The Calymmian Period (from Ancient Greek: κάλυμμα, romanizedkálymma, meaning "cover") is the first geologic period in the Mesoproterozoic Era and lasted from 1600 Mya to 1400 Mya (million years ago). Instead of being based on stratigraphy, these dates are defined chronometrically.

Calymmian
1600 – 1400 Ma
Paleoglobe of the Earth at the start of the Calymmian, c. 1590 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[1]
Upper boundary definitionDefined chronometrically
Upper GSSA ratified1991[1]

The period is characterised by expansion of existing platform covers, or by new platforms on recently cratonized basements.

The supercontinent Columbia started to break up during the Calymmian some 1500 Mya.

The Volyn biota have been dated to 1500 Mya.

See also

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  • Boring Billion – Earth history, 1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago
  • Jotnian – Oldest known sediments in the Baltic area that have not been subject to metamorphism

References

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  • "Calymmian Period". GeoWhen Database. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
  • James G. Ogg (2004). "Status on Divisions of the International Geologic Time Scale". Lethaia. 37 (2): 183–199. doi:10.1080/00241160410006492.
  1. ^ a b Plumb, K. A. (June 1, 1991). "New Precambrian time scale". Episodes. 14 (2): 139–140. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1991/v14i2/005.