Inner Planets Catastrophe Summary

Catastrophes open the next geological era, shown by color.

Craters were formed by both impacts and electric discharge machining in each event.

Dates given in the "Belts" column are the standard atomic dates (determined by atomic dating), while the dates in the "Earth" column show the dates when atomic time is corrected to orbital time and how this corresponds with the biblical record as recorded in the oldest of biblical texts available to us.

Belts

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Moon

Mars

Kuiper Belt planet explodes; initiates Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB)
3.9 - 3.2 billion atomic years ago.

 LHB forms first and major population of craters. The "inter-crater plains" formed soon after as molten rock filled the great craters. It is expected that the LHB left impact structures on Venus. These were obliterated by later events. LHB impacts form cratons (the stable shield areas of the continents) Process ends in Archean Period, about 5400 BC LHB forms the Lunar Maria and highland craters. LHB and associated impacts form the Northern lowland basins
      Proterozoic Period    

Asteroid Planet Mantle (rocky) explodes.

800-700 million atomic years ago

 Produces giant Caloris Basin and other structures. Magma overflow forms "smooth plains" filling lowland areas in the north. Impactors probably cause pressurized sub-crustal water to erupt, yielding large ocean

MAPCIS Impact (Australia). Interior water erupts, resulting in "Snowball Earth" strata/ Noah's Flood.

about 3550 BC

 Crater Copernicus forms, along with other craters. Hellas and Argyre impacts cause pressurized sub-crustal waters to erupt, yielding large ocean in northern lowlands.
      Paleozoic Era    
Asteroid Planet core (nickel-iron) explodes

255-250 million atomic years ago

 Another series of impacts gives a population of craters on top of the "smooth plains." Massive magma outpouring vaporizes ocean and re-surfaces entire planet. Atmosphere is now high in CO2 and sulfuric acid, with high deuterium content from water. Wilkes Land Crater in Antarctic; antipodal outpouring of Siberian Traps. Volcanism; Permian Extinction/ Tower of Babel

about 3300 BC.

Another series of impacts resulting in another layer of craters. Impacts release pressure from interior molten rocks. Magma eruption floods norhern plains and vaporizes ocean. Eruptions yield high CO2 atmosphere.
      Mezozoic Era    

Asteroid Moon (carbonaceous) explodes

70-65 million atomic years ago

 Final series of impacts forms a population of small craters over the whole planet. Impacts form large and small craters evenly distributed over the surface of the planet.

Yucatan and 7 other large impacts cause K/T extinction/ begins continental division -- time of Peleg and Job

about 3050 BC

 Crater Tycho forms along with other smaller craters, fairly evenly distributed. Final series of impacts on Martian surface result in a poulation of smaller craters
      Cenozoic Era