The Stenian Period (/ˈstni.ən/ STEE-nee-ən, from Ancient Greek: στενός, romanizedstenós, meaning "narrow") is the final geologic period in the Mesoproterozoic Era and lasted from 1200 Mya to 1000 Mya (million years ago). Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically. The name derives from narrow polymetamorphic belts formed over this period. It is preceded by the Ectasian Period and followed by the Neoproterozoic era and the Tonian period.

Stenian
1200 – 1000 Ma
Paleoglobe of Earth during the late Stenian, c. 1040 Ma[citation needed]
Chronology
Etymology
Name formalityFormal
Usage information
Celestial bodyEarth
Regional usageGlobal (ICS)
Time scale(s) usedICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unitPeriod
Stratigraphic unitSystem
Time span formalityFormal
Lower boundary definitionDefined chronometrically
Lower GSSA ratified1991[4]
Upper boundary definitionDefined chronometrically
Upper GSSA ratified1991[4]

The supercontinent Rodinia assembled during the Stenian. It would last into the Tonian period before breaking up in the Cryogenian.

This period includes the formation of the Keweenawan Rift at about 1100 Mya.[5]

Fossils of the oldest known sexually reproducing organism, Bangiomorpha pubescens, first appeared in the Stenian.[1]

See also

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  • Boring Billion – Earth history, 1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago
  • Riphean (stage) – stage in the geological timescale named after the Urals

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Gibson, Timothy M; Shih, Patrick M; Cumming, Vivien M; Fischer, Woodward W; Crockford, Peter W; Hodgskiss, Malcolm S.W; Wörndle, Sarah; Creaser, Robert A; Rainbird, Robert H; Skulski, Thomas M; Halverson, Galen P (2017). "Precise age of Bangiomorpha pubescens dates the origin of eukaryotic photosynthesis" (PDF). Geology. 46 (2): 135–138. doi:10.1130/G39829.1.
  2. ^ McLelland, James M.; Selleck, Bruce W.; Bickford, M. E. (2010). "Review of the Proterozoic evolution of the Grenville Province, its Adirondack outlier, and the Mesoproterozoic inliers of the Appalachians". From Rodinia to Pangea: The Lithotectonic Record of the Appalachian Region. doi:10.1130/2010.1206(02). ISBN 9780813712062.
  3. ^ Swanson-Hysell, Nicholas L.; Ramezani, Jahandar; Fairchild, Luke M.; Rose, Ian R. (2019). "Failed rifting and fast drifting: Midcontinent Rift development, Laurentia's rapid motion and the driver of Grenvillian orogenesis". GSA Bulletin. 131 (5–6): 913–940. doi:10.1130/B31944.1. ISSN 0016-7606.
  4. ^ a b Plumb, K. A. (June 1, 1991). "New Precambrian time scale". Episodes. 14 (2): 139–140. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1991/v14i2/005.
  5. ^ "Organic geochemical study of mineralization in the Keweenawan Nonesuch Formation at White Pine, Michigan" (PDF). University of Michigan. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

References

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