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, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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. 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. 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
  • J. I. Raine, A. G. Beu, A. F. Boyes, H. J. Campbell, R. A. Cooper, J. S. Crampton, M. P. Crundwell, C. J. Hollis, and H. E. G. Morgans. 2015. Revised Calibration of the New Zealand Geological Timescale: NZGT2015/1. GNS Science Report 2012(39) 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 126762 collections

Show more time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCambrian EpochsOrdovician of ChinaEuropean Faunal ZonesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeObsolete Names for ICS UnitsDevonian of GermanySouth American Land Mammal AgesPermian-Jurassic of New Zealand
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneLujanian0.0117
Chibanian0.129
Ensenadan0.3 *
Calabrian0.774
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Tertiary †Vorohuean2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
MN 144.2
MN 13Huayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
Chasicoan7.9 *
MN 108.7
MN 99.7
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
MN 7 + 811.1
Serravallian11.63
MN 612.8 *
Colloncuran13.7 *
LanghianMN 513.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianMN 415.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
MN 316.9
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Rupelian27.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
EocenePriabonian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
Bartonian37.71
Lutetian41.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Ypresian47.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
PaleoceneThanetianRiochican56
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
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 JurassicTithonianOtekePuaroan145
Kimmeridgian149.2
KawhiaOhauan150
Heterian154.5
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Temaikan164.3
Bathonian165.3
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
HerangiUruroan176
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
Aratauran188.9
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianBalfourOtapirian201.4
NorianWarepan208.5
Otamitan217
Oretian221
Carnian227
GoreKaihikuan227.5
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Etalian238
Anisian242
Malakovian246
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Nelsonian249
Induan251.2
DUrvilleMakarewan251.5
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
Waiitian253.2
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
Puruhauan254.2
GuadalupianCapitanianAparimaFlettian259.51
Wordian264.28
Barettian266
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Mangapirian276
Artinskian283.5
Telfordian285
288.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
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 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 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Late Cambrian485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMiddle CambrianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
Series 2Stage 4Early Cambrian509
Stage 3514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8