The geological time scale

1. The Geological Time Scale
8-2.4 Recognize the relationship among the units—era, epoch, and period—into
which the geologic time scale is divided.
8-2.5 Illustrate the vast diversity of life that has been present on Earth over time by
using the geologic time scale.
8-2.2 Summarize how scientists study Earth’s past environment and diverse life-
forms by examining different types of fossils (including molds, casts, petrified fossils,
preserved and carbonized remains of plants and animals, and trace fossils).
8-2.3 Explain how Earth’s history has been influenced by catastrophes (including the
impact of an asteroid or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that have
affected the conditions on Earth and the diversity of its life-forms.

2. Events in Your Life
• ___When you started second grade
• ___When you were born
• ___ When you started kindergarten
• ___When you learned to ride a bike.
• ___ When you learned to walk.
• ___ When you learned to read.
• ___ When you lost your first tooth.
• ___ Today’s date.
Construct a timeline of the important events in your life. Be sure
to include all of the events listed below and any other events
you feel are important. Your timeline should be constructed
TWO ways:
1) Numerical Order (use actual dates)
2) Sequential Order (most recent at top)

5. What is the Earth’s time scale?
• The Geological time scale is a record of
the life forms and geological events in
Earth’s history.
• Scientists developed the time scale by
studying rock layers and fossils world
wide.
• Radioactive dating helped determine the
absolute divisions in the time scale.

8. Divisions of Geologic Time
• Eras are subdivided into periods...periods
are subdivided into epochs.
Era
Period
Epoch
E + P = EP

9. Divisions of Geologic Time
• Geological time begins with Precambrian
Time. Precambrian time covers
approximately 88% of Earth’s history.

11. FOUR Eras…
• PRE-CAMBRIAN – 88% of earth’s history
• Paleozoic (ancient life)
– 544 million years ago…lasted 300 million yrs
• Mesozoic (middle life)
– 245 million years ago…lasted 180 million yrs
• Cenozoic (recent life)
– 65 million years ago…continues through present day

12. Today…
• Today we are in the Holocene Epoch of
the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic
Era.
Which unit is the largest?
Which unit is the smallest?

13. Today…
• Today we are in the Holocene Epoch of
the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic
Era.
Which unit is the largest?
Which unit is the smallest?

15. Paleozoic Era (Ancient Life)
• The Cambrian period is the 1st
period of the Paleozoic
Era. “Age of the Trilobites”
• Explosion of life in the oceans began during this era.
• Most of the continents were covered in warm, shallow
seas.
– Invertebrates were dominate - Trilobites
– Fish emerged during this time
– Fish led to the arrival of amphibians
• The end of the Paleozoic era is called the “Age of Amphibians”
– Early land plants including mosses, ferns and cone-bearing
plants.
– The early coal forming forests were also formed during this
time.

16. Paleozoic Era
• Much of the limestone quarried for building and
industrial purposes, as well as the coal deposits
of western Europe and the eastern United
States, were formed during the Paleozoic.
• The Cambrian (beginning) opened with the
breakup of the world-continent Rodinia and
closed with the formation of Pangaea, as the
Earth's continents came together once again.
– This event is thought to have caused the
climate changes that led to mass extinction
event.
• The Appalachian mountains were formed during
this time.

17. Paleozoic Era
• At the end of the Paleozoic, the largest mass
extinction in history wiped out approximately
90% of all marine animal species and 70% of
land animals.
– Possible causes of this Mass Extinction Event
• Lowering of sea levels when the continents were
rejoined as Pangaea (convergent boundary)
• Increased volcanic activity (ash and dust)
• Climate changes – cooler climate

18. Trilobites
• Lived in Earth’s ancient seas
• Extinct before the dinosaurs
came into existence
• Cambrian Period is know as
the “Age of the Trilobites”
(put in on table)

19. Brachiopods
• Marine animals that resemble clams.

20. Early Fish
Early fish did not have jaws.
Some species of sharks
were in existence at this
time.

21. Frilled Shark that was found in Japan in January 2007. This shark was
considered a “living fossil”

22. Early Land Plants
Cone bearing plants
Ferns
Mosses

23. Mesozoic Era – Middle Life
• At the beginning of this era the continents
were joined as Pangaea.
• Pangaea broke up around the middle of
this era.
• Reptiles became the most abundant
animals because of their ability to adapt to
the drier climate of the Mesozoic Era.
– Skin maintains body fluids
– Embryos live in shells

24. Mesozoic Era
• Dinosaurs were also very active in this
era.
– First small dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic
Period.
– Larger and more abundant dinosaurs
appeared in the Jurassic Period.
• Small mammals and birds also
appeared during this era.
– The mammals were small, warm-blooded
animals. Hair covering their bodies.
• These characteristics help them survive in
changing environments.

28. Mesozoic Era
• The main plant life of this time were
Gymnosperms or plants that produce seeds,
but no flowers.
– Pine Trees
• Flowering plants appeared during the END of
this era.

29. Mesozoic Era
• This era ended with a mass extinction event
about 65 million years ago.
– Many groups of animals, including the dinosaurs
disappeared suddenly at this time.
• Many scientists believe that this event was
caused by a comet or asteroid colliding with the
Earth.

34. Crater sites on Earth

35. Mesozoic Era – Mass Extinction
Event
• Asteroid or Comet collides with Earth.
– Huge cloud of smoke and dust fills the air
– Blocks out sunlight
– Plants die
– Animals that eat plants die
– Animals that eat plant-eaters die.
• However, not all forms of life died during this
event. Many animals that you see today are
descendants from the survivors of this extinction
event.

36. Dinosaurs

37. Mesozoic Reptiles

38. Mesozoic Mammals

40. Mesozoic Plants
Flowering plants evolved
towards the end of the
Mesozoic Era.

41. Cenozoic Era – Recent Life
• Began about 65 million years ago and continues
today!!!!!
– Climate was warm and mild.
– Marine animals such as whales and dolphins evolved.
• Mammals began to increase and evolve adaptations
that allowed them to live in many different
environments – land, air and the sea.
– Grasses increased and provided a food source for grazing
animals
• Many mountain ranges formed during the Cenozoic
Era
– Alps in Europe and Himalayas in India; Rocky Mountains in
the USA

42. Cenozoic Era
• Growth of these mountains may have helped to
cool down the climate
– Ice Ages occurred late in the Cenozoic Era
(Quaternary Period).
• As the climate changed, the animals had to
adapt to the rise and fall of the oceans caused
by melting glaciers.
• This era is sometimes called the “Age of
Mammals”

43. Cenozoic Era
• Marine animal examples:
– Algae, Mollusks, Fish and Mammals
• Land animal examples:
– Bats, Cats, Dogs, Cattle and Humans
– Humans are thought to have appeared around 3.5
million years ago (during the most recent period –
Quaternary).
• Flowering plants were now the most common
plant life.

44. Cenozoic Mammals

45. Flowering Plants were common
during the Cenozoic Era

46. Life forms found in each Era
• On your worksheet,:
- List Geologic Events found in
each Era.
- List Life forms found in each Era.
- Draw pictures of Life Forms…
USE COLOR!
Make sure you are putting them in the
correct block!!