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Geologic Time

Geologic Time. How is Earth’s geologic history classified?. We find no vestige of a beginning,–no prospect of an end. - James Hutton. Geologic Time Scale. Record of Earth’s history from its origin to the present Based on fossils found in rocks

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Geologic Time

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  1. Geologic Time How is Earth’s geologic history classified? We find no vestige of a beginning,–no prospect of an end. - James Hutton

  2. Geologic Time Scale • Record of Earth’s history from its origin to the present • Based on fossils found in rocks • Used to correlate geologic events, environmental changes and development of life forms that are preserved in rocks

  3. Geologic Time • Eon • Longest time unit • Measured in billion of years • Archean Eon, Proterozoic Eon, and Phanerozoic Eon (Current)

  4. Geologic Time • Eras • Measured in hundreds of millions to billions of years • Paleozoic Era – Wide variety of plants and animals • Mesozoic Era – Dinosaurs • Cenozoic Era – Mammals, Humans develop

  5. Geologic Time • Periods • Defined by the life forms that were abundant or became extinct during the time in which specific rocks were deposited • Measured in terms of tens of millions of years • Some are named for the geographic region in which the rocks of that age were first observed

  6. Jurassic Period

  7. Geologic Time • Epoch • Measured in millions of years to tens of millions of years • Groups of organisms used to distinguish • Ex: Holocene Epoch, Pleistocene Epoch

  8. Why study fossils? • Interpret Earth’s history • Determine patterns and cycles to help predict future events such as climatic changes • Locate energy resources (Petroleum geologists locate oil)

  9. Answer in NB: • Why do you think scientists know more about the Cenozoic Era than they do about the other eras? (Hint: Look at their time frames) • What eon, era, period, and epoch do we live in?

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