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
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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 127356 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleMammal Paleogene ZonesMesozoic SubagesOrdovician of the BalticObsolete Precambrian AgesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesObsolete Carboniferous Ages of ChinaOrdovician of BritainNorth American Land Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest Europe
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzian2.58
Zanclean3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
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 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
BartonianMP 1637.71
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 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
MesozoicCretaceousLate 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 BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
Early Bajocian168.6 *
AalenianLate Aalenian/Middle Aalenian/Early AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLate ToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Middle Toarcian180.4 *
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
Early Toarcian182.9 *
PliensbachianLate Pliensbachian/Early PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianLate Sinemurian/Early SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianLate Hettangian/Middle Hettangian/Early HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
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 *
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianMapingian †298.9
Kasimovian303.7
305.9
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
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 OrdovicianHirnantianHarjuPorkuniAshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianPirguRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
VormsiCaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
NabalaJohvi †450 *
ViruRakvere450.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Oandu452 *
Burrellian452.7 *
SandbianKeilaIdavere †453
Actonian †453.2 *
Haljala453.9
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Kukruse456.4 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
UhakuAluoja †457.5 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Lasnamagi458.9 *
Aseri460.4 *
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
OelandKunda462.9 *
Valaste †/Hunderum464.3 *
VolkhovLangevoja †/Vaana/Saka467.1 *
Dapingian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Billingen469.3 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Latorp †470.1 *
Whitlandian471.1 *
Hunneberg473.7 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
Varangu481.3 *
Pakerort482.2 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10485.4
486.3 *
486.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangian497
Drumian500.5
Wuliuan504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
Stage 3514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaranVendian †Poundian †538.8
Wonokan †571.7 *
635