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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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
  • M. Kretzoi. 1942. Necroteuthis n. g. (Ceph. Dibr., Necroteuthidae N. F.) aus dem Oligozän von Budapest und das system der Dibranchiata. Földtani Közlöny 72:125-238 view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication view
  • F. M. Gradstein, F. P. Agterberg, J. G. Ogg, J. Hardenbol, P. Van Veen, J. Thierry, and Z. Huang. 1995. A Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time scale. SEPM Special Publication 54 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 127057 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCarboniferous of Western EuropeCambrian of AustraliaCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCenozoic SubepochsAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeOrdovician of North AmericaObsolete Names for ICS UnitsMammal Paleogene ZonesMesozoic SubagesDevonian of Germany
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantianLate Pleistocene0.0117
ChibanianIonianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneTertiary †2.58
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
Tortonian7.246
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
Langhian13.82
BurdigalianEarly Miocene15.98
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate OligoceneMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
RupelianEarly OligoceneMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
EocenePriabonianLate EoceneMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
BartonianMiddle EoceneMP 1637.71
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
YpresianEarly EoceneMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
PaleoceneThanetianLate PaleoceneMP 6MP 1 - 556
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLate Maastrichtian/Early Maastrichtian66
CampanianLate Campanian/Middle Campanian/Early Campanian72.1
SantonianLate Santonian/Middle Santonian/Early Santonian83.6
ConiacianLate Coniacian/Middle Coniacian/Early Coniacian86.3
TuronianLate Turonian/Middle Turonian/Early Turonian89.8
CenomanianLate Cenomanian/Middle Cenomanian/Early Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbianLate Albian100.5
Middle Albian106.2 *
Early Albian109.9 *
AptianLate Aptian113
Early Aptian119.5 *
BarremianLate Barremian/Early Barremian121.4
HauterivianLate Hauterivian/Early Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianLate Valanginian/Early Valanginian132.6
BerriasianLate Berriasian139.8
Middle Berriasian140.6 *
Early Berriasian142.7 *
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianLate TithonianMiddle Tithonian145
Early Tithonian146.3 *
KimmeridgianLate Kimmeridgian149.2
Early Kimmeridgian152.2 *
OxfordianLate OxfordianMiddle Oxfordian/Early Oxfordian154.8
157.9 *
Middle JurassicCallovianLate Callovian/Middle Callovian/Early Callovian161.5
BathonianLate Bathonian/Middle Bathonian/Early Bathonian165.3
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/DiscitesLate Bajocian168.2
Humphresianum168.4
Early Bajocian168.6 *
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/OpalinumLate Aalenian/Middle Aalenian/Early Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsenseLate Toarcian174.7
180.1
Middle Toarcian180.4 *
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
Early Toarcian182.9 *
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/JamesoniLate Pliensbachian/Early Pliensbachian184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/BucklandiLate Sinemurian/Early Sinemurian192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/PlanorbisLate Hettangian/Middle Hettangian/Early Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
NorianSevatian208.5
Alaunian213.2 *
Lacian216.7 *
CarnianTuvalian227
Julian233.4 *
Middle TriassicLadinianLongobardian237
Fassanian239.7 *
AnisianIllyrian242
Pelsonian243.8 *
Bithynian244.7 *
Aegean245.5 *
Early TriassicOlenekianSpathian247.2
Smithian248.9 *
InduanDienerian251.2
Griesbachian251.4 *
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
Kuzel297.7
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
StephanianStephanian C300.3 *
Stephanian B300.9 *
Stephanian A301.4 *
Kasimovian303.7
Cantabrian305 *
Moscovian307
WestphalianWestphalian D307.4 *
Westphalian C309.8
Westphalian B314.6
Bashkirian315.2
Westphalian A317 *
NamurianYeadonian318.8 *
Marsdenian320.2 *
Kinderscoutian321.5 *
Alportian322 *
Chokierian323.1 *
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Arnsbergian324 *
Pendleian327.4 *
ViseanWarnantianBrigantian †330.9
LivianAsbian †336.3 *
MoliniacianHolkerian †/Arundian/Chadian340.2 *
TournaisianIvorian346.7
Hastarian353.7 *
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianWocklum/Dasberg/Hemberg/Nehden358.9
FrasnianAdorf372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGivetian382.7
EifelianEifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianEmsian393.3
PragianSiegen407.6
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianCincinnatianGamachian443.8
Katian445.2
Richmondian446 *
MaysvillianRocklandian †/Shermanian/Ashbyan/Kirkfieldian/Blackriveran/Wildernessian/Trentonian/Franklinian449.8 *
Edenian450.4 *
MohawkianChatfieldian451.1 *
Sandbian453
Turinian453.7 *
WhiterockianCanadian †Chazyan †/Marmor457 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Rangerian469.1 *
Early OrdovicianFloianIbexianBlackhillsianJeffersonian †Cassinian †470
Tulean473.9 *
Tremadocian477.7
Stairsian480.3 *
SkullrockianDemingian †482 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Datsonian485.4
Payntonian486.8 *
487.5
JiangshanianIverian489.5
PaibianIdamean494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMindyallanSeries 3 †497
Boomerangian499
DrumianUndillan500.5
Floran503
WuliuanTempletonianStage 5 †504.5
Ordian507.8 *
Series 2Stage 4509
510.8 *