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
  • 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
  • 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
  • A. D. Barnosky, M. Holmes, R. Kirchholtes, E. Lindsey, K.C. Maguire, A.W. Poust, M.A. Stegner, J. Sunseri, B. Swartz, J. Swift, N.A. Villavicencio and G. Wogan. 2014. Prelude to the Anthropocene: Two new North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMAs). The Anthropocene Review I(3):225-242 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 126849 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeCambrian of BritainPermian of North AmericaObsolete Names for ICS UnitsSouth American Land Mammal AgesEuropean Faunal UnitsNorth American Land Mammal AgesCambrian of West AvaloniaPaleogene Mammal Ages of AsiaOrdovician of Ibero-Bohemia
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLujanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
Irvingtonian0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
Calabrian0.774
Blancan1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †VorohueanVillanyian2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
Ruscinian3.1 *
Zanclean3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
Hemphillian4.7
Huayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinianTurolian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Chasicoan7.9 *
Vallesian8.7
Clarendonian9.4
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
SerravallianAstaracian11.63
Barstovian12.5
Colloncuran13.7 *
Langhian13.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianOrleanian15.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
Hemingfordian16.3
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
Arikareean18.5
Agenian20
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianTabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianChadronianHouldjinian/Ergilian/Ulangochuian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
Duchesnean37
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Bridgerian46.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
Wasatchian50.5
Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianRiochicanGashatan56
Tiffanian56.2
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
Selandian59.2
Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
Puercan63.8
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
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianCapitanian259.51
WordianWordian264.28
RoadianRoadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianLeonardianCathedralian273.01
Hessian281.9 *
Artinskian283.5
WolfcampianLenoxian286.1 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianNealian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetian382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianKosovian443.8
KatianKralodvorianBohdalec †445.2
Berounian449.7 *
Sandbian453
Zahorany †/ViniceLetna †456.2 *
Liben †458 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dobrotivian458.5 *
Oretanian459.7 *
Sarka †461.7 *
DapingianKlabava †467.3
Arenigian468
Early OrdovicianFloian470
TremadocianTremadocian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10MerionethDolgellian/Trempealeauan485.4
Festiniogian489.2 *
Jiangshanian489.5
Maentwrogian493.1 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSt DavidsSeries 3 †497
Arcadian498.4
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
Series 2Stage 4CaerfaiBranchian509
Stage 3514
Placentian517.1
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8