| Time
|
Year
|
Comment
|
Classification
|
| The Big Bang
|
| The Planck epoch
|
Up to 10–43 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Grand Unification Epoch
|
Between 10–43 seconds and 10–36 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Electroweak Epoch
|
Between 10–36 seconds and 10–12 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Inflationary Epoch
|
Between 10–36 seconds and 10–32 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Quark Epoch
|
Between 10–12 seconds and 10–6 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Hadron Epoch
|
Between 10–6 seconds and 1 second after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Lepton Epoch
|
Between 1 second and 10 seconds after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Photon Epoch
|
Between 10 seconds and 380,000 years after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| The Reionization
|
150 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang
|
|
Cosmological/The Big Bang
|
| Formation of our Solar System
|
8 to 9 billion years after the Big Bang
|
Current theory and observations suggest that the universe is between 13.5 and 14 billion years old.[1]
|
Cosmological/Evolution of the Solar System
|
| The beginning of the geological Hadean Eon
|
| Hadean Eon
|
4.54 - 3.8 billion years ago
|
Oldest known mineral (Zircon, 4406±8 Ma[2]). Formation of Moon (4533 Ma), probably from giant impact. Formation of Earth (4567.17 to 4570 Ma)
Oldest known rock (4030 Ma)[3]. The first Lifeforms and self-replicating RNA molecules may have evolved on earth around 4000 Ma. Napier Orogeny in Antarctica, 4000 ± 200 Ma.
Nectaris Basin and other major lunar basins were formed by large impact events. Ending with the Late Heavy Bombardment of the inner solar system.
|
Geological/Early Earth
|
| The beginning of the geological Archean Eon
|
| Archean Eon
|
3.8 - 2.5 billion years ago
- 3.8 - 3.6 billion years ago
- 3.6 - 3.2 billion years ago
- 3.2 - 2.8 billion years ago
- 2.8 - 2.5 billion years ago
|
Simple single-celled life (probably bacteria and perhaps archaea). Oldest probable microfossils.
First known oxygen-producing bacteria. Oldest definitive microfossils. Oldest cratons on earth (such as the Canadian Shield and the Pilbara Craton) may have formed during this period[4]. Rayner Orogeny in Antarctica.
First stromatolites (probably colonial cyanobacteria). Oldest macrofossils. Humboldt Orogeny in Antarctica. Blake River Megacaldera Complex begins to form in present-day Ontario and Quebec, ends by roughly 2696 Ma.
Stabilization of most modern cratons; possible mantle overturn event. Insell Orogeny, 2650 ± 150 Ma. Abitibi greenstone belt in present-day Ontario and Quebec begins to form, stablizes by 2600 Ma.
|
Geological/Early Earth
|
| The chronology continues by periods starting at the beginning of the Proterozoic Eon; prior to this there is insufficient evidence to sub-divide beyond era.
|
| 2500 Ma The beginning of the geological Proterozoic Eon 542 Ma
|
| The beginning of the geological Paleoproterozoic Era
|
| Siderian Period
|
2500 Ma to 2300 Ma
|
Oxygen catastrophe: banded iron formations formed. Sleaford Orogeny on Australian Continent, Gawler Craton 2440-2420 Ma.
|
Geological
|
| Rhyacian Period
|
2300 Ma to 2050 Ma
|
Bushveld Formation formed. Huronian glaciation.
|
Geological
|
| Orosirian Period
|
2050 Ma to 1800 Ma
|
The atmosphere became oxygenic. Vredefort and Sudbury Basin asteroid impacts. Much orogeny. Penokean and Trans-Hudsonian Orogenies in North America. Early Ruker Orogeny in Antarctica, 2000 - 1700 Ma. Glenburgh Orogeny, Glenburgh Terrane, Australian Continent c. 2005 - 1920 Ma. Kimban Orogeny, Gawler craton in Australian Continent begins.
|
Geological
|
| Statherian Period
|
1800 Ma to 1600 Ma
|
First complex single-celled life: protists with nuclei. Columbia is the primordial supercontinent. Kimban Orogeny in Australian Continent ends. Yapungku Orogeny on North Yilgarn craton, in Western Australia. Mangaroon Orogeny, 1680-1620 Ma, on the Gascoyne Complex in Western Australia. Kararan Orogeny (1650- Ma), Gawler Craton, South Australia.
|
Geological
|
| The beginning of the geological Mesoproterozoic Era
|
| Calymmian Period
|
1600 Ma to 1400 Ma
|
Platform covers expand. Barramundi Orogeny, MacArthur Basin, Northern Australia, and Isan Orogeny, c. 1600 Ma, Mount Isa Block, Queensland
|
Geological
|
| Ectasian Period
|
1400 Ma ago to 1200 Ma
|
Platform covers continue to expand. Green algae colonies in the seas. Grenville Orogeny in North America.
|
Geological
|
| Stenian Period
|
1200 Ma to 1000 Ma
|
Narrow highly metamorphic belts due to orogeny as Rodinia formed. Late Ruker / Nimrod Orogeny in Antarctica possibly begins. Musgrave Orogeny (c. 1080 Ma), Musgrave Block, Central Australia.
|
Geological
|
| The beginning of the geological Neoproterozoic Era
|
| Tonian Period
|
1000 Ma to 850 Ma
|
Rodinia supercontinent persists. Trace fossils of simple multi-celled eukaryotes. First radiation of dinoflagellate-like acritarchs. Grenville Orogeny tapers off in North America. Pan-African orogeny in Africa. Lake Ruker / Nimrod Orogeny in Antarctica, 1000 ± 150 Ma. Edmundian Orogeny (c. 920 - 850 Ma), Gascoyne Complex, Western Australia. Adelaide Geosyncline laid down on Australian Continent, beginning of Adelaide Geosyncline (Delamerian Orogeny) in that continent.
|
Geological
|
| Cryogenian Period
|
850 Ma - 630 Ma
|
Possible "Snowball Earth" period. Fossils still rare. Rodinia landmass begins to break up. Late Ruker / Nimrod Orogeny in Antarctica tapers off.
|
Geological
|
| Ediacaran Period
|
630 Ma - 542 Ma
|
Good fossils of the first multi-celled animals. Ediacaran biota flourish worldwide in seas. Simple trace fossils of possible worm-like Trichophycus, etc. First sponges and trilobitomorphs. Enigmatic forms include many soft-jellied creatures shaped like bags, disks, or quilts (like Dickinsonia). Taconic Orogeny in North America. Aravalli Range orogeny in Indian Subcontinent. Beginning of Petermann Orogeny on Australian Continent. Beardmore Orogeny in Antarctica, 633-620 Ma.
|
Geological
|
| 542 Ma The beginning of the geological Phanerozoic Eon 0 Ma
|
| The beginning of the geological Paleozoic Era
|
| Cambrian Period
|
542 Ma - 488.3 Ma
|
Major diversification of life in the Cambrian Explosion. Many fossils; most modern animal phyla appear. First chordates appear, along with a number of extinct, problematic phyla. Reef-building Archaeocyatha abundant; then vanish. Trilobites, priapulid worms, sponges, inarticulate brachiopods (unhinged lampshells), and many other animals numerous. Anomalocarids are giant predators, while many Ediacaran fauna die out. Prokaryotes, protists (e.g., forams), fungi and algae continue to present day. Gondwana emerges. Petermann Orogeny on the Australian Continent tapers off (550-535 Ma). Ross Orogeny in Antarctica. Adelaide Geosyncline (Delamerian Orogeny), majority of orogenic activity from 514-500 Ma. Lachlan Orogeny on Australian Continent, c. 540-440 Ma. Atmospheric CO2 content roughly 20-35 times present-day (Holocene) levels (6000 ppmv compared to today's 385 ppmv)[5]
|
Geological
|
| Ordovician Period
|
488.3 Ma - 443.7 Ma
|
Invertebrates diversify into many new types (e.g., long straight-shelled cephalopods). Early corals, articulate brachiopods (Orthida, Strophomenida, etc.), bivalves, nautiloids, trilobites, ostracods, bryozoa, many types of echinoderms (crinoids, cystoids, starfish, etc.), branched graptolites, and other taxa all common. Conodonts (early planktonic vertebrates) appear. First green plants and fungi on land. Ice age at end of period.
|
Geological
|
| Silurian Period
|
443.7 Ma - 416 Ma
|
First Vascular plants (the rhyniophytes and their relatives), first millipedes and arthropleurids on land. First jawed fishes, as well as many armoured jawless fish, populate the seas. Sea-scorpions reach large size. Tabulate and rugose corals, brachiopods (Pentamerida, Rhynchonellida, etc.), and crinoids all abundant. Trilobites and mollusks diverse; graptolites not as varied. Beginning of Caledonian Orogeny for hills in England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Scandinavian Mountains. Also continued into Devonian period as the Acadian Orogeny, above. Taconic Orogeny tapers off. Lachlan Orogeny on Australian Continent tapers off.
|
Geological
|
| Devonian Period
|
416 Ma - 359.2 Ma
|
First clubmosses, horsetails and ferns appear, as do the first seed-bearing plants (progymnosperms), first trees (the progymnosperm Archaeopteris), and first (wingless) insects. Strophomenid and atrypid brachiopods, rugose and tabulate corals, and crinoids are all abundant in the oceans. Goniatite ammonoids are plentiful, while squid-like coleoids arise. Trilobites and armoured agnaths decline, while jawed fishes (placoderms, lobe-finned and ray-finned fish, and early sharks) rule the seas. First amphibians still aquatic. "Old Red Continent" of Euramerica. Beginning of Acadian Orogeny for Anti-Atlas Mountains of North Africa, and Appalachian Mountains of North America, also the Antler, Variscan, and Tuhua Orogeny in New Zealand.
|
Geological
|
| Carboniferous Period
|
359.2 Ma - 299 Ma
|
Large primitive trees, first land vertebrates, and amphibious sea-scorpions live amid coal-forming coastal swamps. Lobe-finned rhizodonts are dominant big fresh-water predators. In the oceans, early sharks are common and quite diverse; echinoderms (especially crinoids and blastoids) abundant. Corals, bryozoa, goniatites and brachiopods (Productida, Spiriferida, etc.) very common, but trilobites and nautiloids decline. Glaciation in East Gondwana. Tuhua Orogeny in New Zealand tapers off.
Winged insects radiate suddenly; some (esp. Protodonata and Palaeodictyoptera) are quite large. Amphibians common and diverse. First reptiles and coal forests (scale trees, ferns, club trees, giant horsetails, Cordaites, etc.). Highest-ever atmospheric oxygen levels. Goniatites, brachiopods, bryozoa, bivalves, and corals plentiful in the seas and oceans. Testate forams proliferate. Uralian orogeny in Europe and Asia. Variscan orogeny occurs towards middle and late Mississippian Periods.
|
Geological
|
| Permian Period
|
299 Ma - 251 Ma
|
|
Geological
|
| The beginning of the geological - Mesozoic Era
|
| Triassic Period
|
251 Ma - 199.6 Ma
|
|
Geological
|
| Jurassic Period
|
199.6 Ma - 145.5 Ma
|
|
Geological
|
| Cretaceous Period
|
145.5 Ma - 65.5 Ma
|
|
Geological
|
| The beginning of the geological - Cenozoic Era
|
| Paleogene Period
|
65.5 Ma - 23.03 Ma
|
|
Geological
|
| Neogene Period
|
23.03 Ma - Present Day or 2.588 Ma[6]
|
|
Geological
|
|
|
|
|
Geological
|
