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GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart (1.0.0) current version: 1.0.1 »

Source Notebook

Create a chart that places geological time periods within the context of parent divisions and subdivisions

Contributed by: Jeff Bryant

ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][entity,depth]

creates a chart for the specified geological time period entity that includes the parent division and subdivisions down to the specified depth below the parent.

Details and Options

ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"] accepts the same options as Graphics.
The default AspectRatio is 1.
If the specified entity has no parent division, the depth is taken from the specified entity.
If there are no further subdivisions, the actual displayed depth may be less than what is specified.
Colors of the time periods are defined by the Commission for the Geological Map of the World.
The granularity of the time periods, e.g. Eon/Era/Period/… is left out to save space.

Examples

Basic Examples (2) 

Create a chart showing the last geologic time period when the dinosaurs lived:

In[1]:=
ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][
 Entity["GeologicalPeriod", "CretaceousPeriod"], 2]
Out[1]=

Explore the oldest geologic time periods:

In[2]:=
ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][
 Entity["GeologicalPeriod", "PrecambrianSupereon"], 2]
Out[2]=

Scope (1) 

In contrast to the oldest time spans, we can also explore the most recent geological period/system, the Quaternary and its parent and sibling divisions:

In[3]:=
ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][
 Entity["GeologicalPeriod", "QuaternaryPeriod"], 1]
Out[3]=
In[4]:=
ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][
 Entity["GeologicalPeriod", "PaleozoicEra"], 3]
Out[4]=

Options (1) 

Higher depths can benefit from larger AspectRatio and ImageSize to prevent crowding of the elements:

In[5]:=
ResourceFunction["GeologicalPeriodChronologyChart"][
 Entity["GeologicalPeriod", "CambrianPeriod"], 3, AspectRatio -> 2, ImageSize -> Large]
Out[5]=

Version History

  • 1.0.1 – 17 October 2022
  • 1.0.0 – 08 July 2022

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