CLASS 3: EARLY PRECAMBRIAN

How much of Earth's History is represented in the Hadean and Archean Eons?

 To answer this question refer to the GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

In this class, we will learn about what we know and do not know regarding the first 2 Ga of Earth's History. Recent discoveries has added a tremendous amount of knowledge regarding the Early Precambrian time.  These recent discoveries involve:

    The origin of life-When did it all begin

    The importance of water and when it first appeared

    The oldest minerals and rocks

    The earliest signs of plate tectonic activity

For more information about this formative time in Earth's History refer to the following:

HADEAN EON - 4.6-4.0 Ga. Virtually no rock record.

ARCHEAN EON- 4.0-2.5 Ga. Develop early cratons

ARCHEAN LIFE- Earliest prokaryotes develop

ARCHEAN ROCKS- BIFs, Granulites & Greenstones

ORIGIN OF LIFE- How and when did it all begin?

ARCHEAN ASSIGNMENT- Based on Readings

 

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