HADEAN - QUARTERNARYFrom the beginning of Earth history until today

Earth TimesEarth Times

Watzmann west face, Berchtesgaden Alps, Germany

Eon, Era, Period, Epoch, Age: Duration and Numerical AgesNeogene - Cambrian in same scale

Evolution of Animal and Plant Life, Mass ExtinctionsHumanity and Cultural Evolution

Mountain Formations, Supercontinents, GlaciationsSolar System, Planet Earth - Structure

2020 E

Copyright Layout, Text and Graphics 2020:C

www.geoundnatur.de

Dr. E. LangenscheidtD-94474 Vilshofen, Pfarrer-Hartl-Str. 13

Geo&Naturgeoundnaturgeo und naturEarth Times Ewald Langenscheidtgeological timetableEarth History

Fis

che

Bis

heu

te d

ie a

rten

reic

hst

en K

lass

en d

er W

irbel

tier

e.

Fis

che

bis

heu

teA

mphib

ien

Am

phib

ien

Rep

tilien

bis

heu

teR

eptilien

Vöge

lbis

heu

teVöge

l

Säuge

tier

ebis

heu

te

Säuge

tier

e

Mollusk

enM

ollusk

enbis

heu

te

?

Bry

ophyt

abis

heu

teB

ryophyt

a

bis

heu

teP

teridophyt

aP

teridophyt

a

Gebir

gsb

ildungen

Superk

ontinente

Gebir

gsb

ildungen

Superk

ontinente

bis

heu

teG

ymnosp

erm

ae

Gym

nosp

erm

ae

bis

heu

teA

ngi

osp

erm

ae

Angi

osp

erm

ae

Ech

inoder

men

Ech

inoder

men

bis

heu

te

Riffb

ilden

de

Org

anis

men

Riffb

ilden

de

Org

anis

men

Inse

kten

Inse

kten

bis

heu

te

Conodonte

nC

onodonte

n

Trilobiten

Trilobiten

Bra

chio

poden

bis

heu

teB

rach

iopoden

Pilze

bis

heu

tePilze

Gra

pto

lith

enG

rapto

lith

en

Arc

haeo

cyath

iden

Arc

haeo

cyath

iden

Fis

che

Bis

heu

te d

ie a

rten

reic

hst

en K

lass

en d

er W

irbel

tier

e.

Fis

che

bis

heu

teA

mphib

ien

Am

phib

ien

Rep

tilien

bis

heu

teR

eptilien

Vöge

lbis

heu

teVöge

l

Säuge

tier

ebis

heu

te

Säuge

tier

e

Mollusk

enM

ollusk

enbis

heu

te

?

Bry

ophyt

abis

heu

teB

ryophyt

a

bis

heu

teP

teridophyt

aP

teridophyt

a

Gebir

gsb

ildungen

Superk

ontinente

Gebir

gsb

ildungen

Superk

ontinente

bis

heu

teG

ymnosp

erm

ae

Gym

nosp

erm

ae

bis

heu

teA

ngi

osp

erm

ae

Angi

osp

erm

ae

Ech

inoder

men

Ech

inoder

men

bis

heu

te

Riffb

ilden

de

Org

anis

men

Riffb

ilden

de

Org

anis

men

Inse

kten

Inse

kten

bis

heu

te

Conodonte

nC

onodonte

n

Trilobiten

Trilobiten

Bra

chio

poden

bis

heu

teB

rach

iopoden

Pilze

bis

heu

tePilze

Gra

pto

lith

enG

rapto

lith

en

Arc

haeo

cyath

iden

Arc

haeo

cyath

iden

43

20,4

~1500

~600

443,8

423

433,4

485,4

470

458,4

541

497

509

1000

1600

427,4

186

51

56

79

290 47

60

60

42

56

~1960 ~460

~600

~900

4000

~4600

2500

4510

4300

0,129

0,774

37,7

41,2

47,8

59,2

61,6

72,1

83,6

86,3

89,8

93,9

113,0

125,0

129,4

132,6

139,8

425,6

430,5

438,5

440,8

445,2

453

467,3

477,7

521

635

1200

1400

1800

2050

2300

2800

3200

3600

?

?

Geo&Naturgeoundnaturgeo und natur

2,72

2,568

17,73

10,87

22,1

10,0

34,5

44,5

18,5

10,6

27,2

35,7

10,2

4,7

7,2

13,8

26

24,3

35,7

23,8

10,6

25,9

6

10,4

14,6

11,6

15,4

11,6

12

12

94

85

200

200

200

200

250

250

200

0,117

0,645

1,026

0,78

1,02

1,7

1,946

4,384

2,19

2,15

4,47

2,59

4,77

6,1

3,8

3,5

6,6

8,2

3,2

2,4

4,4

6,1

11,5

2,7

3,5

4,1

6,6

12,5

12

4,4

3,2

7,2

5,2

7,1

5,2

6,2

2,6

2,2

2

3,8

8,6

8,1

8,5

2

7,2

18,5

10

5

5,2

4

0,7

2,2

5

6

3,7

4,1

10,6

6,6

3,4

5,4

4,8

3,3

8,2

8

7,7

15,8

12,2

13,3

10,5

5

5,6

14,3

3,2

2,6

1,8

3,1

2,9

5,1

2,3

3

1,4

7,8

5,4

8,9

2,7

7,7

7,7

5

8

253,8

4,4

8,4

720280

489,5

494

500,5

504,5

514

529

4,1

4,5

3

3,5

4

4,5

7

12

20

0,008200

0,004200

?

?

Snowball Earth

0,0117

1,8

3,6

7,246

11,63

13,82

15,97

20,44

27,8

2,58

5,3

23,03

33,9

100,5

208,5

152,1

157,3

166,1

168,3

170,3

182,7

190,8

199,3

145,0

163,5

174,1

201,3

298,9

259,1

323,2

358,9

419,2

393,3

382,7

227

242

251,2

254,1

265,1

268,8

283,5

290,1

293,5

303,7

307,0

315,2

330,9

346,7

372,2

387,7

407,6

410,8

237

247,2

251,9

272,9

66 2,6541

56,0

66,0

Ple

isto

cene

Holo

cene

QU

ATER

NA

RY

QU

ATER

NA

RY

Indus

Greenlandium

Meg

hala

yium

Nor

thgr

ippi

um

Age

Era

Period

Epoch

Eon

Mollusk

sM

ollusk

suntil pre

sent

Mam

malia

until pre

sent

Mam

malia

Rep

tile

suntil pre

sent

Rep

tile

s

Birds

until p

rese

nt

Birds

until pre

sent

Am

phib

ians

Am

phib

ians

Until pre

sent,

the

most

div

erse

class

es o

f ve

rteb

rate

s

Fis

hes

Fis

hes

Since 1970, vertebrate populations have decreased by around 60%.

Bry

ophyt

esuntil pre

sent

Bry

ophyt

es

until pre

sent

Pte

ridophyt

esP

teridophyt

es

until pre

sent

Gym

nosp

erm

sG

ymnosp

erm

s

until pre

sent

Angi

osp

erm

sA

ngi

osp

erm

s

Mounta

in F

orm

ations

Superc

ontinents

Mounta

in F

orm

ations

Superc

ontinents

?A

nth

ropocene

Duration MaDuration MaDuration Ma

Ele

ments

of

the m

egafa

una b

ecam

e e

xtin

ct

on a

ll contin

ents

due

to e

ither

hum

an in

fluence o

r changes

in c

limatic

conditi

ons.

Mabp rounded

Modern History

PresentAge

Ancie

nt H

isto

ry

5000 BC

Euro

pe

Egypt

ChinaMaya

Inca Khmer

Mesopotamia

Cultural EvolutionCultural Evolution

Industrialization

2500

1000

0500

Classical Antiquity

Middle Ages

Axum

geonatur

year

NeolithicRevolution

ca. 10.0

00 -

4000

Mid

dle

Sto

ne A

ge

ca. 4000 -

1800

Late

r S

tone A

ge

Early S

tone A

ge

genera

lised, re

gio

nal diff

ere

ntiation

early

prim

ate

sH

om

inin

ae

genus

Hom

o

Hom

o sa

pie

ns,

the

mod

ern

hum

an, si

nce

appro

x. 3

30.0

00 (

?) y

ears

Neandert

hal m

an

H

omo

flor

esi

ensi

s

Hum

an E

volu

tion

Hum

an E

volu

tion

Aust

ralo

pit

hecu

safa

rensi

s “L

ucy

”

Aust

ralo

pit

hecu

sse

dib

aSahela

nth

ropus

tchadensi

sH

omo

ere

ctusHom

o habilis Hom

o heid

elb

erg

ensi

s

Iron A

ge

BC

ca. 1

80

0 -

80

0

Bro

nze

Ag

e

Ard

ipit

hecu

sra

mid

us

1500

Danuvi

us

gugg

enm

osi

Wisconsinan / DevensianValdaian

llinoian / WolstonianMoscovian, Dnieper

Pre-IllinoianKansan / Anglian

Okian

Nebraskan / BeestonianKrinitisian,

Tolucheevkian

Midwest U.S. / British IslesRussian Plain Stages

Gel

asia

nC

alab

rian

Tara

ntia

n

older glacial periods

mid

dle

late

ICE

AG

ES

(si

mpl

ified

)

Duration Ma Duration Ma

Chi

bani

umm

ari

ne

early

Earth Times Ewald Langenscheidt

Humanity Evolution of Animal Life Humanity Evolution of Animal Life PlantsPlants

NEO

GEN

EM

iocene

Danian

Selandian

Thanetian

Ypresian

Lutetian

Bartonian

Priabonian

Rupelian

Chattian

Aquitanian

Burdigalian

Langhian

Serravallian

Tortonian

Messinian

Zanclean

Piacenzian

Plio

cene

C E

N O

Z O

I C

C E

N O

Z O

I C

NEO

GEN

EO

ligocene

TE

RT

IAR

Y

Eoc

ene

Pal

eoce

ne

PA

LEO

GEN

EPA

LEO

GEN

E

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

cephalo

pods

Am

phib

ians

Rep

tile

s

Birds

Mam

malia

Fis

hes

The Grande Coupure”“

Two thirds of Eocene mammal families and genera in Europe died out due to climatic changes at the beginning of the Oligocene. New families and genera already replaced them by faunal turnover in Rupelian time.

Mam

malia

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

cephalo

pods

Am

phib

ians

Rep

tile

s

Birds

Fis

hes

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Angi

osp

erm

s (f

low

erin

g pla

nts

)

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Angi

osp

erm

s

Moss

es

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Moss

es

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Berriasian

Valanginian

Hauterivian

Barremian

Cenomanian

Campanian

Maastrichtian

Aptian

Albian

Turonian

Coniacian

Santonian

low

er

u

pper

CR

ETA

CEO

US

CR

ETA

CEO

US

Mam

malia

Rep

tile

s

Birds

Am

phib

ians

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

Fis

hes

until pre

sent

Inse

cts

Inse

cts

Inse

cts

Moss

es

Fer

ns

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Angi

osp

erm

sA

ngi

osp

erm

s

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Sky

thia

n

Olenekian

Anisian

Ladinian

Carnian

Norian

Rhaethian

Toarcian

Pliensbachian

Sinemurian

Hettangian

Callovian

Bathonian

Bajocian

Aalenian

Tithonian

Kimmeridgian

Oxfordian

low

e r

m

iddl e

upper

M E

S O

Z O

I C

M E

S O

Z O

I C

JU

RA

SSIC

JU

RA

SSIC

low

er

m

iddle

u

pper

TR

IASSIC

TR

IASSIC

Inse

cts

Birds

Mam

malia

Am

phib

ians

Fis

hes

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

P H

A N

E R

O Z

O I

CP

H A

N E

R O

Z O

I C

Moss

es

Funga

euntil pre

sent

Funga

e

Gym

nosp

erm

s (a

mongs

t oth

ers

conifer

s, g

inkg

os

and c

ycads)

Funga

e

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Alp

ine o

rogeny

Rep

tile

s

Moss

es

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Funga

e

Superc

onti

nent

Pangä

a

Moss

es

Fer

ns,

clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Funga

e

Conodonts

Conodonts

Mam

malia C

onodonts

Fis

hes

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

Am

phib

ians

Rep

tile

s

Trilobites

Trilobites

Gzhelian

Kasimovian

Moscovian

Bashkirian

Serpukhovian

Visean

Tournaisian

Pennsylv

ania

nM

issi

ssip

pianCA

RB

ON

IFER

OU

SC

AR

BO

NIF

ER

OU

S

Inse

cts

Rep

tile

s

Fis

hes

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

Am

phib

ians

Bra

chio

pods

until pre

sent

Bra

chio

pods

Conodonts

Trilobites

Karo

o

Ic

e

A

ge

Changhsingian

Wuchiapingian

Capitanian

Wordian

Roadian

Kungurian

Artinskian

Sakmarian

Asselian

Lopin

gia

nC

isur

alia

nG

uada

lupi

an

PER

MIA

NP

ER

MIA

N

Inse

cts

Trilobites

Am

phib

ians

Fis

hes

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

Conodonts

Rep

tile

s

Moose

Clu

b m

oss

es,

hors

etails,

fer

ns

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Funga

e

Gym

nosp

erm

s

Extinction of tree-like lycopsids

Alleghenia

n / H

erc

ynia

n o

rogeny

Famennian

Frasnian

Givetian

Eifelian

Emsian

Pragian

Lochkovian

Ludl

owW

enlo

ck

Rhuddanian

Aeronian

Telychian

Sheinwoodian

Homerian

Gorstian

Ludfordian

Pridoli

upper

low

erm

iddl

e

P A

L E

O Z

O I

CP

A L

E O

Z O

I C

DEVO

NIA

ND

EVO

NIA

NLl

ando

verySIL

UR

IAN

SIL

UR

IAN

Gra

pto

lite

sG

rapto

lite

s

Fis

hes

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

am

monoid

ea

Am

phib

ians

Bra

chio

pods

Conodonts

Trilobites

Inse

cts

?

Gra

pto

lite

s

Inse

cts

Trilobites

Bra

chio

pods

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

cephalo

pods

Conodonts

Fis

hes

Moss

es

Moss

es

“old

est

fern

s” w

ith m

ycorr

hiz

a-f

unga

e, lyc

opsi

ds

(clu

b m

oss

es),

equis

etace

ae

(hors

etails)

, fe

rns

Funga

eFunga

e

Alg

ae

Alg

ae

until pre

sent

Cale

donia

n o

rogeny

Katian

Sandbian

Darriwilian

Dapingian

Floian

Tremadocian

upper

low

erm

iddl

e

OR

DO

VIC

IAN

OR

DO

VIC

IAN

CA

MB

RIA

NC

AM

BR

IAN

Gra

pto

lite

s

Inse

cts

“Fis

hes

”

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

cephalo

pods

Trilobites

Bra

chio

pods

Conodonts

?

Inse

cts

Trilobites

Bra

chio

pods

Conodonts

Arc

haeo

cyath

aA

rchaeo

cyath

a

“Fis

hes

”

up

pe

rm

iddl

eF

uron

gian

Mia

olin

gian

Ser

ies

2Te

rren

euvi

an

Stage 10

Jiangshanian

Paibian

Guzhangian

Drumian

Wuliuan

Stage 4

Stage 3

Stage 2

Fortunian

Gast

ropods,

biv

alv

es,

cephalo

pods

Moss

es

Funga

e

oldestspores

Alg

ae,

gre

en a

lgaes

Funga

e

PlantsPlants FungaeFungaeEvolution of Animal WorldEvolution of Animal World(very schematically and simplified)

With exception of vertebrates all animal phyla are present in seawater.

Higher developed soft-bodied creaturesHigher developed soft-bodied creatures

Within a short time of 5 - 10 ma a rich fauna expanded. Especially skeleton- and calcareous shells-bearing organisms spread worldwide in large number during lower Cambrian time.

“Cambrian explosion”

Pan-A

fric

an o

rogeny

oldesttrace fossils

Plants FungaePlants FungaeAnimalsAnimals

single-celled life with nucleus andchromosomes

Superc

onti

nent

Rod

inia

ospher

ith

e

L

Planet Earth in numbersPlanet Earth in numbers Diameter at the equator: 12,756.2 km Circumference at the equator: 40,076.592 km Mass: 1/330,000 solar masses Average density: 5.52 g/cc Volume: 1083.23 billion cubic kilometers Av. distance from sun: 149,600,000 kilometers (1 AU)

Dr. E. Langenscheidt

63705150

2890 660250

70 km

Structure of the EarthStructure of the Earth

Continental Crust(30 - 70 km thick)Oceanic crust

(5 - 10 km thick)

Upper mantle

Lower mantle (solid)

Outer corepredom. Fe (liquid)

Inner Corepredom. Fe (solid)

Asthenosphere(partially molten)

Ediacaran

Cryogenian

Tonian

Stenian

Ectasian

Calymmian

Statherian

Orosirian

Rhyacian

Siderian

PR

EC

AM

BR

IAN

NEO

PR

OTER

OZO

ICN

EO

PR

OTER

OZO

ICM

ESO

PR

OTER

OZO

ICM

ESO

PR

OTER

OZO

ICPA

LEO

PR

OTER

OZO

ICPA

LEO

PR

OTER

OZO

IC

Period

Hur

onia

n gl

acia

tion

Sturtian

Marinoan

Gaskiers

Griesjöglaciation

glac

iatio

ngl

acia

tion

P R

O T

E R

O Z

O I

CP

R O

T E

R O

Z O

I C

EraEon

earliest metazoa

BacteriaBacteria ArchaeaArchaea EukaryotesEukaryotesuntil present until present until present

The mass extinction 2,4 billion years agoThe “Great Oxidation Event” was caused by cyanobacterias.Theyproduced oxygen that “poisoned” the environment, therefore most anaerobic organisms died out.

Superc

onti

nent

Kenor

land

diff. o

lder

oro

genie

s

HAD

EAN

HAD

EAN

Note: This timeline is not to scale!But: Neogene - Cambrian same scale.

ARCH

EAN

ARCH

EAN

Eon Era

Bacteria

simple single-celled life

formation of the Moon

beginning ofplate tectonics

oldest Earth’s crust

proto-Earth

Neoarchean

Mesoarchean

Paleoarchean

Eoarchean

~4600

~13820 Big Bang

~13600 Milky Way

Sun

Solar system

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Numerical ages (rounded) are taken from:Deutsche Stratigraphische Kommission (Hrsg.) (2012): Stratigraphische Tabelle von Deutschland Kompakt 2012(STDK 2012); Potsdam (Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum).International Commission on Stratigraphy: INTERNATIONAL CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC CHART v2020/03. www.stratigraphy.org. Coloring: Based on: Commission for the Geological Mapof the World (CGMW), Paris, France (2012).Ver. 2020E

Copyright Layout, Text and Graphics 2020:C

www.geoundnatur.de

Dr. E. LangenscheidtD-94474 Vilshofen, Pfarrer-Hartl-Str. 13

Induan

Hirnantian

Ande

an -

Sah

aran

gla

ciat

ion

The most well known mass extinction About half of all animal species, including the dinosaurs, ammonites and belemnites became extinct. The reason for this could be the impact of a meteorite and its consequences on the territory of today’s Yucatán and/or the increased volcanism in India.

Mass extinction at the end of TriassicMore than 2/3 of all animal species, including most land-living vertebrates became extinct. Extensive volcanism associated with the breakup of supercontinent Pangea could be the reason.

The largest mass extinction in Earth's history Within a short time 90% of all animal species in the sea and over 2/3 of all terrestrial species of reptiles and amphibians as well as a third of all insect species were driven to extinction. Extensive volcanic activity and its consequences on today’s territory of Siberia may be considered as a reason.

The upper Devonian mass extinctionAbout 50% of all species became extinct. Also reef-building organisms were affected, which disappeared forever.

The mass extinction at the end of Ordovician Approximately 60% of marine species died out.

The mass extinction at the turn of Cambrian - Ordovician In particular, brachiopods, conodonts and trilobites were affected.

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HADEAN - QUARTERNARYFrom the beginning of Earth history until today

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