Calymmian
| Calymmian | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paleoglobe of the Earth at the start of the Calymmian, c. 1590 Mya | |||||||||||
| Chronology | |||||||||||
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| Etymology | |||||||||||
| Name formality | Formal | ||||||||||
| Usage information | |||||||||||
| Celestial body | Earth | ||||||||||
| Regional usage | Global (ICS) | ||||||||||
| Time scale(s) used | ICS Time Scale | ||||||||||
| Definition | |||||||||||
| Chronological unit | Period | ||||||||||
| Stratigraphic unit | System | ||||||||||
| Time span formality | Formal | ||||||||||
| Lower boundary definition | Defined chronometrically | ||||||||||
| Lower GSSA ratified | 1990[1] | ||||||||||
| Upper boundary definition | Defined chronometrically | ||||||||||
| Upper GSSA ratified | 1990[1] | ||||||||||
The Calymmian (from Ancient Greek: κάλυμμα, romanized: kálymma, 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.
See also
- 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
Further reading
- "Calymmian Period". GeoWhen Database. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
- James G. Ogg (2004). "Status on Divisions of the International Geologic Time Scale". Lethaia. 37 (2): 183–199. doi:10.1080/00241160410006492.