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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • F. J. Prevosti, C. O. Romano, A. M. Forasiepi, S. Hemming, R. Bonini, A. M. Candela, E. Cerdeño, M. C. Madozzo Jaén, P. E. Ortiz, F. Pujos, L. Rasia, G. I. Schmidt, M. Taglioretti, R. D. E. MacPhee, and U. F. J. Pardiñas. 2021. New radiometric 40Ar–39Ar dates and faunistic analyses refine evolutionary dynamics of Neogene vertebrate assemblages in southern South America. Scientific Reports 2021(11):9830 view
  • J. J. Flynn and C. C. Swisher, III. 1995. Cenozoic South American Land Mammal Ages: correlation to global geochronology. Geochronology Time Scales and Global Stratigraphic Correlation, SEPM Special Publication 54:317-333 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
  • 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
  • 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

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 126161 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleTen Million Year BinsCenozoic SubepochsSouth American Land Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaEuropean Faunal ZonesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest Europe
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLujanian0.0117
ChibanianMiddle Pleistocene0.129
Ensenadan0.3 *
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
SanandresianUquian †1.7 *
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneVorohueanMN 162.58
Chapadmalalan2.9 *
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Montehermosan3.7 *
MN 144.2
HuayquerianMN 134.9 *
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
Chasicoan7.9 *
MN 108.7
MN 99.7
Mayoan9.9 *
Laventan10.9 *
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianCenozoic 5Middle Miocene11.63
MN 612.8 *
Colloncuran13.7 *
LanghianMN 513.82
Friasian15.4 *
BurdigalianEarly MioceneMN 415.98
Santacrucian16.2 *
MN 316.9
Colhuehuapian17.4 *
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
Deseadan20.9 *
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4Late Oligocene23.03
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
Tinguirirican28.9 *
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Late Eocene33.9
Divisaderan35.9 *
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
Mustersan41.9 *
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
Casamayoran47.9 *
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1Late PaleoceneRiochican56
Itaboraian56.9 *
Peligran58.9 *
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Tiupampan62.4 *
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 866
CampanianCretaceous 772.1
SantonianCretaceous 683.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4100.5
AptianCretaceous 3113
BarremianCretaceous 2121.4
Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianCretaceous 1132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianJurassic 6145
KimmeridgianJurassic 5149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
BathonianJurassic 4165.3
BajocianEpizigzagicerasParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Rotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/WidebayenseHumphresianum168.4
AalenianJurassic 3Howelli/Scissum/WestermanniConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianYakounensis/Hillebrandti/CrassicostaLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
180.1
Kanense181.3 *
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
Carlottense182.3 *
Kunae183.5 *
PliensbachianJurassic 2Spinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
SinemurianJurassic 1Raricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
251.902