What is an epoch in geology?

Author: Leandro Alegsa

Q: What is an epoch in geology?


A: An epoch in geology is a part of a period.

Q: How is the Cainozoic era divided?


A: The Cainozoic era is divided into three periods: the Palaeogene, the Neogene, and the Quaternary.

Q: What are the epochs of the Cainozoic era?


A: The epochs of the Cainozoic era are Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene.

Q: What is the Tertiary in geology?


A: The Tertiary is a term that is now deprecated, but it used to include the Palaeogene and Neogene periods.

Q: Why is the last period of the Cainozoic era called the Quarternary?


A: The last period of the Cainozoic era is called the Quarternary because the term Tertiary was deprecated and the Palaeogene and Neogene had to be grouped together.

Q: Who decides how geological strata and stages should be named?


A: The International Commission on Stratigraphy of the International Union of Geological Sciences decides how geological strata and stages should be named.

Q: What is the mission of the International Union of Geological Sciences?


A: The mission of the International Union of Geological Sciences is to foster and promote the study of geological sciences by facilitating international cooperation and information exchange.


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