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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Z.-X. Qiu and Z.-D. Qiu. 1995. Chronological sequence and subdivision of Chinese Neogene mammalian faunas. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 116(1-2):41-70 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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 126831 collections

Show more time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Land Mammal AgesCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeObsolete Names for ICS UnitsAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaNeogene Mammal Ages of ChinaPermian of the Salt RangeCarboniferous of Western EuropeSouth American Land Mammal AgesPermian-Jurassic of New Zealand
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantianNihewanianLujanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
Irvingtonian0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
Calabrian0.774
Blancan1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †YusheanVorohuean2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
Zanclean3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
Hemphillian4.7
BaodeanHuayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Chasicoan7.9 *
Clarendonian9.4
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
Tunggurian11.1
Serravallian11.63
Barstovian12.5
Colloncuran13.7 *
LanghianShanwangian13.82
Friasian15.4 *
Burdigalian15.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
Hemingfordian16.3
Xiejiaan16.9
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
Arikareean18.5
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Rupelian27.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianChadronian33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
Duchesnean37
Bartonian37.71
Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Mustersan41.9 *
Bridgerian46.2
Ypresian47.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
Wasatchian50.5
Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianRiochican56
Tiffanian56.2
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
Selandian59.2
Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
Puercan63.8
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 JurassicTithonianOtekePuaroan145
Kimmeridgian149.2
KawhiaOhauan150
Heterian154.5
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Temaikan164.3
Bathonian165.3
BajocianEpizigzagiceras168.2
Rotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/Widebayense168.4
AalenianHowelli/Scissum/Westermanni170.9
Early JurassicToarcianYakounensis/Hillebrandti/Crassicosta174.7
HerangiUruroan176
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
Kanense181.3 *
Carlottense182.3 *
Kunae183.5 *
Pliensbachian184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
Aratauran188.9
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
Sinemurian192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianBalfourOtapirian201.4
NorianWarepan208.5
Otamitan217
Oretian221
Carnian227
GoreKaihikuan227.5
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Etalian238
Anisian242
Malakovian246
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Nelsonian249
Induan251.2
KathwaiDUrvilleMakarewan251.5 *
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
252.4 *
Chhidru252.9 *
Waiitian253.2
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
Puruhauan254.2
Kalabagh255 *
Wargal256 *
GuadalupianCapitanianAparimaFlettian259.51
Wordian264.28
265.3 *
Barettian266
Amb266.1 *
Roadian266.9
270.7 *
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Mangapirian276
Artinskian283.5
Telfordian285
288.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
Kuzel297.7
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
StephanianStephanian C300.3 *
Stephanian B300.9 *
Stephanian A301.4 *
Kasimovian303.7
Cantabrian305 *
Moscovian307
WestphalianWestphalian D307.4 *
Westphalian C309.8
Westphalian B314.6
Bashkirian315.2
Westphalian A317 *
NamurianYeadonian318.8 *
Marsdenian320.2 *
Kinderscoutian321.5 *
Alportian322 *
Chokierian323.1 *
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Arnsbergian324 *
Pendleian327.4 *
ViseanWarnantianBrigantian †330.9
LivianAsbian †336.3 *
MoliniacianHolkerian †/Arundian/Chadian340.2 *
TournaisianIvorian346.7
Hastarian353.7 *
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 OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Tremadocian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
509