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
  • D. H. Erwin and S. A. Bowring. 2004. Cambrian time scale. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 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

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 126831 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeSilurian of EnglandPermian of ChinaCambrian of SiberiaDevonian of Eastern North AmericaEuropean Faunal ZonesOrdovician of BritainCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCambrian of North America
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantian0.0117
ChibanianIonian0.129
Calabrian0.774
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 162.58
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
Serravallian11.63
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 415.98
MN 316.9
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Rupelian27.82
EocenePriabonian33.9
Bartonian37.71
Lutetian41.2
Ypresian47.8
PaleoceneThanetian56
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtian66
Campanian72.1
Santonian83.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbian100.5
Aptian113
Barremian121.4
Hauterivian125.77
Valanginian132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonian145
Kimmeridgian149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Bathonian165.3
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianMeishanian251.902
Baoqingian253.4 *
WuchiapingianLaoshanian254.14
Laibinian257.7 *
GuadalupianCapitanianLengwuan259.51
WordianKuhfengian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianLuodianian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Longlinian285.4 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianZisongian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
300.1
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianConewangan/Conneautan/Canadaway358.9
FrasnianWest Fallsian/Sonyean372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGeneseean/Taghanican/TioughnioganCazenovian382.7
EifelianSouthwoodian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianSawkillian/Deer ParkianHelderbergian393.3
Pragian407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliRed Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianAshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Burrellian452.7 *
Sandbian453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
Dapingian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
Mansian †483.55 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10BatyrbaianTavgian †Ketyan †/YurakianFranconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
Ensyan †/Maduan/Nganasanian494.7 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianAyusokkanianMarjumianAlbertian †497
Mayan/Menevian499.5
Drumian500.5
WuliuanAmgan/SolvanTopazan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
ToyonianLenian †510 *
Dyeran511 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Atdabanian515.6 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
Nemakit-Daldynian525.5
FortunianManykaian †529
538.8