Cryogenian glacial deposits

Cryogenian glacial deposits are layers of sediment formed during an era about 720 to 635 million years ago, known as the Cryogenian period. This time was marked by widespread ice coverage, sometimes called "Snowball Earth," with glaciers reaching equatorial regions. These deposits include tillite (unsorted glacial sediment), dropstones, and scratches on rocks from glaciers moving over the landscape. They provide evidence that the Earth experienced extreme cold and extensive glaciation during this period. Studying these deposits helps scientists understand past climate changes and the conditions that influenced the evolution of early life on Earth.