Paleoproterozoic

Paleoproterozoic Era

The Paleoproterozoic Era is a geological time period that spans from 2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago. It is the first of the three eras of the Proterozoic Eon, followed by the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic Eras. The Paleoproterozoic is marked by significant developments in the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and life forms.

Atmosphere

The Paleoproterozoic Era is notable for the Great Oxygenation Event, also known as the Oxygen Catastrophe. This event, which occurred approximately 2.4 billion years ago, marked a significant increase in the Earth's atmospheric oxygen levels. The rise in oxygen was a result of photosynthesizing cyanobacteria, which began to proliferate in the world's oceans.

Oceans

The Paleoproterozoic Era also saw the formation of the first stable continents, leading to the development of deep oceans. The banded iron formations, which are sedimentary rocks rich in iron, were formed during this era due to the increased oxygen levels in the oceans.

Life

The first evidence of complex life forms, such as eukaryotes, appears in the fossil record during the Paleoproterozoic Era. These organisms had a more complex cellular structure than the prokaryotes that dominated the previous Archean Eon.

Geological Events

The Paleoproterozoic Era was a time of significant tectonic activity, with the formation of several supercontinents, including Columbia, also known as Nuna. The era also saw the formation of the Transvaal Basin, a significant geological structure in present-day South Africa.

See Also

• Timeline of natural history
• Geological history of Earth
• Proterozoic