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
  • 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. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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, 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
  • 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
  • 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

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 ChinaNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesMammal Paleogene ZonesCenozoic SubepochsPermian of the Russian PlatformSilurian of EnglandMesozoic SubagesDevonian of FranceObsolete Names for ICS UnitsNorth American Land Mammal Ages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianLate Pleistocene0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneTertiary †2.58
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
BurdigalianEarly Miocene15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 25Late Oligocene23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 21Early Oligocene27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate EoceneChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
BartonianMP 16Middle Eocene37.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 7Early Eocene47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 5Late Paleocene56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
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
BajocianLate Bajocian168.2
Early Bajocian168.6 *
AalenianLate Aalenian/Middle Aalenian/Early Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLate Toarcian174.7
Middle Toarcian180.4 *
Early Toarcian182.9 *
PliensbachianLate Pliensbachian/Early Pliensbachian184.2
SinemurianLate Sinemurian/Early Sinemurian192.9
HettangianLate 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
TatarianVyatkian256.8 *
GuadalupianCapitanianSeverodvinian259.51
WordianUrzhumian264.28
RoadianKazanianPovolzhian266.9
Sokian270.7 *
CisuralianKungurianKungurianIrenian/Ufimian273.01
Filipovian276.5 *
Saraninian280.1 *
ArtinskianArtinskianSarginian283.5
Irginian285.9 *
Burtsevian287.8 *
SakmarianSakmarianSterlitamakian290.1
Tastubian291.7 *
AsselianAsselianShikhanian293.52
Uskalykian294.8
Surenian297.5
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
Kasimovian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianDewunian323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
Visean330.9
Jiusian335 *
TournaisianTangbagouan346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianFamennian358.9
FrasnianFrasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGivetian382.7
EifelianCouvinien387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Coblencien408.2 *
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
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 OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Tremadocian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
509