era is the Longest. Life forms were limited to Oceans.
Since the PreCambrian, 3 time Eras have seen different forms of life dominate the fossil record.
EraTime Perio
d
Geology Events
LIFE Nick-name
Pre-Cambrian
From 4.6 Billon Years ago
until
570 Million Years ago
"Shield" Regions
form from
Magma
Bacteria
Algae
and
“SIMPLE" Life
forms
Age of Simple LIFE
Canada in early Pre-Cambrian Era
Canada near end of Pre-Cambrian Era
Era Time Period
Geology Events
LIFE Nick-name
Pale
ozoic
From
570Million YBP
until
245Million YBP
OLDEST Mountains
Form on edgeof shields.
(Appalachians
in
North America)
Pangaea forms
near end of Paleozoic
Trilobitesearly fish,
Am-phibians.
Fern forests on land
Age of Fish, Trilobites, and Amphibians
Skeletons of creatures that have gills and lungs existed in this Era. Many of these creatures also had fins for swimming with small legs for land movement.
Paleozoic Era.North America moved East to meet Europe to form PANGEA Appalachian (eastern Mountains) build up
Paleozoic Era.North America moved East to
meet Europe Appalachian (eastern Mountains) build up
Era Time Period
Geology Events
LIFE Nick-name
Age of Reptiles
Mes
ozoic
From
245 Million
YBP
until
65 million YBP
Pangaeabeaks
apart at start.
Asteroid Impact Ends
Era
Reptiles, birds and dinosaur
s newly
appear.
(Most lifeforms become more diverse
…
Trilobites extinct)
Mesozoic Era.North America moves West
Rocky (western Mountains) build
Mesozoic Era.North America moves West
Rocky (western Mountains) build
Era Time Period
Geology Events
LIFE Nick-name
Cenozoic
From
65 Million YBP
until
Today
Platesmove
to presen
t places.
Rockiesbuild.
Numerous
Ice-ages
occur.
Mammals
expand human
s appear.
Dinosaurs are extinct
Age of Mammals
We currently live in a time of ICE Ages in the Cenozoic ERA
10,000 years ago ice covered this area
We are in a time of high temperature and low ice volume….that has happened before.
When will the ice come back?Lets hope that it won’t be as fast as
……The day after tomorrow
Canada (Present Time).North America moves West
Rocky (western Mountains) build