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The geologic time scale or geological time scale (GTS) is a representation of time based on the rock record of Earth. It is a system of chronological dating that uses chronostratigraphy (the process of relating strata to time) and geochronology (a scientific branch of geology that aims to determine the age of rocks).
The Precambrian includes approximately 90% of geologic time. It extends from 4.6 billion years ago to the beginning of the Cambrian Period (about 539 Ma).It includes the first three of the four eons of Earth's prehistory (the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic) and precedes the Phanerozoic eon.
Geologic Time – Period prior to humans. 4.6 billion to 3 million years ago. (See "prehistoric periods" for more detail into this.) (See "prehistoric periods" for more detail into this.) Primatomorphid Era – Period prior to the existence of Primatomorpha
Geologists are most interested in the decay of isotopes carbon-14 (into nitrogen-14) and potassium-40 (into argon-40). Carbon-14 aka radiocarbon dating works for organic materials that are less than about 50,000 years old. For older periods, the potassium-argon dating process is more accurate.
Recognizable humans emerged at most 2 million years ago, a vanishingly small period on the geological scale. The earliest undisputed evidence of life on Earth dates at least from 3.5 billion years ago, [7] [8] [9] during the Eoarchean Era, after a geological crust started to solidify following the earlier molten Hadean eon.
The Cretaceous (IPA: / k r ɪ ˈ t eɪ ʃ ə s / krih-TAY-shəss) [2] is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 77 million years, it is the ninth and longest geological period of the entire Phanerozoic.
The Quaternary spans from 2.58 million years ago to present day, and is the shortest geological period in the Phanerozoic Eon. It features modern animals, and dramatic changes in the climate. It is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene and the Holocene. Megafauna of Pleistocene Europe (mammoths, cave lions, woolly rhino, reindeer, horses)
Geology portal; Subcategories. This category has the following 16 subcategories, out of 16 total. ... Pages in category "Geological periods" The following 24 pages ...