geochronology
Rock age science
Geochronology is the science of determining the ages of rocks, fossils, and geological events.
The field uses radiometric dating and other techniques to establish when formations occurred, building timelines that span billions of years: Geochronology places the extinction of the dinosaurs at 66 million years ago.
Measuring by radiation
- isotopesAtomic number twins
- carbon-14Radioactive isotope for dating
- uranium-leadIsotopic age-determination method
- potassium-argonIsotopic age-determination technique
half-life · decay · radiocarbon · thermoluminescence · luminescence · dendrochronology · calibration · zircon
Parallel geological layers
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
unconformity · facies · boundary · zonation · formation · member
Earliest geological eon
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
- OrdovicianPaleozoic geological period
- SilurianPaleozoic period, mid-range
- DevonianGeologic period, 419-359 million years ago
Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Paleogene · Quaternary · Paleozoic
Preserved ancient organism traces
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
petrified · extinction · fauna · flora · paleobiology · megafauna · assemblage · preservation
Earliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- PangaeaPrehistoric unified landmass
Gondwana · ancient · primordial · prehistoric
radiometric
Measuring by radiation
- isotopesAtomic number twins
- carbon-14Radioactive isotope for dating
- uranium-leadIsotopic age-determination method
potassium-argon · half-life · decay · radiocarbon · thermoluminescence · luminescence · dendrochronology · calibration · zircon
strata
Parallel geological layers
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
correlation · unconformity · facies · boundary · zonation · formation · member
Precambrian
Earliest geological eon
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
- OrdovicianPaleozoic geological period
- SilurianPaleozoic period, mid-range
Devonian · Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Paleogene · Quaternary · Paleozoic · Mesozoic
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
amber · petrified · extinction · fauna · flora · paleobiology · megafauna · assemblage · preservation · fossilization
Archean
Earliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
Pangaea · Gondwana · ancient · primordial · prehistoric
geochronologycreation science
Pseudoscience supporting scriptural literalism
geology, chronology, chronological, chronometer, geologic, logy, isochronal, isochrone