Paleoarchean
Stromatolites - Pilbara craton - Western Australia
The Paleoarchean (//; also spelled Palaeoarchaean (Formerly known as early Archean)) is a geologic era within the Archaean. It spans the period of time 3,600 to 3,200 million years ago—the period being defined chronometrically and not referenced to a specific level in a rock section on Earth. The name derives from Greek "Palaios" ancient. The oldest ascertained life form (well-preserved bacteria older than 3,460 million years found in Western Australia) is from this period. 3,480 Ma: Fossils of microbial mat found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia. [1][2] The first supercontinent Vaalbara formed during this period.
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| | Early (485.4–470.0 Mya) | |
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| Middle (470.0–458.4 Mya) | |
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| Late (458.4–443.4 Mya) | |
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| | Llandovery (443.4–433.4 Mya) |
- Rhuddanian (443.4–440.8 Mya)
- Aeronian (440.8–438.5 Mya)
- Telychian (438.5–433.4 Mya)
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- Sheinwoodian (433.4–430.5 Mya)
- Homerian (430.5–427.4 Mya)
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| Ludlow (427.4–423.0 Mya) |
- Gorstian (427.4–425.6 Mya)
- Ludfordian (425.6–423.0 Mya)
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| Pridoli (423.0–419.2 Mya) | |
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| | Early (419.2–393.3 Mya) |
- Lochkovian (419.2–410.8 Mya)
- Pragian (410.8–407.6 Mya)
- Emsian (407.6–393.3 Mya)
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| Middle (393.3–382.7 Mya) | |
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| Late (382.7–358.9 Mya) | |
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| | Cisuralian (298.9–272.3 Mya) | |
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| Guadalupian (272.3–259.8 Mya) | |
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| Lopingian (259.8–252.17 Mya) | |
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| | | | | | kya = thousands years ago. Mya = millions years ago. * Not officially recognized by the I.C.S. |
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