Orosirian

The Orosirian (/ˌɒroʊ-ˈsɪəriən/; Ancient Greek: ὀροσειρά, oroseirá, meaning "mountain range") is the third geologic period in the Paleoproterozoic Era. It spans 250 million years and lasted from to million years ago (Ma), following the Rhyacian Period and preceding the Statherian Period. Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically.

History

For the time period from about 2060 to 1780 Mya, an alternative period based on stratigraphy rather than chronometry, named the Columbian, was suggested in the geological timescale review 2012 edited by Gradstein et al.,^[1] but as of February 2022, this has not yet been officially adopted by the IUGS.

Paleogeography

Two of the largest known impact events on Earth occurred during the Orosirian. Early in the period, 2023 Mya, a large asteroid collision created the Vredefort impact structure. The event that created the Sudbury Basin structure occurred near the end of the period, 1850 Mya.

The later half of the period was an episode of intensive orogeny on virtually all continents.

The supercontinent Columbia may have formed at the end of this period.^[2]

References

1. ^ Gradstein, F.M. (ed.) (2012). The Geologic Time Scale 2012. Vol. 1. Elsevier. pp. 361–365. ISBN 978-0-44-459390-0.
2. ^ Zhao, G.; Cawood, P. A.; Wilde, S. A.; Sun, M. (2002). "Review of global 2.1–1.8 Ga orogens: implications for a pre-Rodinia supercontinent". Earth-Science Reviews. 59 (1): Abstract. Bibcode:2002ESRv...59..125Z. doi:10.1016/S0012-8252(02)00073-9. Retrieved 14 February 2016.

Further reading

• "Orosirian Period". GeoWhen Database. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
• James G. Ogg (2004). "Status on Divisions of the International Geologic Time Scale". Lethaia. 37 (2): 183–199. doi:10.1080/00241160410006492
• David Huddart & Tim Stott (16 April 2013). Earth Environments: Past, Present and Future. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1599–. ISBN 978-1-118-68812-0.