Part of the Archean Eon
Mesoarchean Era - Neoarchean Era - Paleoproterozoic Era
The Neoarchean Era is the third, and final, era of the Archean Eon. The Neoarchean begins with at the time from which the first continental flood basalts are known and ends at the time from which the first glacial deposits are known. As Vaalbara began to separate, a new supercontinent was beginning to form - a landmass referred to as Kenorland. Kenorland, too, would break up before the end of the Neoarchean. The first appearance of the Hamersley Banded-Iron Formation occurred during this era. Oxygenic photosynthesis is known to have begun during the Neoarchean, eventually leading to the Great Oxygenation Event of the Paleoproterozoic Era.
The Neoarchean is subdivided into two periods: the Methanian and the Siderian.
Neoarchean Timescale:
Neoarchean Era - 2780-2420 MYA
-Methanian Period - 2780-2630 MYA
-Siderian Period - 2630-2420 MYA