This page contains basic information about the geologic time scale and aids to learning the various periods and epochs. Mnemonic devices can be used to help remember the order that the periods and epochs occurred. The first letter of each word in the saying corresponds to the first letter of a period or epoch.
Events that transpired first took place longer ago; that is closer to the Precambrian. Please be advised that dates that appear on the geologic time shown here are only approximate.
Permission is hereby granted to use this picture if credit is given. I would like to express my apprciation to students and others who contributed to these lists.
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Chris Ordered Some Delicious Pizza That Just Cost Twenty quartes |
John Encarnacion, Geology Professor, Saint Louis University |
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Please Come Over Some Day, Maybe Play Poker Three Jacks Calls Two Queens |
dcampbel dcampbel@gateway.net |
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Can Ollie See Down Mikes Pants Pockets? Tom Jones Can. Toms Queer |
Keith Stevenson ksteven@ponyexpress.net |
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Quit Telling Crazy Crummy Jokes To Mature People Playing MonopolyDuring School On Campus Paths, Please |
Norm Dubois, normdub@ids.net |
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Campbells Onion Soup Delights Many Particular People |
DUANE BURKHOLDER, AMEBA34@email.msn.com |
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Charlie Oliver Still Drives My Purple Plymouth To Jersey City Through Quicksand |
Erik the Bloodaxe <letterman@mosquitonet.com> |
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Please, Come Over Sunday, Do Come Punctually, Tea Jam Cakes, Tell(me) Quickly |
Simon Hodkin, simon_hodkin@uk.ibm.com |
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Camels Often Sit Down Carefully Perhaps Their Joints Creak (Perhaps Effective Oiling Might Prolong Perfect Health) |
Kevin.Cooper@EMBLEYPARK.ORG.UK |
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(Ancient) Parents Can Only Sit Down Carefully; Perhaps Their Joints Can't Tolerate Quickness |
Don Kephart dkephart@intergate.lbusd.k12.ca.us |
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Camels Ordinarily Sit Down Carfully Perhaps Their Joints Creek Quietly |
tmarkus ebner elemarkus@hotmail.com |
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Quinten The Clever Juggler Tipped Purple Cream Down Steve's Orange Cardigan |
Peter.Baker@brs.gov.au |
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Can Our Sexual Deviations Continue Permanently? Try Jesus Christ. Paul Eats Old Mules Phooey Phooey Recent. |
Mary Rose Cassa <mcassa@earthlink.net> |
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Quality Timbers Creatively Joined Together Please Carpenters Doing Studies Of Cabinetry |
Cullen Hallmark cullhallmark@earthlink.net |
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Can Oscar still drive Mary Pam (and) Paula to jovial conversation this quarter? |
Joseph Nestor nescoenv@bellsouth.net |
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Camels ordinarily sit down carefully. Perhaps their joints creak. Possibly early oiling might prevent premature hardening |
Diane Clemens-Knott dclemensknott@fullerton.edu |
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Quit Telling Cal, Just Tell Paul, Paul Makes Deals Sound Overly Clean |
by Cynthia Gladden from Richard_Besse@crosstimbers.com |
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Curious Old Scientists Discover Creatures & Plants To Justify Certian Timelss Questions |
Rocco Renda |
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| Please Pass Me Down Some Oreo Cookies |
Karen.Killion@esc9.net |
| Cambells Onion Soup Develops Most People Perfectly |
Nova Boyd <ladynova@swbell.net> |
| Classes of students detest memorizing pointless periods. |
Tracy Garfield <tracygarfield@hotmail.com> |
| Cambridge Ordinand Silently Develops Carbuncles at Permanent Trial
by Jury for Creationists |
Nigel Greenwood<nigel@elgin.free-online.co.uk> |
| Come On Sunday, Damn Missiionary Priest People Think Just Crap | Austin Boyd <aboydiii@hotmail.com> |
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| Holly Puts Pillsbury Muffins On Edgar's Plate |
dcampbel <dcampbel@gateway.net> |
| Pink Elephants On Mars Play Pretty Rough |
DUANE BURKHOLDER, AMEBA34@email.msn.com |
| Patrick Eats On Marsha's Purple Party Hats |
Erik the Bloodaxe <letterman@mosquitonet.com> |
| Perhaps Eggplants or Mushrooms Prevent Pizza Halitosis |
Nova Boyd <ladynova@swbell.net> |
| Helpful Parents Plan Many Outstanding Educational Projects |
Cullen Hallmark cullhallmark@earthlink.net |
| People Eat Only Mashed Potatoes Politely Hourly |
JOEVBEEMAN@aol.com |
| People Earning One Million Pesos Pay Heavily |
Rocco Renda |
| Princess Eggplant Ordered Many Peachy Pineapples Randomly. | Julie Henry <littlemissju13@hotmail.com> |
| Pal-Eont-Ologists Myopically Ply Plastic Hoes | "Nigel Greenwood" <nigel@elgin.free-online.co.uk> |
Eras from Ed Greaney egreaney@hcrhs.k12.nj.us
Remember the Chocolate-Marshmallow -Peanut sundae. (Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic)
Eras and eons from Cullen Hallmark cullhallmark@earthlink.net
Canada's Many Parks Protect All Habitat
Cenozoic Mesozoic Paleozoic Proterozoic Archaean Hadean
To Great Caesar Fatal Asp Fangs Quickly Turn Cleopatra Dead - by Rocco Rrenda
Some lithology items from Cullen Hallmark cullhallmark@earthlink.net
Rock Sequences (Inverse order) Canyonlands to San Juan River area
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Every |
Entrada Sandstone |
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Nude |
Navajo Sandstone |
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Kangaroo |
Kayenta Sandstone |
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Wants |
Wingate Sandstone |
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Chocolate |
Chinle Sandstone |
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Milk |
Moenkopi Sandstone |
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Constantly |
Cutler Formation |
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Hot |
Hermosa Formation |
Grand Canyon From rim down to Great Unconformity
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Musical |
Moenkopi Sandstone |
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Kids |
Kaibab Limestone |
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Take |
Toroweap Limestone |
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Coconuts |
Coconino Sandstone |
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Happily |
Hermit Shale |
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Singing |
Supai Formation |
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Rhymes |
Redwall Limestone |
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Together |
Temple Butte Dolomite |
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Use |
Undivided Dolomites |
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Marble |
Muav Limestone |
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Bath |
Bright Angel Shale |
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Tiles |
Tapeats Sandstone |
Please send your comments and suggestions to me via e-mail.
These links will get you more information related to geologic time.
Here are some links to places around Eastern Illinois University.