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
  • 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
  • J. A. Lillegraven and M. C. McKenna. 1986. Fossil mammals from the "Mesaverde" Formation (Late Cretaceous, Judithian) of the Bighorn and Wind River basins, Wyoming, with definitions of Late Cretaceous North American Land-Mammal "Ages". American Museum Novitates 2840:1-68 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. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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
  • M. Harzhauser and W. E. Piller. 2004. Integrated stratigraphy of the Sarmatian (Upper Middle Miocene) in the western Central Paratethys. Stratigraphy 1(1):65-86 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 TimescaleOrdovician of ChinaEuropean Faunal ZonesCretaceous North American Land-Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeMammal Paleogene ZonesCarboniferous of North AmericaSilurian of EnglandCentral Paratethys StagesEuropean Faunal UnitsDevonian of Germany
QuaternaryPleistoceneGelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Villanyian2.58
Ruscinian3.1 *
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianTurolian5.333
TortonianMN 12Pannonian7.246
MN 117.75
MN 10Vallesian8.7
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianSarmatianAstaracian11.63
MN 6Badenian12.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 4Orleanian15.98
MN 316.9
MN 2Agenian20
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
BartonianMP 1637.71
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLancian/Edmontonian66
CampanianJudithian/Aquilan72.1
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
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianBursumian †293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianVirgilian298.9
KasimovianMissourian303.7
Desmoinesian305.9 *
Moscovian307
Atokan312.7 *
Bashkirian315.2
Morrowan318.4 *
MississippianSerpukhovianChesterian323.2
Visean330.9
Meramecian335.8 *
Osagean343.1 *
Tournaisian346.7
Kinderhookian351.9 *
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianWocklum/Dasberg/Hemberg/Nehden358.9
FrasnianAdorf372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGivetian382.7
EifelianEifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianEmsian393.3
PragianSiegen407.6
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 OrdovicianHirnantianHirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianGuniu †/Hulo458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianDapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianXinchangian477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
485.4