How is "Ma" best described in a geological context?

In geological contexts, "Ma" refers to "Megaannum," which is a unit of time equivalent to one million years. It is commonly used in fields such as geology and paleontology to indicate specific periods in Earth's history, such as the age of rocks or the timing of evolutionary events. For example, if a rock is dated to be 100 Ma, it indicates that the rock formed 100 million years ago. Understanding the concept of "Ma" is crucial for interpreting geological timelines and the processes that have shaped the Earth over millions of years. This unit helps geologists communicate the timing of geological events and understand the scale of Earth's history.