Geologic Time Scale: Cambrian Period
(538.8 to 485.4 million years ago)
The Cambrian Period is the first geologic time period of the Paleozoic Era in the Phanerozoic Eon. The Cambrian started after the end of the Precambrian 538 million years ago. When the Cambrian Period came to the end about 485 million years ago starting the Ordovician.
Established by Adam Sedgwick the name Cambrian stems from the “Cambrian series” meaning Cambria which is Latin for ‘Cymru’ translating to Wales.
“Cambrian Stage 10” Age/Stage
Furong: 489.5 to 485.4 million years ago
The last stage of he Furongian series and Cambrian Period is known as Stage 10. The 10th stage of the Cambrian has not been formally named by the International Commission on Statigraphy to date. There are a few local names, several authors favor the name “Lawsonian” after Lawson Cove, in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah. The lower part of the North American “Skullrockian Stage” corresponds roughly to the Cambrian Stage 10.
Jiangshanian Age/Stage
Furong: 494.0 to 489.5 million years ago
The Jiangshanian Stage was named after Jiangshan, a city in China’s Zhejiang province. The Jiangshanian is the middle stage of the Furongian sies of the late Cambrian Period.
Paibian Age/Stage
Furong: 497.0 to 494.0 million years ago
The Paibian Stage was named after Paibi, a village in Hunan, China. It marks the begining of the Furong Series.
Guzhangian Age/Stage
Miaolingian: 500.5 to 497.0 million years ago
The Guzhangian Stage is the uppermost stage of the Miaolingian Series of the Cambrian. The name Guzhangian is derived from Guzhang County, Hunan Province, China.
Guzhangian Age/Stage
Miaolingian: 500.5 to 497.0 million years ago
The Guzhangian Stage is the uppermost stage of the Miaolingian Series of the Cambrian. The name Guzhangian is derived from Guzhang County, Hunan Province, China.
North American (Dresbachian) Guzhangian Stage Miaolingian: 500.5 to 497.0 million years ago
Genus: Tricrepicephalidae sp.
Classification: Order: Ptychopariida – Superfamily: Crepicephalacea – Family: Tricrepicephalidae
Described by: Kobayashi, 1935
Time: Late Cambrian Period (Dresbachian)
Locality: North America
Size: 19 millimeters
Drumian Age/Stage
Miaolingian: 504.5 to 500.5 million years ago
The Drumian Stage is the middle stage of the Miaoling series and is named after the Drum Mountains.
Wuliuan Age/Stage
Miaolingian: 509.0 to 504.5 million years ago
The Wuliuan Stage’s name derives from the Wuliu Zengjiayan section of the Kaili formation, near Balang Village in the Miaoling Mountain, Guizhou, China.
North American British Columbia “Burgess shale” Wuliuan Stage Miaolingian: 509.0 to 504.5 million years ago
Genus and Species: Pikaia gracilens “Pika Peak”
Classification: Phylum: Chordata – Family: Pikaiidae
Time: Middle Cambrian Period
Locality: Canada, British Columbia – Burges Shale
Size: 38 millimeters or 1.5 inches
Diet: Unknown
Genus and Species: Ottoia prolifica
Classification: Phylum: Priapulida – Family: Ottoiidae
Period: Middle Cambrian 505 million years ago
Locality: Burgess Shale of Brittish Columbia
Size: 8 cm
Genus: Hallucigenia
Classification: Phylum: “Lobopodia” – Clade: Hallucishaniids – Family: Hallucigeniidae
Period: Middle Cambrian 505 million years ago
Locality: Burgess Shale type deposits
Size: 0.5 to 5.5 cm
Genus: Aysheaia
Classification: Phylum: “Lobopodia” – Class: Xenusia – Order: Protonychophora – Family: Aysheaiidae
Period: Middle Cambrian 505 million years ago
Locality: Cambrian Burgess shale of British Columbia
Size: 1 to 6 cm
Genus: Canadaspis “shield of Canada”
Classification: Order: Hymenocarina – Family: Canadaspididae
Time: Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Genus: Wiwaxia
Classification: Phylum: Mollusca – Family: Wiwaxiidae
Time: Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 5 centimeters or 2 inches
Genus and Species: Olenoides nevadensis
Classification: Order: Corynexochida – Family: Dorypygidae
Time: Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 10 centimeter
Genus and Species: Sidneyia inexpectans
Time: Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 1.5 to 12.7 centimeter
Genus and Species: Naraoia compacta
Time: Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 2 to 4.5 centimeter
Genus and Species: Marrella splendens
Classification: Family: Marrellidae
Time: Middle Cambrian Period
Locality: Burges Shale of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 2 centimeters
Genus and Species: Opabinia regalis
Classification: Family: Opabiniidae
Time: Cambrian Period 505 to 487 nillion years ago
Locality: Middle Cambrian Burges Shale Lagerstatte of British Columbia, Canada
Size: 2 to 3 inches
