Calymmian

Calymmian
1600 – 1400 Ma
Paleoglobe of the Earth at the start of the Calymmian, c. 1590 Mya[citation needed]
Chronology
−1620 —
−1600 —
−1580 —
−1560 —
−1540 —
−1520 —
−1500 —
−1480 —
−1460 —
−1440 —
−1420 —
−1400 —
−1380 —
 
 
 
Breakup of the supercontinent Columbia
“Gaoyuzhuang biota” emerges, earliest Archaeplastida?
Events of the Calymmian Period
Vertical axis scale: Millions of years ago
Etymology
Name formalityFormal
Usage information
Celestial bodyEarth
Regional usageGlobal (ICS)
Time scale(s) usedICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unitPeriod
Stratigraphic unitSystem
Time span formalityFormal
Lower boundary definitionDefined chronometrically
Lower GSSA ratified1990[1]
Upper boundary definitionDefined chronometrically
Upper GSSA ratified1990[1]

The Calymmian (from Ancient Greek: κάλυμμα, romanizedkálymma, meaning 'cover') is the first geologic period in the Mesoproterozoic Era, lasting from 1600 to 1400 million years ago (Ma) and spanning 200 million years. It follows the Statherian Period from the Paleoproterozoic Era, and precedes the Ectasian Period. Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically.

The period is characterised by the expansion of existing platform covers, and by new platforms forming on basements that were recently cratonized.

The supercontinent of Columbia started to break up during the Calymmian some 1500 Mya. The Volyn biota have also been dated to 1500 Mya.

A reconstruction of Grandilingulata qianxiensis, a macrofossil from the Calymmian Gaoyuzhuang Formation

See also

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  • Boring Billion – Earth history, 1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago
  • Jotnian – Oldest known sediments in the Baltic area that have not been subject to metamorphism

References

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Further reading

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