Historical Geology 102
Proterozoic Eon Study Guide


After the "Proterozoic Eon" lecture and readings you should be able to answer and discuss the following questions.

What are the Eras of the Proterozoic Eon?

Of the entire Earth's history, how much (years and percentage) is found in the Proterozoic Eon?

What are the major events, both geologic and evolutionary, during the Proterozoic?

What are the names of the 6 major Archean aged continental crustal block that form the core of the North American continent?

In the process of these blocks merging to form North America, along which kind of tectonic boundary did they all meet?

Describe the sequence of events during the Wopmay Orogeny.

Which continental crustal blocks were involved in the Wopmay Orogeny?

Describe the sequence of events during the Trans-Hudson Orogeny.

Which continental crustal blocks were involved in the Trans-Hudson Orogeny?

How does the Trans-Hudson Orogeny differ from the Wopmay Orogeny.

What is meant by a period of glaciation?

When do the two major glacial periods occur during the Proterozoic?

What are banded iron formations?

How were the banded iron formations formed?

What is the significance of banded iron formations?

What are red beds and where do they form?

What is the significance of red beds?

What is happening during the Yavapai, Mazatzal, Central Plains Orogeny?

Where can rocks from this period of time be seen today?

Describe the Grenville Orogeny.

Describe the Mid-Continent Rift.

What is the relationship between these two events?

What is the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

What are metazoans?

When did metazoans first evolve?

Why are the Ediacaran fossils and why are they important?