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. 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. 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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 126884 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleSouth American Land Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeObsolete Carboniferous Ages of ChinaNorth American Land Mammal AgesObsolete Names for ICS UnitsDevonian of Eastern North AmericaCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCambrian of North America
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLujanianTarantian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
Irvingtonian0.21
Ensenadan0.3 *
Calabrian0.774
Blancan1.4
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianVorohueanTertiary †2.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
Zanclean3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
Hemphillian4.7
Huayquerian4.9 *
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Chasicoan7.9 *
Clarendonian9.4
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
Serravallian11.63
Barstovian12.5
Colloncuran13.7 *
Langhian13.82
Friasian15.4 *
Burdigalian15.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
Hemingfordian16.3
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 JurassicTithonian145
Kimmeridgian149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Bathonian165.3
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
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
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianMapingian †298.9
Kasimovian303.7
305.9
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianConewangan/Conneautan/Canadaway358.9
FrasnianWest Fallsian/Sonyean372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGeneseean/Taghanican/TioughnioganCazenovian382.7
EifelianSouthwoodian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianSawkillian/Deer ParkianHelderbergian393.3
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 10Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †MarjumianAlbertian †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †Topazan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8