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
  • J. Palfy, P. L. Smith, and J. K. Mortensen. 2000. A U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar time scale for the Jurassic. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 37(6):923-944 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, 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
  • P. L. Gibbard, M. J. Head, and M. J. C. Walker. 2010. Formal ratification of the Quaternary System/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch with a base at 2.58 Ma. Journal of Quaternary Science 25(2):96-102 view
  • J. Meng and M. C. McKenna. 1998. Faunal turnovers of Paleogene mammals from the Mongolian Plateau. Nature 394:364-367 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 127017 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeTen Million Year BinsObsolete Names for ICS UnitsOrdovician of the BalticEuropean Faunal UnitsPermian Subages of GermanyCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropePaleogene Mammal Ages of Asia
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantian0.0117
ChibanianIonian0.129
Calabrian0.774
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †Villanyian2.58
Ruscinian3.1 *
Zanclean3.6
MioceneMessinianTurolian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Vallesian8.7
SerravallianCenozoic 5Astaracian11.63
Langhian13.82
BurdigalianOrleanian15.98
Agenian20
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4TabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Houldjinian/Ergilian/Ulangochuian33.9
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1Gashatan56
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
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
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/OpalinumJurassic 3170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/JamesoniJurassic 2184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/BucklandiJurassic 1192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4Buntsandstein251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianOhre/Aller259.51
WordianLeine264.28
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 2419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5HarjuPorkuni443.8
KatianPirgu445.2
Vormsi449.6 *
NabalaJohvi †450 *
ViruRakvere450.6 *
Oandu452 *
SandbianOrdovician 4KeilaIdavere †453
Haljala453.9
Kukruse456.4 *
UhakuAluoja †457.5 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3458.4
Lasnamagi458.9 *
Aseri460.4 *
OelandKunda462.9 *
Valaste †/Hunderum464.3 *
VolkhovLangevoja †/Vaana/Saka467.1 *
DapingianOrdovician 2467.3
Billingen469.3 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Latorp †470.1 *
Hunneberg473.7 *
TremadocianOrdovician 1477.7
Varangu481.3 *
Pakerort482.2 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5485.4
486.3 *
486.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4Series 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3Stage 5 †504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
FortunianCambrian 1529
538.8