A reconstruction of the Earth's continents during the middle Siderian, circa 2.4 Ga.
A Siderian banded iron formation in Dales Gorge, Western Australia
Artist's impression of the Earth during the Huronian glaciation, starting from mid-Siderian
Chronology
−2500 —
–
−2480 —
–
−2460 —
–
−2440 —
–
−2420 —
–
−2400 —
–
−2380 —
–
−2360 —
–
−2340 —
–
−2320 —
–
−2300 —
–
P a l e o p r o t e r o z o i c
Neoarchean
Siderian
Rhyacian
←
Huronian glaciation
←
Beginning of Great Oxidation Event
Events of the Siderian Period. Axis scale: millions of years ago.
Proposed redefinition(s)
2630–2420 Ma Gradstein et al.
Proposed container
Neoarchean Gradstein et al.
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
1991[1]
Upper boundary definition
Defined Chronometrically
Upper GSSA ratified
1991[1]
The Siderian Period (/saɪˈdɪəri.ən,sɪ-/; Ancient Greek: σίδηρος, romanized: sídēros, meaning "iron") is the first geologic period in the Paleoproterozoic Era and lasted from 2500 Ma to 2300 Ma. Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically.
The deposition of banded iron formations peaked early in this period. These iron rich formations were formed as anaerobic cyanobacteria produced waste oxygen that combined with iron, forming magnetite (Fe3O4, an iron oxide). This process removed iron from the Earth's oceans, presumably turning greenish seas clear. Eventually, with no remaining iron in the oceans to serve as an oxygen sink, the process allowed the buildup of an oxygen-rich atmosphere. This second, follow-on event is known as the oxygen catastrophe, which, some geologists believe triggered the Huronian glaciation.[2][3]
Since the time period from 2420 Ma to 2250 Ma is well-defined by the lower edge of iron-deposition layers, an alternative period named the Oxygenian, based on stratigraphy instead of chronometry, was suggested in 2012 in a geological timescale review.[4]
^ abPlumb, K. A. (June 1, 1991). "New Precambrian time scale". Episodes. 14 (2): 139–140. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1991/v14i2/005.
^Kasting, James F.; Ono, Shuehi (2006). "Paleoclimates: The First Two Billion Years". Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences. 361 (1470): 917–929. doi:10.1098/rstb.2006.1839. JSTOR 20209693. PMC 1868609. PMID 16754607.
^Kopp, Robert E.; Kirschvink, Joseph L.; Hilburn, Isaac A.; Nash, Cody Z. (2005). "The Paleoproterozoic Snowball Earth: A climate disaster triggered by the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis" (PDF). PNAS. 102 (32): 11131–11136. doi:10.1073/pnas.0504878102. PMC 1183582. PMID 16061801.
^Gradstein, F. M.; et al., eds. (2012). The Geologic Time Scale 2012. Vol. 1. Elsevier. pp. 361–365. ISBN 978-0-44-459390-0.
The Siderian Period ( /saɪˈdɪəri.ən, sɪ-/; Ancient Greek: σίδηρος, romanized: sídēros, meaning "iron") is the first geologic period in the Paleoproterozoic...
6 Ga). It is further subdivided into four geologic periods, namely the Siderian, Rhyacian, Orosirian and Statherian. Paleontological evidence suggests...
Kratian (no fixed time given, prior to the Siderian) – from Greek word κράτος (krátos), meaning strength. Siderian (?–2450 Ma) – moved from Proterozoic to...
which produced the 300 million years-long Huronian glaciation (during the Siderian and Rhyacian periods of the Paleoproterozoic) and the hypothesized Snowball...
extended from approximately 2.5 to 2.2 billion years ago (Gya), during the Siderian and Rhyacian periods of the Paleoproterozoic era. Evidence for glaciation...
Great Oxygenation Event, produced by the proliferation of algae during the Siderian period, required about 300 million years to culminate. The present era...
Arctica Arctica, 2400 Ma (Siderian) Historical continent Formed 2565 Ma Type Paleocontinent Today part of Siberian craton Slave Craton Wyoming Craton Superior...
This began approximately 2.460–2.426 Ga (billion years) ago during the Siderian period and ended approximately 2.060 Ga ago during the Rhyacian. Geological...
bacteria and algae. c. 2,500 Ma – Proterozoic Eon, Paleoproterozoic Era, and Siderian Period start. Oxygen saturation in the oceans is reached: Banded iron formations...
stromatolites were very common in the Paleoproterozoic era during the Siderian and Rhyacian periods, about 2.2 to 2.4 billion years ago. Smithsonian miscellaneous...
Further chemical and isotopic analysis of ancient rock reveals that by the Siderian period, roughly 2.45 billion years ago, oxygen had appeared. This indicates...
−2100 — – −2080 — – −2060 — – −2040 — P a l e o p r o t e r o z o i c Siderian Rhyacian Orosirian Events of the Rhyacian Period. Axis scale: millions...
described as a supercraton or just a continent Ur 2,803–2,408 Mesoarchean-Siderian Described as both a continent and a supercontinent Kenorland 2,720–2,114...
strata called banded iron formations that formed in abundance during the Siderian period (between 2500 Ma and 2300 Ma).: 133 When most of the exposed readily...
Global Information
