Eocene
Eocene
Eocene (/iːəˈsiːn, ˈiːəˌsiːn/; from Greek eos, "dawn") is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era.
Etymology
The name Eocene comes from the Ancient Greek eos (ἠώς), meaning "dawn", and kainos (καινός), meaning "new" or "recent", as it was originally defined to occur within the dawn of recent, or modern, life.
Definition
The Eocene follows the Paleocene Epoch and precedes the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the Eocene is marked by a brief period in which the concentration of the carbon isotope 13C in the atmosphere was exceptionally low in comparison with the more common 12C. The end is set at a major extinction event that may be related to the impact of one or more large bolides in Siberia and in what is now Chesapeake Bay. As with other geologic periods, the strata that define the start and end of the epoch are well identified, though their exact dates are slightly uncertain.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Eocene
- Wikipedia's article - Eocene
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