International Chronostratigraphic Timescale

The interval definitions in this timescale are derived from the following sources:

  • K. M. Cohen, S.C. Finney, P.L. Gibbard and J.-X. Fan. 2023. The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart v2023/09. view
  • W. B. Harland, R. L. Armstrong, A. V. Cox, L. E. Craig, A. G. Smith and D. G. Smith. 1990. A Geologic Time Scale 1989. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 view
  • F. F. Steininger, W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, R. L. Bernor, S. Sen and J. Agusti. 1996. Circum-Mediterranean Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) marine-continental chronologic correlations of European mammal units. The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas (eds. R. L. Bernor, V. Fahlbusch, and H.-W. Mittmann) view
  • F. J. Prevosti, C. O. Romano, A. M. Forasiepi, S. Hemming, R. Bonini, A. M. Candela, E. Cerdeño, M. C. Madozzo Jaén, P. E. Ortiz, F. Pujos, L. Rasia, G. I. Schmidt, M. Taglioretti, R. D. E. MacPhee, and U. F. J. Pardiñas. 2021. New radiometric 40Ar–39Ar dates and faunistic analyses refine evolutionary dynamics of Neogene vertebrate assemblages in southern South America. Scientific Reports 2021(11):9830 view
  • J. J. Flynn and C. C. Swisher, III. 1995. Cenozoic South American Land Mammal Ages: correlation to global geochronology. Geochronology Time Scales and Global Stratigraphic Correlation, SEPM Special Publication 54:317-333 view
  • M. O. Woodburne. 1987. A prospectus of the North American Mammal Ages. In: Woodburne, M. O. (ed.), Cenozoic Mammals of North America. University of California Press, Berkelery, CA 285-290 view
  • J. Alroy. 2000. New methods for quantifying macroevolutionary patterns and processes. Paleobiology 26(4):707-733 view
  • M. Harzhauser and W. E. Piller. 2004. Integrated stratigraphy of the Sarmatian (Upper Middle Miocene) in the western Central Paratethys. Stratigraphy 1(1):65-86 view

There are 59 timescales which overlap this one. show

Interval boundaries marked with * have been interpolated based on the differences between the ages for international timescale boundaries quoted in the source and the currently accepted ages for those boundaries.

Interval names marked with † are no longer in current use.

This timescale is used in the definition of 126973 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleTen Million Year BinsCenozoic SubepochsOrdovician of ChinaSilurian of EnglandOrdovician of BritainEuropean Faunal UnitsSouth American Land Mammal AgesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCentral Paratethys Stages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLujanianSheridanian0.0117
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneVillanyianVorohuean2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
Ruscinian3.1 *
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
Huayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinianLate MioceneTurolian5.333
TortonianPannonian7.246
Chasicoan7.9 *
Vallesian8.7
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
SerravallianCenozoic 5Middle MioceneAstaracianSarmatian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Badenian12.8 *
Colloncuran13.7 *
Langhian13.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianEarly MioceneOrleanian15.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
Agenian20
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4Late Oligocene23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
29.5
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Late EoceneLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early Chadronian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
37
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1Late PaleoceneRiochican56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 866
CampanianCretaceous 772.1
SantonianCretaceous 683.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4100.5
AptianCretaceous 3113
BarremianCretaceous 2121.4
Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianCretaceous 1132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianJurassic 6145
KimmeridgianJurassic 5149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
BathonianJurassic 4165.3
Bajocian168.2
AalenianJurassic 3170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
PliensbachianJurassic 2184.2
SinemurianJurassic 1192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianCarboniferous 3323.2
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
TournaisianCarboniferous 1346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianDevonian 5358.9
FrasnianDevonian 4372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianDevonian 3382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDevonian 2393.3
PragianDevonian 1407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliSilurian 2Red Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5HirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †AshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianChientangkiangianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Burrellian452.7 *
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3DarriwilianGuniu †/HuloLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianOrdovician 2Dapingian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianOrdovician 1XinchangianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
Cressagian480.8 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
FortunianCambrian 1529
538.8