eon
eon
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal.
2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years.
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal.
2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years.
eon
eon
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the (little used) eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (the time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (the time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (the time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal.
2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years.
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the (little used) eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (the time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (the time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (the time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal.
2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years.
eon
e·on / ˈēən; ˈēˌän/ (chiefly Brit. also ae·on) • n. (often eons) an indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect: he reached the crag eons before I arrived. ∎ Astron. & Geol. a unit of time equal to a billion years. ∎ Geol. a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras: the Precambrian eon. ∎ Philos. (in Neoplatonism, Platonism, and Gnosticism) a power existing from eternity; an emanation or phase of the supreme deity.
More From encyclopedia.com
Era , era •Altamira, chimera, clearer, Elvira, era, hearer, Hera, hetaera, interferer, lempira, lira, lire, Madeira, Megaera, monstera, rangatira, rearer,… Neogene , Neogene The later of the two periods which comprise the Tertiary sub-Era, preceded by the Palaeogene, followed by the Quaternary, and dated at 23.3–1… erathem , erathem The chronostratigraphic unit that is equivalent to the geologic-time unit era. An erathem comprises a number of systems grouped together and… Priscoan , Priscoan The first of the three subdivisions of Precambrian time, lasting from the formation of the Earth to 4000 Ma ago ( Harland et al., 1989), and… Earth Sciences , There are several different ways that Earth scientists consider time. Geologic time is generally thought of as the period of time that begins with th… Precambrian Era , In geologic time , Precambrian time encompasses the time from Earth's formation, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, until the start of the Cambrian…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
eon