Tertiary period

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Definition

Noun: - A major geological period: The Tertiary Period is a now-informal unit of geological time. It is the first period of the Cenozoic Era, following the extinction of the dinosaurs. It spans from approximately 66 million years ago to about 2.6 million years ago. This period saw the rise of mammals, birds, and flowering plants to dominance.

Usage
  • The term "Tertiary Period" is used in historical geology and paleontology to describe this specific span of Earth's history.
  • : The fossils from the Tertiary Period show the rapid diversification of early primates.
  • : Many modern mountain ranges, like the Alps and Himalayas, began forming during the Tertiary Period.
Advanced Usage
  • While "Tertiary Period" was a standard term for over a century, modern stratigraphy officially divides this time into the Paleogene and Neogene periods. However, "Tertiary" is still widely used in scientific literature and general contexts.
  • : Although superseded by Paleogene/Neogene in formal charts, the Tertiary Period remains a useful concept for broad discussions of Cenozoic life.
Variants and Related Words
  • Tertiary (adjective): Of or relating to this period.
    • Example: Tertiary rocks often contain mammal fossils.
  • Cenozoic Era: The current geological era, which includes the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.
  • Paleogene Period: The modern term for the first half of the Tertiary (66–23 million years ago).
  • Neogene Period: The modern term for the second half of the Tertiary (23–2.6 million years ago).
Synonyms
  • Age of Mammals: A descriptive synonym highlighting the dominant life forms of the period.
  • Early Cenozoic: A broad, informal synonym emphasizing its place within the larger era.
Related Phrases/Idioms
  • Tertiary sector: In economics, this is a different, unrelated use of the word "tertiary," referring to the service industry. It does not relate to the geological period.
    • Example: The growth of the tertiary sector is a mark of a developed economy. (This is a separate meaning.)
Noun
  1. from 63 million to 2 million years ago

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