3600-3200 Ma

§ Paleoarchean Era

The Paleoarchean (also spelled Palaeoarchaean) is a geologic era within the Archaean. It spans the period of time 3600 Ma to 3200 Ma (million years ago)—the period being defined chronometrically and not referenced to a specific level in a rock section on Earth. The oldest ascertained life form (Well-preserved bacteria older than 3460 million years found in Western Australia) is from this era.

The oldest ancient fossil microbe-like objects are dated to be 3.5 Ga (billion years old), just a few hundred million years younger than Earth itself.

§ Sources

<< | Eoarchean Era | Year Index | Mesoarchean Era | >>