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
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • D. H. Erwin and S. A. Bowring. 2004. Cambrian time scale. 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 126864 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleObsolete Names for ICS UnitsMammal Paleogene ZonesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesPermian of the PamirsTen Million Year BinsCambrian of North AmericaCambrian of SiberiaCretaceous Subepochs
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
SerravallianCenozoic 511.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 25Cenozoic 423.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianCenozoic 333.9
37
BartonianMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 11Cenozoic 241.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 5Cenozoic 156
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
MesozoicCretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 8Senonian66
CampanianCretaceous 772.1
SantonianCretaceous 683.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4Gallic100.5
AptianCretaceous 3113
BarremianCretaceous 2121.4
HauterivianNeocomian125.77
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
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingianDorashamianPermian 4251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †Dzhulfian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianMidian259.51
Wordian264.28
Murgabian266.2 *
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianKubergandianPermian 2273.01
Bolorian279.8
Artinskian283.5
Yakhtashian286
SakmarianSakmarian290.1
AsselianAsselianPermian 1293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
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 OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5443.8
Katian445.2
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3458.4
DapingianOrdovician 2467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
TremadocianOrdovician 1477.7
Mansian †483.55 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5Franconian †/Dresbachian/MillardanBatyrbaianTavgian †Ketyan †/Yurakian485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
Ensyan †/Maduan/Nganasanian494.7 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †Cambrian 4MarjumianAlbertian †Ayusokkanian497
Mayan/Menevian499.5
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †Cambrian 3TopazanAmgan/Solvan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
ToyonianLenian †510 *
Dyeran511 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
Montezuman514.8 *
Atdabanian515.6 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
Nemakit-Daldynian525.5
FortunianCambrian 1Manykaian †529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaran538.8
Cryogenian635
Tonian720
MesoproterozoicStenian1000
Ectasian1200
Calymmian1400
PaleoproterozoicStatherian1600
Orosirian1800
Rhyacian2050
Siderian2300
ArcheanNeoarchean2500
Mesoarchean2800
Paleoarchean3200
Eoarchean3600
Hadean4000
4600