Third and last period of the Mesoproterozoic Era
Stenian −1200 —
–
−1180 —
–
−1160 —
–
−1140 —
–
−1120 —
–
−1100 —
–
−1080 —
–
−1060 —
–
−1040 —
–
−1020 —
–
−1000 —
–
← Large-scale mountain-building from continent-continent collision of the Grenvillian orogeny
[ 2]
← Development of the North American Midcontinent Rift
[ 3]
Name formality Formal Celestial body Earth Regional usage Global (ICS ) Time scale(s) used ICS Time Scale Chronological unit Period Stratigraphic unit System Time span formality Formal Lower boundary definition Defined chronometrically Lower GSSA ratified 1991[ 4] Upper boundary definition Defined chronometrically Upper GSSA ratified 1991[ 4]
The Stenian Period ( STEE -nee-ənAncient Greek : στενός , romanized : stenós 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.
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 [ 1]
See also
Boring Billion – Earth history, 1.8 to 0.8 billion years agoRiphean (stage) – stage in the geological timescale named after the UralsPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Notes
^ 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 . ^ 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 ^ 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 . ^ a b Plumb, K. A. (June 1, 1991). "New Precambrian time scale" . Episodes . 14 (2): 139–140. doi :10.18814/epiiugs/1991/v14i2/005 ^ "Organic geochemical study of mineralization in the Keweenawan Nonesuch Formation at White Pine, Michigan" (PDF) . University of Michigan. Retrieved 28 September 2011 .
References
