4-CGC1W1 Canada’s Geologic History

How old is the Earth?

4.6 billion years old

The five main components of Geologic Time are:

Eons - lasting billions of years

Eras - lasting 100’s of millions to billions of years

Periods - lasting 10’s of millions of years to 100’s of millions of years

Epochs - lasting millions of years to 10’s of millions of years

Stages - lasting thousands of years to millions of years

Precambrian Era

4600-541 million years ago

No life and material from space

Weathering

Breaking down of rocks by natural forces such as Wind, Rain, Snow, Ice (Glaciation)

Erosion

The moving of broken up pieces of rock/fragments (Transportation)

Deposition

Build up of eroded materials piling up in a new location

Paleozoic Era

541-242 million years ago

Plate Collusions form the Appalachian Mountains (also the Caledonian Mountain)

First plants and animals appeared in the land

Large swamps formed a vegetation

Mesozoic Era

252-66 million years ago

Cordillera Mountains formed due to plate collisions

Initiation Mountains are formed (North)

Inland seas

Age of Reptiles

First flowering plants appear on the land

The first Birds and Mammals appear on land

Cenozoic Era

66 million years ago to present day

Glaciers ended about 20 000 - 24 000 years ago

Glacial Period ended about 11 700 years ago

Cenozoic Era Present Day