geological timescale Flashcards
(35 cards)
longest subdivision; based on the abundance of certain fossils
eons
next to longest; marked by major changes in the fossil record
eras
based on types of life existing at the time
period
shortest subdivision; marked by differences in life forms and an vary from continent to continent
epochs
divides up the history of the earth based on life forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of the planet
geologic time scale
came up with the geological time scale
nicholas steno
remains or traces of an organism from the geologic past that has been preserved in sediment or rock
fossils
Eons, Eras, Epochs, and Periods are divisions known as?
geochronologic units
Named for exposures of Strata found in a type section in Wales by British Geologist Adam Sedgwick
Cambrian
named after significant outcrops first discovered near Devonshire, England
Devonian
Jurassic: Named for representative strata first seen in the Jura Mountains by German geologist _____ in ____
Humboldt 1795
age of mammals
cenozoic
age of reptiles
mesozoic
age of invertebrates
paleozoic
no life possible
4600, precambrian (hadean, archean, and proterozoic ages)
-SC near equator
-island arc move toward north america
-explosion of life
-phyla came into being
-oxygen levels rose enough to support life
-trilobites and brachiopods
Paleozoic, Cambrian (540)
-construction of south carolina
-extinction due to growth of ice caps
-first animals with bones
-dominant: marine
-corals and trilobites
Paleozoic, Ordovician (490)
-extensive erosion
-first land plants appear and land animals follow
Paleozoic, Silurian (443)
- Acadian Orogeny - SC
metamorphism
-dominant: fish
-amphibians, evergreens, and ferns appear
Paleozoic, Devonian (417)
-much of north am is underwater
-first seed plants appear
-sea life fluorishes
-coral, brachiopods, blastoids, and bryozoa
Paleozoic, Carboniferous, Mississippian (354)
-great swamps develop (future coal deposits)
-reptiles develop from amphibians
-flying insects appear
Paleozoic, Carboniferous, Pennysylvanian (320)
-pangaea forms
-appalachians rise
-90% extinction including trilobites, blastoids, fish, and amphibians because of heavy volcanism in Siberia
Permian (290)
-pangaea begins to break apart
-rocky mountains and sierra nevada form
-first dinosaurs, mammals, crinoids, and modern echinoids appear
Mesozoic, Triassic (248)
Golden Age of Dinosaurs
First birds appear
western US: orogeny of rockies
NA continues to rotate away from africa
Mesozoic, Jurassic (206)