THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Evolution of Early Life

1. THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Evolution of Early Life Most likely anaerobic bacteria Were heterotrophs consumed simple organic compounds energy produced by fermentation (CO2 and alcohol)

2. THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Evolution of Early Life Some became photosynthetic Were autotrophs produced own resources Stromatolites Oxygen was produced as a waste product

3. THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Evolution of Early Life Oxygen begins to build up in the atmosphere Advantages? Ozone layer End of Banded Iron Formation Aerobic metabolism developed Eucaryotic cells that could deal with O2

4. THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Early Eucaryotic Cells Appeared about the time the Banded Iron Formation ended. May have been the result of several procaryotic cells living together in a host cell May have been for protection from O2

5. THE PRIMORDIAL EARTH Hadean and Archean Eons Early Eucaryotic Cells Procaryotic cells then could have become the organelles and mitochondria of eucaryotic cells. Eucaryotic cells then reproduce sexually by mitosis and meiosis Sexual reproduction leads to genetic variation Genetic variation leads to increased evolutionary rates and diversity.

6. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eon Proterozoic 0.544 – 2.5 byBP ~40% of all geologic time

7. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eon Beginning of Proterozoic marked by start of modern plate tectonics Rocks are less altered than Archean rocks Lacks abundant fossils

8. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Proterozoic Eras 544 my to 1.0 byBP 1.0 to 1.6 byBP 1.6 to 2.5 byBP

9. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Paleoproterozoic is the oldest part of the Proterozoic Continents become stable

10. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Craton was assembled Precambrian provinces joined together to form LAURENTIA Produced by orogenic events Laurentia continued to grow during the Proterozoic

11. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Clastic and carbonate sediments begin to accumulate on the margins of the craton Occurs on continental shelves and epeiric seas

12. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era The Wopmay Orogen Contains evidence of: Rifting Opening of an ocean basin Sedimentation on continental margins Closure of the ocean basin

13. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era The Wilson Cycle

14. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era The Wilson Cycle

15. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Trans-Hudson Orogen Includes a sedimentary record of: Rifting Opening of an ocean basin Closure of an ocean basin

16. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Trans-Hudson Orogen

17. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Trans-Hudson Orogen

18. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Paleoproterozoic Ice Age Preserved in southern Canada Includes varved mudstones tillites

19. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Paleoproterozoic Ice Age

20. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Paleoproterozoic Ice Age Gowgonda Conglomerate (Tillite?)

21. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group western margin of Lake Superior Indicates that photosynthesis was occurring and O2

22. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group western margin of Lake Superior Indicates that photosynthesis was occurring and O2

23. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Banded Iron Formation Animikie Group With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty (11/10/75)

24. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Gunflint Chert (1.9 by) Animikie Group within the Banded Iron Formations Contains evidence of procaryotic cells, including cyanobacteria

25. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Paleoproterozoic Era Labrador Trough Hudsonian Orogeny (1.6 byBP) similar to Wopmay, but on eastern North America Boundary between the Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic

26. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era (1.0-1.6 byBP) Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP) Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava flow with copper

27. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era (1.0-1.6 byBP) Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP) Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava flow with copper

28. THE LESS-PRIMORDIAL EARTH The Mesoproterozoic Era (1.0-1.6 byBP) Keweenawan Sequence Rift Zone (1.0-1.2 byBP) Contains quartz sandstone, conglomerates, lava flows with copper