Part of the Zirconian Era
Jacobian Period - Canadian Period - Procrustean Period
The Canadian Period is the second period of the Zirconian Era, and the fifth of the Hadean Eon. The Canadian begins with the challenged dating of the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt on the eastern shore of the Hudson Bay, and ends with the chronometrically defined base of the Procrustean (the only chronometrically defined base remaining on the geologic timescale). If the age of the Nuvvuagittuq formation were to be correct, it would take the title of oldest known rock formation from the Acasta Gneiss. However, many have argued that the age announced actually was the extraction of magma from the mantle, not the age of the actual rock, which has been claimed to be closer to just 3800 MYA. The first continents may have formed during the Canadian, if they had not already during the Jacobian Period, due to the earth's core temperature being significantly higher than modern levels, causing more rapid movement of tectonic plates. The first tectonic plates were significantly smaller than those that exist today. Life likely existed throughout the duration of the Canadian, after first appearing during the Jacobian.
The Canadian is not further subdivided into epochs.
Canadian Timescale:
Canadian Period - 4280-4200 MYA