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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 126006 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth 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
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanWanganuiHaweranSaintaugustinean0
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
Serravallian11.63
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
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianTabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Duntroonian25.2
Whaingaroan27.3
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianHouldjinian/Ergilian/UlangochuianChadronian33.9
ArnoldRunangan34.6
Kaiatan36.7
Duchesnean37
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
Bortonian39.1
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
DannevirkePorangan42.6
Heretaungan45.7
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
Mangaorapan48.9
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Waipawan52
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianTeurianGashatan56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianMataHaumurian66
Campanian72.1
SantonianPiripauan83.6
RaukumaraTeratan86.1
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Mangaotanean90.5
Arowhanan93.7
Cenomanian93.9
ClarenceNgaterian95.2
Motuan99.5
Early CretaceousAlbian100.5
Urutawan103.3
TaitaiKorangan108.4
Aptian113
117.5
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
PermianLopingianChanghsingianDorashamian251.902
WuchiapingianDzhulfian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianMidian259.51
Wordian264.28
Murgabian266.2 *
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianKubergandian273.01
Bolorian279.8
Artinskian283.5
Yakhtashian286
SakmarianSakmarian290.1
AsselianAsselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovian323.2
Visean330.9
Tournaisian346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetian382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsian393.3
Pragian407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoli419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianAshgillHirnantian443.8
KatianRawtheyan445.2
Cautleyan448.9 *
Pusgillian449.3 *
CaradocStreffordianOnnian †449.6 *
Cheneyan451.5 *
Burrellian452.7 *
Sandbian453
Actonian †453.2 *
Marshbrookian †Woolstonian †454.2 *
Longvillian †455.2 *
Aurelucian456.8 *
Soudleyan †/Harnagian/Costonian457.4 *
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianLlanvirnLlandeilian/Llandeilo/Late Llandeilo/Middle Llandeilo/Early Llandeilo/Late Llanvirn458.4
Abereiddian/Early Llanvirn461.3 *
Dapingian467.3
ArenigFennian468.4 *
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Whitlandian471.1 *
Moridunian474.3 *
TremadocianTremadocMigneintian477.7
Cressagian480.8 *
485 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMarjumianAlbertian †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanTopazan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
538.8