Riphean
1600 – 600 Ma
Usage information
Celestial bodyEarth
Regional usageRegional
Time scale(s) usedSiberian
Used byRussia Russia
Definition
Chronological unitAge
Stratigraphic unitStage
Geological cross-section of southern Siberia, showing Riphean rocks buried under at least 2 km of younger rocks

The Riphean is a stage or age of the geologic timescale from 1,600 to 600 million years ago. The name Riphean is used in the Proterozoic stratigraphy of Russia and the Fennoscandian Shield in Finland.[1] It was also used in a number of older international geologic timescales but, in the most recent timescales of the ICS, it is replaced by the Calymmian, Ectasian, Stenian, Tonian and Cryogenian periods of the Neoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic eras.

During the Riphean, there was a great increase in stromatolite diversity, possibly related to the appearance of eukaryotes.[2]

The word 'Riphean' comes from the ancient name "Riphean Mountains", sometimes identified with the Ural Mountains.

The Riphean has been divided by geologists into the Early Riphean (1600–1400 Ma), Middle Riphean (1400–1000 Ma) and Late Riphean (1000–600 Ma) subdivisions.[1][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Paulamäki, S. and Kuivamäki, A. (2006). Depositional History and Tectonic Regimes within and in the Margins of the Fennoscandian Shield During the Last 1300 Million Years (PDF). Posiva Oy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-02-26.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Awramik, Stanley (1991). Calcareous Algae and Stromatolites: Archaean and Proterozoic Stromatolites. Springer. pp. 289–304.
  3. ^ Rundqvist, D.V. and Mitrofanov, F.P. (editors) (1993). Precambrian Geology of the USSR. p. 181. ((cite book)): |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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