- Timeframe: The Marinoan glaciation occurred approximately 650 to 635 million years ago during the Cryogenian Period.
- Description: The Marinoan glaciation is another major glaciation event of the Cryogenian Period. Like the Sturtian glaciation, it involved the expansion of ice sheets and the formation of extensive glacial deposits. The Marinoan glaciation followed a period of relative warmth and possibly involved multiple pulses of glaciation and deglaciation.
- Environmental Impact: The Marinoan glaciation also contributed to the Snowball Earth scenario, with extensive ice coverage influencing the planet’s climate and ocean circulation. The cooling and ice expansion had global implications, affecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
- Geological Significance: The Marinoan glaciation left behind distinct geological markers, such as glacial dropstones and sedimentary layers associated with the advance and retreat of ice sheets. These features help geologists reconstruct the environmental changes that occurred during this period.