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. 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • D. H. Erwin and S. A. Bowring. 2004. Cambrian time scale. view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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 127980 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleEuropean Faunal ZonesObsolete Names for ICS UnitsNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesDevonian of CzechoslovakiaCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCarboniferous SubepochsCenozoic SubepochsCambrian of SiberiaMammal Paleogene ZonesCarboniferous of China
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantianLate Pleistocene0.0117
ChibanianIonianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Tertiary †Late Pliocene2.58
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 4Early Miocene15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate OligoceneMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianEarly OligoceneMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianLate EoceneMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
37
BartonianMiddle EoceneMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianEarly EoceneMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianLate PaleoceneMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
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 JurassicTithonian145
Kimmeridgian149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Bathonian165.3
Bajocian168.2
Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
Pliensbachian184.2
Sinemurian192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianLate Pennsylvanian298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
Kasimovian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
MoscovianMiddle Pennsylvanian307
BashkirianEarly Pennsylvanian315.2
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianLate MississippianDewunian323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
ViseanMiddle Mississippian330.9
Jiusian335 *
TournaisianEarly MississippianTangbagouan346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianSrbsko382.7
EifelianChotec387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDaleje/Zlichovian393.3
PragianPragian407.6
LochkovianLochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Tremadocian477.7
Mansian †483.55 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10BatyrbaianTavgian †Ketyan †/Yurakian485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Paibian494
Ensyan †/Maduan/Nganasanian494.7 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †Ayusokkanian497
Mayan/Menevian499.5
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †Amgan/Solvan504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
ToyonianLenian †510 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3514
Atdabanian515.6 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
Nemakit-Daldynian525.5
FortunianManykaian †529
538.8