Part of the Neoarchean Era
Pongolan Period - Methanian Period - Siderian Period
The Methanian Period is the first period of the Neoarchean Era and the fifth of the Archean Eon. The Methanian begins at the time from which the earliest continental flood basalts are known and ends which the first appearance of the Hamersley Banded Iron-Formation. The first evidence of Eukaryotes, biomarkers associated with eukaryotes in oil, dates back to this period at around 2700 MYA. The supercontinent of Vaalbara dissolved at around 2800 MYA, and was replaced by the new supercontinent of Kenorland, which formed at around 2700 MYA.
The Methanian is not further subdivided into epochs.
Methanian Timescale:
Methanian Period - 2780-2630 MYA