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
  • 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. 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. 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
  • 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, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • D. H. Erwin and S. A. Bowring. 2004. Cambrian time scale. 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 127681 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescalePrecambrian of RussiaNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCentral Paratethys StagesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeMammal Paleogene ZonesOrdovician of AustraliaCenozoic SubepochsCambrian of SiberiaCarboniferous of China
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianLate Pleistocene0.0117
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate Pliocene2.58
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianPannonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
SerravallianSarmatianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Badenian12.8 *
Langhian13.82
BurdigalianEarly Miocene15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
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
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate Eocene33.9
37
BartonianMP 16Middle Eocene37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 7Early Eocene47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 5Late Paleocene56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
MesozoicCretaceousLate 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
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
Kasimovian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianDewunian323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
Visean330.9
Jiusian335 *
TournaisianTangbagouan346.7
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 OrdovicianHirnantianBolindian443.8
Katian445.2
Eastonian449 *
Gisbornian452 *
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilian458.4
DapingianYapeenian467.3
Castlemainian468.5 *
Early OrdovicianFloianChewtonian470
Bendigonian471.8 *
Lancefieldian473.5 *
Tremadocian477.7
Warendian482.8 *
Mansian †483.55 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10BatyrbaianTavgian †Ketyan †/Yurakian485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Paibian494
Ensyan †/Maduan/Nganasanian494.7 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianAyusokkanian497
Mayan/Menevian499.5
Drumian500.5
WuliuanAmgan/Solvan504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
ToyonianLenian †510 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3514
Atdabanian515.6 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
Nemakit-Daldynian525.5
FortunianManykaian †529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaranVendian538.8
Cryogenian635
Tonian720
Karatau800
MesoproterozoicStenian1000
Yurmatian1100
Ectasian1200
Burzyan1375
1400