Chaotian | |
---|---|
4568 – 4404 Ma | |
Chronology | |
Subdivisions | See text |
Usage information | |
Celestial body | Earth |
Regional usage | Proposed subdivision of the Hadean eon |
Definition | |
Chronological unit | Era |
Stratigraphic unit | Erathem |
First proposed by | C., Zahnle, K. J., Sleep, N. H., and Nisbet, E. G., 2010 |
Lower boundary definition | Formation of the Earth |
Upper boundary definition | Collision between Proto-Earth and the Protoplanet Theia |
The Chaotian is a proposed time division of the geologic time scale. First proposed in 2010[1] as an eon, it is named after Chaos, the primeval void in Greek mythology. This proposal defines the Chaotian eon as a Solar System-wide time between the initiation of planetary formation and the hypothesised collision of the trojan dwarf planet Theia with the proto-Earth.
A revised proposal in 2012[2] suggested the Chaotian as the first era of the Hadean representing the time between the formation of the Solar System c. 4.567 Ga[3] and the oldest preserved crustal material on Earth, a detrital zircon c. 4.404 Ga[4] from the Jack Hills of the Narryer Terrane in Western Australia.
(As of September 2023), neither proposal had been adopted or officially ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences.[5]
The original proposal in 2010 divided the Chaotian into two eras and four periods. No numerical upper age limits were provided, only the younger age limit of ~4.5 Ga for the boundary between the proposed Chaotian and Hadean boundary.
The revised proposal in 2012 did not subdivide the proposed Chaotian era (of the Hadean eon) into periods.
Eon | Era | Period | Age (Ga) |
---|---|---|---|
Chaotian | Neochaotian | Titanomachaen | > ~4.5 |
Hyperitian | |||
Eochaotian | Erebrean | ||
Nephelean |
Eon | Era | Age (Ga) |
---|---|---|
Hadean | Jack Hillsian or Zirconian | 4.404 to 4.030 |
Chaotian | 4.568 to 4.404 |
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaotian (geology).
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