Cambrian
Cambrian
Major diversification of life in the Cambrian Explosion.
Numerous fossils; most modern animal phyla appear. First chordates appear, along with a number of extinct, problematic phyla. Reef-building Archaeocyatha abundant; then vanish. Trilobites, priapulid worms,sponges, inarticulate brachiopods (unhinged lampshells), and numerous other animals.
Anomalocarids are giant predators, while many Ediacaran fauna die out. Prokaryotes, protists (e.g., forams), fungi and algae continue to present day.
Gondwana emerges.
Petermann Orogeny on the Australian continent tapers off (550β535 Ma).
Ross Orogeny in Antarctica.
Adelaide Geosyncline (Delamerian Orogeny), majority of orogenic activity from 514β500 Ma.
Lachlan Orogeny on Australian continent, c. 540β440 Ma.
Atmospheric CO2 content roughly 20β35 times present-day (Holocene) levels (6000 ppmv compared to today's 385 ppmv)
Numerous fossils; most modern animal phyla appear. First chordates appear, along with a number of extinct, problematic phyla. Reef-building Archaeocyatha abundant; then vanish. Trilobites, priapulid worms,sponges, inarticulate brachiopods (unhinged lampshells), and numerous other animals.
Anomalocarids are giant predators, while many Ediacaran fauna die out. Prokaryotes, protists (e.g., forams), fungi and algae continue to present day.
Gondwana emerges.
Petermann Orogeny on the Australian continent tapers off (550β535 Ma).
Ross Orogeny in Antarctica.
Adelaide Geosyncline (Delamerian Orogeny), majority of orogenic activity from 514β500 Ma.
Lachlan Orogeny on Australian continent, c. 540β440 Ma.
Atmospheric CO2 content roughly 20β35 times present-day (Holocene) levels (6000 ppmv compared to today's 385 ppmv)
Geologic Events
| Event Name | Type | Age | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonian orogeny (concludes) | Orogeny | ~505 - ~400 Ma | Europe |
| Cambrian explosion | Evolutionary event | 541 - 513 Β± 3 Ma | Global |
| Gondwana formation (concludes) | Continental Assembly | ~550 - ~500 Ma | Global |
| Damara orogeny (concludes) | Orogeny | ~550 - ~495 Ma | Namibia |
| Zambezi Belt orogeny (late) (concludes) | Orogeny | ~550 - ~520 Ma | Zambia and Zimbabwe |
| Ross orogeny (concludes) | Orogeny | ~550 - ~480 Ma | Antarctica |
| Cadomian orogeny (concludes) | Orogeny | ~660 - ~540 Ma | Europe |
| Pannotia supercontinent (concludes) | Supercontinent | 750 - 530 Ma | Global |
Overview of geological time
List all geological events
