Proterozoic Eon

E6725

The Proterozoic Eon is a major division of Precambrian time, spanning from about 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago, marked by the buildup of atmospheric oxygen, the emergence of complex single-celled and early multicellular life, and the assembly of large continental landmasses.

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Observed surface forms (3)

Surface form Occurrences
Great Oxidation Event 1
Proterozoic 1
Proterozoic Eonothem 1

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf division of Precambrian time
geologic eon
associatedWith decline of anaerobic microbial dominance
expansion of aerobic metabolisms
first known eukaryotic microfossils
first known multicellular algae
first macroscopic animal fossils in Ediacaran
oxygenation of surface oceans
rise of atmospheric oxygen to near-modern levels
characterizedBy Ediacaran biota
Proterozoic Eon self-linksurface differs
surface form: Great Oxidation Event

Snowball Earth events
appearance of earliest animals
assembly of large continental landmasses
buildup of atmospheric oxygen
decline of banded iron formations after oxygen rise
development of plate tectonics similar to modern style
emergence of complex single-celled life
emergence of early multicellular life
evolution of algae
evolution of eukaryotes
first widespread glaciations
increased biological complexity
major changes in ocean chemistry
stabilization of continental cratons
supercontinent cycles
widespread banded iron formations in early Proterozoic
chronostratigraphicUnit Proterozoic Eon self-linksurface differs
surface form: Proterozoic Eonothem
contains Mesoproterozoic Era from about 1.6 to 1.0 billion years ago
Neoproterozoic Era from about 1.0 billion to 541 million years ago
Paleoproterozoic Era from about 2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago
duration approximately 2 billion years
endDefinedBy base of Cambrian Period
endTime about 541 million years ago
followedBy Phanerozoic Eon
followedByEvent Cambrian explosion
follows Archean Eon
geochronologicRank eon
includes supercontinent Columbia (Nuna)
supercontinent Pannotia
supercontinent Rodinia
locationInTimeScale between Archean and Phanerozoic on geologic timescale
partOf Precambrian Supereon
precededByEvent Archean crust formation
startTime about 2.5 billion years ago
subdivision Mesoproterozoic Era
Neoproterozoic Era
Paleoproterozoic Era
usedIn International Commission on Stratigraphy
surface form: International Commission on Stratigraphy timescale

Referenced by (13)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

supercontinent Rodinia assembledDuring Proterozoic Eon
subject surface form: Rodinia
Proterozoic Eon characterizedBy Proterozoic Eon self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Great Oxidation Event
Proterozoic Eon chronostratigraphicUnit Proterozoic Eon self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Proterozoic Eonothem
Phanerozoic Eon follows Proterozoic Eon
supercontinent Pannotia geologicalEon Proterozoic Eon
subject surface form: Pannotia
supercontinent Rodinia geologicalEon Proterozoic Eon
subject surface form: Rodinia
MacDonnell Ranges geologicalEra Proterozoic Eon
this entity surface form: Proterozoic
Canadian Shield geologicalEraFormation Proterozoic Eon
Precambrian Supereon includes Proterozoic Eon
Mesoproterozoic Era partOf Proterozoic Eon
Neoproterozoic Era partOf Proterozoic Eon
Paleoproterozoic Era partOf Proterozoic Eon
Archean Eon precedes Proterozoic Eon