Paleoproterozoic Era

E44484

The Paleoproterozoic Era was an early division of Earth's history marked by the stabilization of continental cratons, widespread banded iron formations, and the Great Oxidation Event that significantly increased atmospheric oxygen.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf geologic era
subdivision of the Proterozoic Eon
associatedWithLife cyanobacterial mats
early eukaryote fossils (possible)
prokaryotic life
stromatolite abundance
containsEvent Great Oxidation Event
Huronian glaciation
Lomagundi–Jatuli carbon isotope excursion
major orogenic events on several cratons
containsSubdivision Orosirian Period
Rhyacian Period
Siderian Period
Statherian Period
duration about 900 million years
endTime approximately 1.6 billion years ago
fieldOfStudy geology
paleobiology
paleoclimatology
follows Archean Eon
hasConsequence change in ocean chemistry
cooling of global climate
drawdown of atmospheric methane
possible trigger of Paleoproterozoic glaciations
widespread oxidation of iron in oceans
hasFeature abundant banded iron formations in marine sediments
decline of banded iron formations toward its end
formation of red beds
oxidation of surface environments
rise of atmospheric oxygen above trace levels
sulfur mass-independent fractionation decline
hasGeologicalRecord extensive metamorphic belts
large igneous provinces
rocks preserved on multiple cratons worldwide
hasImpact establishment of modern-style biosphere–geosphere interactions
long-term habitability of Earth
hasKeyFeature first long-lived continental cratons
hasKeyProcess biological production of oxygen by cyanobacteria
development of plate tectonic style similar to modern
global-scale orogeny
growth of continental crust
intense weathering of continental surfaces
large-scale glaciations
oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere
stabilization of continental cratons
widespread formation of banded iron formations
namedAfter Greek words for "ancient" and "earlier life"
partOf Proterozoic Eon
precedes Mesoproterozoic Era
startTime approximately 2.5 billion years ago

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Columbia ("Paleoproterozoic eon")
Nuna ("Paleoproterozoic eon")
formedIn
Precambrian Supereon
contains
Mesoproterozoic Era
follows
Vredefort Dome ("Paleoproterozoic")
geologicalPeriod
Proterozoic Eon
subdivision

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