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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • 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 126848 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleObsolete Names for ICS UnitsObsolete Precambrian AgesSilurian of EnglandNorth American Land Mammal AgesCarbo-Permian of the Russian PlatformNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesMammal Paleogene Zones
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
IrvingtonianCudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
BlancanSenecan/Rexroadian1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
HemphillianLate Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
ClarendonianLate Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
Serravallian11.63
Barstovianlate Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
HemingfordianLate Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
Arikareeanlate Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
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
EocenePriabonianChadronianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
Duchesnean37
BartonianMP 1637.71
UintanLate Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
BridgerianTwinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
WasatchianLostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
ClarkforkianCf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
TiffanianTi6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
TorrejonianTo3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
PuercanPu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
MesozoicCretaceousLate 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
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingianMelekhovian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Noginskian264.9 *
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Pavlovoposadian276.8 *
Artinskian283.5
Rusavkinian287.6 *
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
KasimovianDorogomilovian303.7
Khamovnikian304.8
Krevyakinian305.8 *
MoscovianMyachkovian307
Podolskian308.9 *
Kashirian311.4 *
Vereian313.8
Melekessian314.8
Bashkirian315.2
Cheremshanian316.9 *
Prikamian318.6 *
Severokeltmian319.9 *
Krasnopolyanian321.2 *
Voznesenian321.9 *
MississippianSerpukhovianZapaltjubian323.2
Protvian324.4 *
Steshevian326.8 *
Tarusian329 *
ViseanVenevian330.9
Mikhailovian331.9 *
Aleksinian333.7 *
Tulian335.8 *
Bobrikian339.9 *
Radaevkian343.4 *
TournaisianKosvian346.7
Kizelian350.7 *
Cherepetian351.9 *
Karakubian354.4 *
Upinian356.3 *
Malevkian357.6 *
Gumerovian358 *
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetian382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliRed Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
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
Series 2Stage 4509
Stage 3514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaranVendian †Poundian †538.8
Wonokan †571.7 *
Cryogenian635
Tonian720
MesoproterozoicStenian1000
Ectasian1200
Calymmian1400
PaleoproterozoicStatherian1600
Orosirian1800
Rhyacian2050
Siderian2300
ArcheanNeoarchean2500
Mesoarchean2800
Paleoarchean3200
Eoarchean3600
Hadean4000
4600