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
  • 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
  • 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, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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 126130 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesSilurian of EnglandCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCarboniferous of North AmericaObsolete Carboniferous Ages of ChinaOrdovician of ChinaCarbo-Permian of the Russian PlatformCambrian of AustraliaNorth American Land Mammal Ages
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzian2.58
Zanclean3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Rupelian27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
Bartonian37.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
Ypresian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetian56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
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
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
PermianLopingianChanghsingianMelekhovian251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Noginskian264.9 *
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Pavlovoposadian276.8 *
Artinskian283.5
Rusavkinian287.6 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianBursumian †293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianVirgilianMapingian †298.9
KasimovianMissourianDorogomilovian303.7
Khamovnikian304.8
Krevyakinian305.8 *
Desmoinesian305.9 *
MoscovianMyachkovian307
Podolskian308.9 *
Kashirian311.4 *
Atokan312.7 *
Vereian313.8
Melekessian314.8
Bashkirian315.2
Cheremshanian316.9 *
Morrowan318.4 *
Prikamian318.6 *
Severokeltmian319.9 *
Krasnopolyanian321.2 *
Voznesenian321.9 *
MississippianSerpukhovianChesterianZapaltjubian323.2
Protvian324.4 *
Steshevian326.8 *
Tarusian329 *
ViseanVenevian330.9
Mikhailovian331.9 *
Aleksinian333.7 *
MeramecianTulian335.8 *
Bobrikian339.9 *
Osagean343.1 *
Radaevkian343.4 *
TournaisianKosvian346.7
Kizelian350.7 *
KinderhookianCherepetian351.9 *
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 OrdovicianHirnantianHirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianGuniu †/Hulo458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianDapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianXinchangian477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Datsonian485.4
Payntonian486.8 *
JiangshanianIverian489.5
PaibianIdamean494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMindyallan497
Boomerangian499
DrumianUndillan500.5
Floran503
WuliuanTempletonian504.5
Ordian507.8 *
Series 2Stage 4509
510.8 *