Mesoproterozoic Era

E45387

The Mesoproterozoic Era was a middle division of Earth's Proterozoic Eon characterized by the stabilization of continental cratons, widespread sedimentary basin development, and significant evolutionary advances in eukaryotic life.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf geologic era
subdivision of the Proterozoic Eon
associatedWith Grenville orogeny
continental collision events
growth of continental crust
atmosphericCondition oxygen levels lower than modern atmosphere
relatively stable oxygen levels compared to Paleoproterozoic
biologicalSignificance appearance of complex multicellular eukaryotes
development of more complex protistan ecosystems
diversification of eukaryotes
expansion of photosynthetic eukaryotic algae
characterizedBy assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia
evolutionary advances in eukaryotic life
extensive platform cover sediments
large passive continental margins
rifting and breakup of earlier supercratons
stabilization of continental cratons
widespread sedimentary basin development
chronostratigraphicUnit Erathem
climate absence of global-scale Snowball Earth glaciations
generally warm climate
contains Calymmian Period
Ectasian Period
Stenian Period
definedBy absolute age boundaries at 1600 Ma and 1000 Ma
duration approximately 600 million years
economicSignificance deposition of important sediment-hosted mineral deposits
formation of some large iron and base metal deposits
end 1000 million years ago
followedBy Neoproterozoic Era
follows Paleoproterozoic Era
geochronologicRank era
notableEvent early stages of Rodinia supercontinent assembly
onset and development of the Grenville orogenic cycle
stabilization of many shield areas
paleogeography development of large shallow epicontinental seas
dominance of stable cratonic blocks
partOf Proterozoic Eon
positionInPrecambrian middle era of the Proterozoic Eon
part of the Precambrian Supereon
precededBy Great Oxidation Event
sedimentaryRecord abundant stromatolitic carbonates
extensive siliciclastic successions
large, long-lived basins
start 1600 million years ago
timeScaleStandard International Commission on Stratigraphy


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