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Paleocene

Also known as Palaeocene, Paleocene Epoch

The Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 Ma (million years ago). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name comes from Ancient Greek παλαιός (palaiós), meaning "old", and καινός (kainós), meaning "new", translating to "the old part of the Eocene".

AI overview

The Paleocene is a geological time period that occurred between approximately 66 and 56 million years ago and represents the first epoch of the Paleogene Period. It matters because it marks an important early chapter in Earth's most recent major era (the Cenozoic), following the extinction event that ended the previous age.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Geologic timespan.name: Paleocene
Geologic timespan.color: Paleocene
Geologic timespan.time_start: 66
Geologic timespan.time_end: 56
Geologic timespan.image_map: Mollweide Paleographic Map of Earth, 60 Ma (Selandian Age).png
Geologic timespan.caption_map: A map of Earth as it appeared 60 million years ago during the Paleocene Epoch, Selandian Age
Geologic timespan.timeline: Paleocene
Geologic timespan.name_formality: Formal
Geologic timespan.name_accept_date: 1978
Geologic timespan.alternate_spellings: Palaeocene
Geologic timespan.usage: Global (ICS)
Geologic timespan.timescales_used: ICS Time Scale
Geologic timespan.chrono_unit: Epoch
Geologic timespan.strat_unit: Series
Geologic timespan.proposed_by: Wilhelm Philipp Schimper, 1874
Geologic timespan.timespan_formality: Formal
Geologic timespan.lower_boundary_def: Iridium-enriched layer associated with a major meteorite impact and subsequent K–Pg extinction event
Geologic timespan.lower_gssp_location: El Kef Section, El Kef, Tunisia

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Mollweide Paleographic Map of Earth, 60 Ma (Selandian Age).png

Show 4 more facts

Commons category: Paleocene
end time: 56000000-0
sRGB color hex triplet: FEAD6E
start time: 66000000-0

Sources (3)

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~56 min read

Article

29 sections

Contents

Etymology
Geology
Boundaries
Stratigraphy
Mineral and hydrocarbon deposits
Impact craters
Paleogeography
Paleotectonics
Paleoceanography
Climate
Average climate
Climatic events
Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum
Flora
Recovery
Angiosperms
Polar forests
Fauna
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Insects and arachnids
Marine invertebrates
See also
Notes
References
External links

The epoch is bracketed by two major events in Earth's history. The K–Pg extinction event, brought on by an asteroid impact (Chicxulub impact) and possibly volcanism (Deccan Traps), marked the beginning of the Paleocene and killed off 75% of species, most famously the non-avian dinosaurs. The end of the epoch was marked by the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which was a major climatic event wherein about 2,500–4,500 gigatons of carbon were released into the atmosphere and ocean systems, causing a spike in global temperatures and ocean acidification.