What is the Precambrian eon known for?

The Precambrian eon is known for being a vast period of geological time that spans from the formation of the Earth, about 4.6 billion years ago, until approximately 540 million years ago, just before the Cambrian period. This eon is significant because it encompasses the time before complex life forms emerged and before a substantial fossil record began.

During the Precambrian, the Earth underwent significant geological and atmospheric changes, and while some simple life forms, such as bacteria and algae, existed, they did not leave behind many fossils. The development of more complex life and a clearer fossil record started in the subsequent eon, the Cambrian. Therefore, the characteristic feature of the Precambrian eon is its status as a time before the fossil record became prominent, marking a clear distinction from later geological periods where fossils are abundant and diverse.