Story: Geology – overview

Geological time scale

Geological time scale

Fossils record the changes of life on earth, and are used to date rocks that were formed over the last 540 million years. This is a simplified version of the internationally-accepted time scale. Ages on the right (in millions of years) are based on radiometric dating.

A much more detailed subdivision of the time scale has been undertaken in New Zealand, and a local version is used for dating rocks.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, 'Geology – overview - Rocky foundations', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/8294/geological-time-scale (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 12 Jun 2006