GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE:
Relative and Absolute Dating
OBJECTIVES:
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Name the divisions of the geologic time scale.
2. Characterize each major and subdivisions in the
geologic time scale.
3. Describe how relative and absolute dating
provide evidence of geologic history
The geologic time scale divides up the
history of the earth based on life-forms
that have existed during specific times
since the creation of the planet. These
divisions are called geochronologic units
(geo: rock, chronology: time).
The table represents
the divisions of the
geologic time in the
Earth's history are
separated into eons ,
periods and epochs.
The Earth's age
which is 4.6 billion
years was separated
into different span of
time to handily
indicate the events.
GIVING TIME A NAME
•The largest sections are called "Eons".
•"Eons" are devided into "eras" (the 2nd
largest sections).
•"Eras" are devided "periods".
•"Periods" are devided into "epochs".
EONS
• Largest, most general division of time.
• 2 EONS are Cryptozoic(Precambrian)
eon and Phanerozoic eon.
• Precambrian and Phanerozoic eon both
consists of three eras as shown in the
figure.
ERAS
•
•
•
•
•
PERIOD
• Each era is divided into even more
specific blocks of time called periods.
• Various geologic events are associated
with each period.
• Each period is again classified into
different epochs.
DIVISION IN THE
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE
PRECAMBRIAN
•
•
HADEAN EON
• Few rocks were deformed
and metamorphosed
ARCHAEAN EON
• Marine rocks contain fossil
remains of microscopic algae
and bacteria
PROTEROZOIC EON
• Rifting of the continental
crust.
• Subsequent filling with
sedimentary and volcanic
rocks.
PHANEROZOIC EON
• It means visible life.
• It is subdivided into eras:
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and
Cenozoic.
PALEOZOIC ERA
• It is the beginning of early life.
• All of the continents had
come together to form the
supercontinent called Pangea.
• It is characterized by rapid
development of terrestrial
plants.
• Devonian period is known as
the age of fishes.
MESOZOIC ERA
• It is also known as the Age of
Dinosaurs.
• Pangea rifted into Laurasia and
Gondwanaland.
CENOZOIC ERA
• It is also known as the age of
recent life or age of
mammals.
• It has the most complete
record of any era because
the rocks are more
accessible.
DIVISION OF THE
CENOZOIC ERA
CENOZOIC ERA
• There are three periods in
this era: Quaternary,
Paleogene and Neogene.
PALEOGENE PERIOD
• Most Earth’s climate was
tropical.
• Continents drifted apart
creating vast stretches of
oceans
• It consists the Paleocene,
Eocene, and Oligocene
Epoch.
NEOGENE PERIOD
• It gives rise to early primates.
• It consists of Miocene and
Pliocene Epochs.
QUATERNARY PERIOD
• It is the most recent period.
• It is also termed
Anthropogene period.
• It is divided into two epochs:
Pleistocene and Holocene.
• Holocene - when human
civilization arose.
RELATIVE AND
ABSOLUTE DATING
Scientists first developed the geologic time
scale by studying rock layers and index
fossils. The information gathered by the
scientists placed the Earth rock strata in
order by relative age. Geologic time is often
discussed in two forms: relative time and the
absolute time.
Relative time is a subdivision of the Earth’s
geology in a specific order based upon the
relative age relationships (commonly,
vertical or stratigraphic position). Relative
time can be established usually on the basis
of fossils. On the other hand, absolute time
refers to the numerical ages in millions of
years or some other measurement.
Relative time can be referred to as the
physical aspects found in rocks while the
absolute time refers to the measurements
taken upon those to determine the actual
time it expired.
The time scale is depicted in its traditional
form with the oldest at the bottom and the
youngest at the top.
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!
