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. 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • J. Meng and M. C. McKenna. 1998. Faunal turnovers of Paleogene mammals from the Mongolian Plateau. Nature 394:364-367 view
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 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

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 126181 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleTen Million Year BinsDevonian of GermanyNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCretaceous-Cenozoic of New ZealandCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCambrian of North AmericaPermian of the PamirsPaleogene Mammal Ages of AsiaOrdovician of BritainNorth American Land Mammal Ages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 6WanganuiHaweranSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Castlecliffian0.34
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
Nukumaruan1.63
Gelasian1.8
Mangapanian2.4
NeogenePliocenePiacenzian2.58
Waipipian3
Zanclean3.6
Opoitian3.7
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinianTaranakiKapitean5.333
Tongaporutuan7.2
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
SouthlandWaiauan11.04
SerravallianCenozoic 511.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
Lillburnian13.05
Langhian13.82
Clifdenian15.1
PareoraAltonian15.9
Burdigalian15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
Otaian18.7
Aquitanian20.44
LandonWaitakian21.7
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4TabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Duntroonian25.2
Whaingaroan27.3
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Late Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianHouldjinian/Ergilian/UlangochuianChadronian33.9
ArnoldRunangan34.6
Kaiatan36.7
Duchesnean37
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
Bortonian39.1
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
DannevirkePorangan42.6
Heretaungan45.7
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
Mangaorapan48.9
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Waipawan52
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1TeurianGashatan56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 8MataHaumurian66
CampanianCretaceous 772.1
SantonianCretaceous 6Piripauan83.6
RaukumaraTeratan86.1
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Mangaotanean90.5
Arowhanan93.7
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
ClarenceNgaterian95.2
Motuan99.5
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4100.5
Urutawan103.3
TaitaiKorangan108.4
AptianCretaceous 3113
117.5
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 4Dorashamian251.902
WuchiapingianDzhulfian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianMidian259.51
Wordian264.28
Murgabian266.2 *
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2Kubergandian273.01
Bolorian279.8
Artinskian283.5
Yakhtashian286
SakmarianSakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianCarboniferous 3323.2
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
TournaisianCarboniferous 1346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianDevonian 5Wocklum/Dasberg/Hemberg/Nehden358.9
FrasnianDevonian 4Adorf372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianDevonian 3Givetian382.7
EifelianEifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDevonian 2Emsian393.3
PragianDevonian 1Siegen407.6
LochkovianGedinnine410.8
SilurianPridoliSilurian 2419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5AshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Burrellian452.7 *
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3LlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
DapingianOrdovician 2467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianOrdovician 1TremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4MarjumianAlbertian †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3Topazan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
FortunianCambrian 1529
538.8