Precambrian
Representation and status
- Color CMYK
- 0/75/30/0
- Color RGB
- R: 247 G: 67 B: 112
- Rank
- chronostratigraphic Eon
- Validity
- Unit is in Use
- Status
- valid formal name
Nomenclature
- Deutsch
- Präkambrium
- Français
- Précambrien
- Italiano
- Precambriano
- English
- Precambrian
- Historical Variants
-
Antécambrien (Corbin & Oulianoff 1935), Prepaleozoic = Precambrian
Hierarchy and sequence
- Subordinate units
Age
- Age at top
-
- Neoproterozoic (= Late Proterozoic)
- Age at base
-
- Hadean
Geography
- Geographical extent
- Mainly found in Greenland and North America. Further relics in South America, Africa, Australia, India, Scandinavia, Russia and Asia.
-
Proterozoic (2500 Ma)
- Rank
- chronostratigraphic Eon
- Status
- valid formal name
- In short
-
The Proterozoic is the last geochronologic eon of the Precambrian, starting with the Siderian period (at the transition from the Archean eon) and ending with the Ediacaran period (at the transition to the Phanerozoic eon). It is subdivided in three eras (Paleo-, Meso- and Neoproterozoic).
... banded iron stones (2800-1800 Ma), tillites (2600-2100, 850 and 600 Ma) ...
- Age
- Proterozoikum
-
Neoproterozoic (1000 Ma)
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Last era of the Proterozoic.
- Age
- Proterozoikum
-
Ediacaran (~ 635 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
Named after the Ediacara Hills (South Australia).
- Rank
- chronostratigraphic Period
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Last period of the Neoproterozoic (ca. 635-541 Ma), with a peculiar soft-bodied fauna.
- Age
- Neoproterozoic (= Late Proterozoic)
-
Cryogenian (~ 720 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From krýos and génesis (Greek), meaning "cold" resp. "birth".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Middle period of the Neoproterozoic, characterised by cold climatic conditions («Snowball Earth» ; Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations). Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Neoproterozoic (= Late Proterozoic)
-
Tonian (1000 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From tóno (Greek), meaning "stretch".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- First period of the Neoproterozoic. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Neoproterozoic (= Late Proterozoic)
-
Mesoproterozoic (1600 Ma)
-
Stenian (1200 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From stenós (Greek), meaning "narrow".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Last period of the Mesoproterozoic, during which the supercontinent Rodinia assembled. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Mesoproterozoic (= Middle Proterozoic)
-
Ectasian (1400 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From éktasis (Greek), meaning "extension".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Second period of the Mesoproterozoic. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Mesoproterozoic (= Middle Proterozoic)
-
Calymmian (1600 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From kálymma (Greek), meaning "cover".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
-
First period of the Mesoproterozoic. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Mesoproterozoic (= Middle Proterozoic)
-
-
Paleoproterozoic (2500 Ma)
-
Statherian (1800 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From statherós (Greek), meaning "stable, firm".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Last period of the Paleoproterozoic. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Paleoproterozoic (= Early Proterozoic)
-
Orosirian (2050 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From oroseirá (Greek), meaning "mountain range".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
-
Third period of the Paleoproterozoic. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Paleoproterozoic (= Early Proterozoic)
-
Rhyacian (2300 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From rhýax (Greek), meaning "stream of lava".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- Second period of the Paleoproterozoic : Bushveld Igneous Complex, Huronian (Makganyene) global glaciation. Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Paleoproterozoic (= Early Proterozoic)
-
Siderian (2500 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
From sídēros (Greek), meaning "iron".
- Rank
- chronostratigraphy
- Status
- valid
- In short
- First period of the Paleoproterozoic, characterised by a peak in the deposition of banded iron formations (BIFs). Its base has been defined chronometrically.
- Age
- Paleoproterozoic (= Early Proterozoic)
-
-
Archean (4031 +/-3 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
archeo (Latin): old (see also Grand Canyon, Colorado).
- Rank
- chronostratigraphic Eon
- Status
- valid formal name
- In short
-
The Archean is the middle geochronologic eon of the Precambrian (between the Hadean and the Proterozoic). It is subdivided in four eras (Eo-, Paleo-, Meso- and Neoarchean).
... composed of granulites, green belts, non-metamorphic sedimentary rocks (argilites, arkoses, sandstones, rarely carbonates and evaporites), as well as first banded iron-stones.
- Age
- Archaikum
-
Hadean (4567 Ma)
- Name Origin
-
Named after Hades, the Greek god of the underworld.
- Rank
- chronostratigraphic Eon
- Status
- valid formal name
- In short
-
The Hadean is the first geochronologic eon of the Precambrian (before the Archean) and goes back to the origin of the Earth 4.56 billion years ago.
- Age
- Hadean