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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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. 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

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 126831 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCretaceous North American Land-Mammal AgesObsolete Carboniferous Ages of ChinaOrdovician of ChinaTen Million Year BinsCambrian of ChinaCenozoic SubepochsCambrian EpochsEuropean Faunal Units
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantianLate Pleistocene0.0117
ChibanianIonianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneVillanyian2.58
Ruscinian3.1 *
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MioceneMessinianLate MioceneTurolian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Vallesian8.7
SerravallianCenozoic 5Middle MioceneAstaracian11.63
Langhian13.82
BurdigalianEarly MioceneOrleanian15.98
Agenian20
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4Late Oligocene23.03
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Late Eocene33.9
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1Late Paleocene56
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLancian/EdmontonianCretaceous 866
CampanianJudithian/AquilanCretaceous 772.1
SantonianCretaceous 683.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4100.5
AptianCretaceous 3113
BarremianCretaceous 2121.4
Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianCretaceous 1132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianJurassic 6145
KimmeridgianJurassic 5149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
BathonianJurassic 4165.3
Bajocian168.2
AalenianJurassic 3170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
PliensbachianJurassic 2184.2
SinemurianJurassic 1192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianMapingian †Carboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
305.9
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianCarboniferous 3323.2
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
TournaisianCarboniferous 1346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianDevonian 5358.9
FrasnianDevonian 4372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianDevonian 3382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDevonian 2393.3
PragianDevonian 1407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliSilurian 2419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianHirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †Ordovician 5443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianGuniu †/HuloOrdovician 3458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianDapingianOrdovician 2467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianXinchangianOrdovician 1477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5NiucheheanTaoyuanian †Late Cambrian485.4
JiangshanianJiangshanian489.5
PaibianPaibian494
Waergangian †/Youshuanian494.9 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4GuzhangianWangcunian †Middle Cambrian497
DrumianDrumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3Wuliuan/Taijangian504.5
Series 2Stage 4DuyunianEarly Cambrian509
Stage 3Cambrian 2Nangaoian514
TerreneuvianStage 2Meishucunian521
FortunianCambrian 1529
Jinnigian530.7
538.8