Proterozoic

Also known as Proterozoic Eon

The Proterozoic ( ) is the third of the four geologic eons of Earth's history, spanning the time interval from to Ma, and is the longest eon of Earth's geologic time scale. It is preceded by the Archean and followed by the Phanerozoic, and is the most recent part of the Precambrian "supereon".

AI overview

The Proterozoic is the longest division of Earth's history, lasting roughly two billion years and occurring between the Archean and Phanerozoic eons. It matters because understanding this vast span of time helps scientists piece together the deep history of Earth before the emergence of most visible life forms that characterize the Phanerozoic eon.

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

Key facts

Geologic timespan.name: Proterozoic
Geologic timespan.color: Proterozoic
Geologic timespan.top_bar: all time
Geologic timespan.image_art: Proterozoic collage new.png
Geologic timespan.caption_art: From left to right: Four main Proterozoic events: Great Oxidation Event and subsequent Huronian glaciation; First eukaryotes, like red algae; Snowball Earth in Cryogenian period; Ediacaran biota
Geologic timespan.timeline: Eons
Geologic timespan.name_formality: Formal
Geologic timespan.celestial_body: earth
Geologic timespan.usage: Global (ICS)
Geologic timespan.timescales_used: ICS Time Scale
Geologic timespan.chrono_unit: Eon
Geologic timespan.strat_unit: Eonothem
Geologic timespan.timespan_formality: Formal
Geologic timespan.lower_boundary_def: Defined Chronometrically
Geologic timespan.upper_boundary_def: Appearance of the Ichnofossil Treptichnus pedum
Geologic timespan.upper_gssp_location: Fortune Head section, Newfoundland, Canada

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Show 5 more facts

start time: 2500000000
Commons category: Proterozoic
end time: 538800000-
sRGB color hex triplet: F73563
IPA transcription: /ˌproʊtərəˈzoʊɪk/

Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~11 min read

Article

8 sections

Contents

The Proterozoic record
The accumulation of oxygen
Subduction processes
Supercontinent tectonic history
Life
See also
References
External links

The Proterozoic is subdivided into three geologic eras (from oldest to youngest): the Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. It covers the time from the appearance of free oxygen in Earth's atmosphere to just before the proliferation of complex life on the Earth during the Cambrian Explosion. The name Proterozoic combines two words of Greek origin: meaning "former, earlier", and , meaning "of life".