Tracing the history of Earth

Although scientists have a general idea of when major events occurred during Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history, geologists would like to be able to pinpoint the exact dates of those events. Precise dates for the sequence and duration of geological events provide insight into fundamental questions about Earth’s history, such as when and why mass extinctions occurred, how long it takes for mountain ranges to form, and the age of Earth’s oldest fossils and crust.

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