Palaeocene | the first geological epoch in the Palaeogene

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022

The Palaeocene is the first geological epoch in the Palaeogene. It started after the end of the Cretaceous, and lasted for about 10 million years. It was followed by the Eocene epoch.

The Palaeocene began and ended with an extinction event, each of quite a different character. The epoch began with the K/T extinction event, caused by a combination of a meteorite strike (Chicxulub crater) and a huge volcanic flood basalt eruption which produced the Deccan Traps in what is now India. This caused the extinction of many groups, including the dinosaurs and many other reptiles.

The epoch ended with the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, a deep ocean anoxic event (DOAE). This means that the ocean depths were lacking oxygen, so no higher forms of life could survive. This produced a mass extinction of between 35–50% of deep water forms such as benthic foraminifera. At the same time there was a major change of mammalian types on land.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is the Palaeocene?

A: The Palaeocene is the first geological epoch in the Palaeogene. It started after the end of the Cretaceous, and lasted for about 10 million years.

Q: What event marked the beginning of the Palaeocene?

A: The beginning of the Palaeocene was marked by a K/T extinction event, caused by a combination of a meteorite strike (Chicxulub crater) and a huge volcanic flood basalt eruption which produced the Deccan Traps in what is now India.

Q: What caused this extinction event?

A: This extinction event was caused by a combination of a meteorite strike (Chicxulub crater) and a huge volcanic flood basalt eruption which produced the Deccan Traps in what is now India.

Q: How long did it last?

A: The Palaeocene lasted for about 10 million years.

Q: What followed it?

A: The Palaeocene was followed by the Eocene epoch.

Q: How did it end?

A: The Palaeocene ended with an extinction event known as the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, which was an ocean anoxic event (DOAE). This means that oxygen levels were low in deep water forms such as benthic foraminifera, causing mass extinctions between 35-50%. At this time there was also major changes to mammalian types on land.