The beginnings of Earth making
Particles of dust and rock collided and clumped together to form the beginnings of the Earth

4.6 - 4.2 billion years ago :
Meteorites crash into the Earth's liquid surface. The heat from these collisions caused the rock in the growing planet to melt. Heavier metals, such as iron, sank towards the core, while lighter materials rose to the surface.

4.2 - 3.8 billion years ago :
As the Earth began to cool, its surface congealed to form a crust over the semiliquid layers beneath. Heat in the Earth's centre created huge volacanoes that poured out lava onto the surface. Meteorites continued to bombard the planet.

3.8 - 2.5 billion years ago :
The hot gases and water vapour that spewed from the Earth's volcanoes cooled and condensed into clouds - the Earth's first atmosphere. There were thunderstorms and torrential rains. Water - in the form of rivers, lakes and oceans - appeared for the first time. Primitive bacteria - the first signs of life - appeared.

2.5 billion - 600 million years ago :
The crust split into mobile plates that began to resemble the continent