Geological Time Scale
This table contains the geological time periods of the past 2.5 billion years on Earth to aid in understanding age immense age of these fossils.
(Ma = Mega-annum = 1,000,000 years)EON | ERA | PERIOD | EXTENT (Ma) | DURATION (Ma) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | 2.588–Present | 2.588+ |
Neogene | 23.03–2.588 | 20.4 | ||
Paleogene | 66.0–23.03 | 42.9 | ||
Mesozoic | Cretaceous | 145.5–66.0 | 79.5 | |
Jurassic | 201.3–145.0 | 56.3 | ||
Triassic | 252.17–201.3 | 50.9 | ||
Paleozoic | Permian | 298.9–252.17 | 46.7 | |
Carboniferous | 358.9–298.9 | 60 | ||
Devonian | 419.2–358.9 | 60.3 | ||
Silurian | 443.4–419.2 | 24.2 | ||
Ordovician | 485.4–443.4 | 42 | ||
Cambrian | 541.0–485.4 | 55.6 | ||
Proterozoic | Neoproterozoic | Ediacaran | 635.0–541.0 | 94 |
Cryogenian | 850–635 | 215 | ||
Tonian | 1,000–850 | 150 | ||
Mesoproterozoic | Stenian | 1,200–1,000 | 200 | |
Ectasian | 1,400–1,200 | 200 | ||
Calymmian | 1,600–1,400 | 200 | ||
Paleoproterozoic | Statherian | 1,800–1,600 | 200 | |
Orosirian | 2,050–1,800 | 250 | ||
Rhyacian | 2,300–2,050 | 250 | ||
Siderian | 2,500–2,300 | 200 | ||