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. Palfy, P. L. Smith, and J. K. Mortensen. 2000. A U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar time scale for the Jurassic. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 37(6):923-944 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. F. Steininger, W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, R. L. Bernor, S. Sen and J. Agusti. 1996. Circum-Mediterranean Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) marine-continental chronologic correlations of European mammal units. The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas (eds. R. L. Bernor, V. Fahlbusch, and H.-W. Mittmann) 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

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 126133 collections

Show less time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaObsolete Names for ICS UnitsCambrian of BritainEuropean Faunal ZonesCenozoic SubepochsCambrian of KazakhstanCambrian of West Avalonia
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayan0
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianLate Pleistocene0.0117
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †MN 16Late Pliocene2.58
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 4Early Miocene15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate Oligocene23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianLate Eocene33.9
37
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianLate Paleocene56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
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
BajocianEpizigzagiceras168.2
Rotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/Widebayense168.4
AalenianHowelli/Scissum/Westermanni170.9
Early JurassicToarcianYakounensis/Hillebrandti/Crassicosta174.7
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
Kanense181.3 *
Carlottense182.3 *
Kunae183.5 *
Pliensbachian184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
Sinemurian192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
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 OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
TremadocianUngurian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10MerionethDolgellian/TrempealeauanBatyrbaian485.4
Festiniogian489.2 *
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Maentwrogian493.1 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †St DavidsAyusokkanian497
Arcadian498.4
499.5
DrumianZhanaarykian500.5
Tuesaian503
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
505.3
Series 2Stage 4CaerfaiBranchian509
Toyonian510 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3514
Atdabanian515.6 *
Placentian517.1
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
525.5
Fortunian529
538.8