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Geological Time Periods - YAML

Geological time periods systematically classify Earth's approximately 4.6 billion year history according to the International Chronostratigraphic Chart established by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). It is divided into four major divisions: the Precambrian (Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic) and the Phanerozoic (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic). Each geological period is distinguished based on geological evidence including biological evolution, continental drift, and climate change, forming the foundation for scientific research and education.

geology geological time chronostratigraphy Earth history paleontology Precambrian Phanerozoic Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic 
- code: "EON-1"
  slug: "precambrian"
  name: "Precambrian"
  description: "The period from Earth's formation to approximately 541 million years ago, comprising about 88% of Earth's history."
  category: "Supereon"
  startMa: 4600
  endMa: 541
  durationMa: 4059
- code: "EON-1-1"
  slug: "hadean"
  name: "Hadean"
  description: "From Earth's formation to approximately 4.0 billion years ago. No evidence of life."
  category: "Eon"
  startMa: 4600
  endMa: 4000
  durationMa: 600
- code: "EON-1-2"
  slug: "archean"
  name: "Archean"
  description: "Approximately 4.0 to 2.5 billion years ago. Evidence of the oldest life appears."
  category: "Eon"
  startMa: 4000
  endMa: 2500
  durationMa: 1500
- code: "EON-1-3"
  slug: "proterozoic"
  name: "Proterozoic"
  description: "Approximately 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago. Appearance of eukaryotes and oxygen increase."
  category: "Eon"
  startMa: 2500
  endMa: 541
  durationMa: 1959
- code: "EON-2"
  slug: "phanerozoic"
  name: "Phanerozoic"
  description: "From approximately 541 million years ago to present. Era of multicellular life proliferation."
  category: "Eon"
  startMa: 541
  endMa: 0
  durationMa: 541
- code: "ERA-1"
  slug: "paleozoic"
  name: "Paleozoic"
  description: "Approximately 541 to 252 million years ago. 'Ancient life era.'"
  category: "Era"
  startMa: 541
  endMa: 252
  durationMa: 289
- code: "PER-1-1"
  slug: "cambrian"
  name: "Cambrian"
  description: "Approximately 541 to 485 million years ago. The Cambrian explosion occurred."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 541
  endMa: 485
  durationMa: 56
- code: "PER-1-2"
  slug: "ordovician"
  name: "Ordovician"
  description: "Approximately 485 to 444 million years ago. Marine invertebrates flourished."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 485
  endMa: 444
  durationMa: 41
- code: "PER-1-3"
  slug: "silurian"
  name: "Silurian"
  description: "Approximately 444 to 419 million years ago. Life began colonizing land."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 444
  endMa: 419
  durationMa: 25
- code: "PER-1-4"
  slug: "devonian"
  name: "Devonian"
  description: "Approximately 419 to 359 million years ago. 'Age of Fishes.'"
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 419
  endMa: 359
  durationMa: 60
- code: "PER-1-5"
  slug: "carboniferous"
  name: "Carboniferous"
  description: "Approximately 359 to 299 million years ago. Large forests and coal deposits formed."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 359
  endMa: 299
  durationMa: 60
- code: "PER-1-6"
  slug: "permian"
  name: "Permian"
  description: "Approximately 299 to 252 million years ago. Continents united and a great extinction occurred."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 299
  endMa: 252
  durationMa: 47
- code: "ERA-2"
  slug: "mesozoic"
  name: "Mesozoic"
  description: "Approximately 252 to 66 million years ago. 'Age of Reptiles.'"
  category: "Era"
  startMa: 252
  endMa: 66
  durationMa: 186
- code: "PER-2-1"
  slug: "triassic"
  name: "Triassic"
  description: "Approximately 252 to 201 million years ago. Dinosaurs and mammals appeared."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 252
  endMa: 201
  durationMa: 51
- code: "PER-2-2"
  slug: "jurassic"
  name: "Jurassic"
  description: "Approximately 201 to 145 million years ago. The golden age of dinosaurs."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 201
  endMa: 145
  durationMa: 56
- code: "PER-2-3"
  slug: "cretaceous"
  name: "Cretaceous"
  description: "Approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. Flowering plants and dinosaur extinction."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 145
  endMa: 66
  durationMa: 79
- code: "ERA-3"
  slug: "cenozoic"
  name: "Cenozoic"
  description: "Approximately 66 million years ago to present. 'Age of Mammals.'"
  category: "Era"
  startMa: 66
  endMa: 0
  durationMa: 66
- code: "PER-3-1"
  slug: "paleogene"
  name: "Paleogene"
  description: "Approximately 66 to 23 million years ago. Adaptive radiation of mammals."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 66
  endMa: 23
  durationMa: 43
- code: "PER-3-2"
  slug: "neogene"
  name: "Neogene"
  description: "Approximately 23 to 2.58 million years ago. Expansion of grasslands and ape evolution."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 23
  endMa: 2.58
  durationMa: 20.42
- code: "PER-3-3"
  slug: "quaternary"
  name: "Quaternary"
  description: "Approximately 2.58 million years ago to present. Ice ages and human evolution."
  category: "Period"
  startMa: 2.58
  endMa: 0
  durationMa: 2.58