Cambrian Period

geochronology
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Cambrian paleogeography
Cambrian paleogeography
Key People:
Adam Sedgwick
Related Topics:
fossil Cambrian explosion archaeocyathid Cambrian Series 2 Epoch holmiid

Cambrian Period, earliest time division of the Paleozoic Era, extending from 541 million to 485.4 million years ago. The Cambrian Period is divided into four stratigraphic series: the Terreneuvian Series (541 million to 521 million years ago), Series 2 (521 million to 509 million years ago), Series 3 (509 million to 497 million years ago), and the Furongian Series (497 million to 485.4 million years ago). Rocks formed or deposited during this time are assigned to the Cambrian System, which was named in 1835 by English geologist Adam Sedgwick for successions of slaty rocks in southern Wales and southwestern England. ...(100 of 7731 words)