Paleocene
Sign in to saveThe Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 Ma (million years ago). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name comes from Ancient Greek παλαιός (palaiós), meaning "old", and καινός (kainós), meaning "new", translating to "the old part of the Eocene".
AI overview
The Paleocene is a geological time period that occurred between approximately 66 and 56 million years ago and represents the first epoch of the Paleogene Period. It matters because it marks an important early chapter in Earth's most recent major era (the Cenozoic), following the extinction event that ended the previous age.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Geologic timespan.name
- Paleocene
- Geologic timespan.color
- Paleocene
- Geologic timespan.time_start
- 66
- Geologic timespan.time_end
- 56
- Geologic timespan.image_map
- Mollweide Paleographic Map of Earth, 60 Ma (Selandian Age).png
- Geologic timespan.caption_map
- A map of Earth as it appeared 60 million years ago during the Paleocene Epoch, Selandian Age
- Geologic timespan.timeline
- Paleocene
- Geologic timespan.name_formality
- Formal
- Geologic timespan.name_accept_date
- 1978
- Geologic timespan.alternate_spellings
- Palaeocene
- Geologic timespan.usage
- Global (ICS)
- Geologic timespan.timescales_used
Article
29 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Geology
- Boundaries
- Stratigraphy
- Mineral and hydrocarbon deposits
- Impact craters
- Paleogeography
- Paleotectonics
- Paleoceanography
- Climate
- Average climate
- Climatic events
- Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum
- Flora
- Recovery
- Angiosperms
- Polar forests
- Fauna
- Mammals
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Fish
- Insects and arachnids
- Marine invertebrates
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
The Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 Ma (million years ago). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name comes from Ancient Greek παλαιός (palaiós), meaning "old", and καινός (kainós), meaning "new", translating to "the old part of the Eocene".
The epoch is bracketed by two major events in Earth's history. The K–Pg extinction event, brought on by an asteroid impact (Chicxulub impact) and possibly volcanism (Deccan Traps), marked the beginning of the Paleocene and killed off 75% of species, most famously the non-avian dinosaurs. The end of the epoch was marked by the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which was a major climatic event wherein about 2,500–4,500 gigatons of carbon were released into the atmosphere and ocean systems, causing a spike in global temperatures and ocean acidification.