Kaigas

The Kaigas glaciation was a hypothesized snowball earth event in the Neoproterozoic Era, preceding the Sturtian glaciation. Its occurrence was inferred based on the interpretation of Kaigas Formation conglomerates in the stratigraphy overlying the Kalahari Craton as correlative with pre-Sturtian Numees formation glacial diamictites. However, the Kaigas formation was later determined to be non-glacial, and a Sturtian age was assigned to the Numees diamictites. Thus, there is no longer any evidence for a Neoproterozoic glaciation prior to the Sturtian snowball earth event.[3]

Events of the Tonian Period

-1020 —

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-1000 —

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-980 —

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-960 —

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-940 —

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-920 —

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-900 —

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-880 —

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-860 —

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-840 —

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-820 —

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-800 —

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-780 —

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-760 —

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-740 —

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-720 —

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-700 —

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Tonian

Cryogenian

Stenian

 

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←

First sponge-like animal?

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Kaigas glaciation?[1]

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Sturtian glaciation

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Sharp drop in Stromatolite Population[2]

References

1. Macdonald, F. A.; Schmitz, M. D.; Crowley, J. L.; Roots, C. F.; Jones, D. S.; Maloof, A. C.; Strauss, J. V.; Cohen, P. A.; Johnston, D. T.; Schrag, D. P. (4 March 2010). "Calibrating the Cryogenian". Science. 327 (5970): 1241–1243. doi:10.1126/science.1183325. PMID 20203045. (Duration and magnitude are enigmatic)
2. Bernhard, Joan (11 June 2013). "Insights into foraminiferal influences on microfabrics of microbialites at Highborne Cay, Bahamas". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110 (24): 5. doi:10.1073/pnas.1221721110. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
3. Rooney, A. D.; Strauss, J. V.; Brandon, A. D.; MacDonald, F. A. (2015). "A Cryogenian chronology: Two long-lasting synchronous Neoproterozoic glaciations". Geology. 43 (5): 459. Bibcode:2015Geo....43..459R. doi:10.1130/G36511.1.