Chapter 12 Earth's Evolution Through Geologic Time

Front 1

Paleozoic Era 541 Ma - 252 Ma

Back 1

Permian 299 Ma

Pennsylvanian 323 Ma

Mississippian 359 Ma

Devonian 419 Ma

Silurian 444 Ma

Ordovician 485 Ma

Cambrian 541 Ma

Front 2

Mesozoic 252 Ma - 66 Ma

Back 2

Cretaceous 145 Ma

Jurassic 201 Ma

Triassic 252 Ma

Front 3

Cenozoic 66 Ma - present

Back 3

Quaternary 2.6 Ma - Present

Paleogene/Neogene 66 Ma

Front 4

Precambrian Time

Back 4

1. Shield regions of the continents form

2. Outgassing of atmosphere/oceans

3. Simple forms of life:

a. Stromatolites (first fossils) 3.5 Ga,

b. blue/green Algae.

Front 5

Cambrian Period about 541 Ma

Back 5

- (Great) diversification of life forms

- First organisms with shells and fish (more records can be preserved)

- North America tectonically quiet

Front 6

Ordovician Period

Back 6

- First Plants

- Trilobites prominent

- Appalachian mountains rise for first time

Front 7

Silurian Period

Back 7

- Land plants become common by the end

- Large salt basin from NY to IL

Front 8

Devonian Period

Back 8

- "Age of Fishes" eating tribolites

- First insects and amphibians

- Appalachians rise for second time/ North America grew

Front 9

Mississippian Period (Drainage Basin)

Back 9

- Amphibians abundant

- First reptiles

- North America warm & tropical

- Oldest coal

Front 10

Pennsylvanian Period

Back 10

- Large coal swamps from PA to IL

- First reptiles

- Appalachians rise for third and final time

- Ancestral Rocky Mountains form (Colorado, Montana, Utah)

Front 11

Permian Period

Back 11

- Pangea formed / one large continent (not the only continent other small ones as well

- "The Great" extinction at end 80-95% of sea life dies & 75% of amphibians

- 9/10 species extinct

- extensive volcanism

- H2S gas (Hydrogen disulfide)

- burning coal from volcanic actions

- ocean changes

Front 12

Triassic Period

Back 12

- Dinosaurs dominant

- First confirmed small animals

- Pangea begins to rift

- Mammals appear

Front 13

Jurassic Period

Back 13

- First birds appear (descendants of reptiles)

Front 14

Cretaceous Period

Back 14

- The real "Jurassic Park"

- First flowering plants

- Great inland sea of North America

- Second largest extinction at end (Climate change)

- Rocky Mountains begin to form

Front 15

Paleogene/Neogene

Back 15

- Mammals replace reptiles

- North America coastal ranges (Cascade Mountains)

Front 16

Quaternary

Back 16

- Glaciations

- Present warming