THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH

1
THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean
Eons Evolution of Early Life
Most likely anaerobic bacteria Were
heterotrophs consumed simple organic
compounds energy produced by fermentation (CO2
and alcohol)
2
THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean
Eons Evolution of Early Life
Some became photosynthetic Were
autotrophs produced own resources Stromatolites
Oxygen was produced as a waste product
3
THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean
Eons Evolution of Early Life
Oxygen begins to build up in the
atmosphere Advantages? Ozone layer End of
Banded Iron Formation Aerobic metabolism
developed Eucaryotic cells that could deal with
O2
4
THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean
Eons Early Eucaryotic Cells
Appeared about the time the Banded Iron
Formation ended. May have been the result of
several procaryotic cells living together in a
host cell May have been for protection from O2
5
THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean
Eons Early Eucaryotic Cells
Procaryotic cells then could have become the
organelles and mitochondria of eucaryotic
cells. Eucaryotic cells then reproduce sexually
by mitosis and meiosis Sexual reproduction
leads to genetic variation Genetic variation
leads to increased evolutionary rates and
diversity.
6
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eon
Proterozoic 0.544 2.5 byBP 40 of all
geologic time
7
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eon
Beginning of Proterozoic marked by start of
modern plate tectonics Rocks are less altered
than Archean rocks Lacks abundant fossils
8
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eras
544 my to 1.0 byBP
1.0 to 1.6 byBP
1.6 to 2.5 byBP
9
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic is the oldest part of the
Proterozoic Continents become stable
10
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Craton was assembled Precambrian provinces
joined together to form LAURENTIA Produced
by orogenic events Laurentia continued to
grow during the Proterozoic
11
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Clastic and carbonate sediments begin to
accumulate on the margins of the
craton Occurs on continental shelves and
epeiric seas
12
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
The Wopmay Orogen Contains evidence
of Rifting Opening of an ocean
basin Sedimentation on continental
margins Closure of the ocean basin
13
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
The Wilson Cycle
14
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
The Wilson Cycle
15
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Trans-Hudson Orogen Includes a sedimentary
record of Rifting Opening of an ocean
basin Closure of an ocean basin
16
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Trans-Hudson Orogen
17
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Trans-Hudson Orogen
18
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic Ice Age Preserved in southern
Canada Includes varved mudstones tillite
s
19
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic Ice Age
20
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic Ice Age
Gowgonda Conglomerate (Tillite?)
21
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group western
margin of Lake Superior
Indicates that photosynthesis was occurring and O2
22
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group western
margin of Lake Superior
Indicates that photosynthesis was occurring and O2
23
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons
moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
(11/10/75)
24
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Gunflint Chert (1.9 by) Animikie Group within
the Banded Iron Formations
Contains evidence of procaryotic cells, including
cyanobacteria
25
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era
Labrador Trough Hudsonian Orogeny (1.6 byBP)
similar to Wopmay, but on eastern North America
Boundary between the Paleoproterozoic and
Mesoproterozoic
26
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era
(1.0-1.6 byBP)
Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP)
Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava
flow with copper
27
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era
(1.0-1.6 byBP)
Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP)
Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava
flow with copper
28
THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era
(1.0-1.6 byBP)
Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP)
Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava
flows with copper