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Learning Lists: Geological Periods Mnemonics

Every good mnemonic does fine...  

Mnemonics are great ways to learn items in a list.  Treble staff lines.  Taxonomical groups.  Even geological time.

Geological time scales can be measured at various levels.  Eons, epochs, ages, etc.  The most familiar is period.  Here we get names like Jurassic, Quaternary, and Cambrian.  The periods (excluding pre-Cambrian) from oldest to youngest are as follows:

  • Cambrian
  • Ordovician
  • Silurian
  • Devonian
  • Carboniferous
  • Permian
  • Triassic
  • Jurassic
  • Cretaceous
  • Paleogene
  • Neogene
  • Quaternary

There are a variety of mnemonics already available, such as here or here.  But I thought I'd add my hat to the naming pile.  Let's get down to mnemonics!

Mnemonic Phrase #1: Zombie Apocalypse

  • Crawling Over Streets, Devouring Constantly, People Transformed, Jaws Craving Populations, Never Quitting.  

Mnemonic Phrase #2: Programming

  • Charles Operated Some Decent Code Programs To Jump Competitor's Predicted November Quotas.

Mnemonic Phrase #3: Fantastical

  • Centaurs Oiled Several Dinosaur Cyborgs, Preparing To Justly Charge Pixel-Nightmare Quadrant

Mnemonic Phrase Bonus (adding in pre-Cambrian):

The pre-Cambrian periods are, from oldest to youngest, the Siderian, Rhyacian, Orosirian, Statherian, Calymmian, Ectasian, Stenian, Tonian, Cryogenian, and Ediacaran.

  • Sadly, Relics Of Saltier Corporations Eternally Stop Technological Collaboration Events 


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