When considering benchmarks to mark the beginning or ending of specific periods of time, the most commonly used events are:
- Species Extinction Events: Major extinction events, such as the Permian-Triassic Extinction or the Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction, serve as significant markers in the geological time scale. They represent dramatic shifts in biodiversity and are widely recognized in the study of Earth's history.
While other events like tectonic plate movements and supervolcano eruptions can influence geological time and ecosystems, they are not typically used as strict benchmarks for the beginning or end of specific geological periods. Solar system shifts are generally too broad and vague for this purpose in geological terms.
Thus, the best choice from your list for marking significant periods would be a species extinction event.