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
  • J. Meng and M. C. McKenna. 1998. Faunal turnovers of Paleogene mammals from the Mongolian Plateau. Nature 394:364-367 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, F. P. Agterberg, J. G. Ogg, J. Hardenbol, P. Van Veen, J. Thierry, and Z. Huang. 1995. A Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time scale. SEPM Special Publication 54 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. 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 TimescalePaleogene Mammal Ages of AsiaNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesMesozoic SubagesEuropean Faunal ZonesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest Europe
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayan0
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 162.58
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 415.98
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
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianTabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianHouldjinian/Ergilian/UlangochuianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early Chadronian33.9
37
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianGashatan56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLate Maastrichtian/Early Maastrichtian66
CampanianLate Campanian/Middle Campanian/Early Campanian72.1
SantonianLate Santonian/Middle Santonian/Early Santonian83.6
ConiacianLate Coniacian/Middle Coniacian/Early Coniacian86.3
TuronianLate Turonian/Middle Turonian/Early Turonian89.8
CenomanianLate Cenomanian/Middle Cenomanian/Early Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbianLate Albian100.5
Middle Albian106.2 *
Early Albian109.9 *
AptianLate Aptian113
Early Aptian119.5 *
BarremianLate Barremian/Early Barremian121.4
HauterivianLate Hauterivian/Early Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianLate Valanginian/Early Valanginian132.6
BerriasianLate Berriasian139.8
Middle Berriasian140.6 *
Early Berriasian142.7 *
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianLate TithonianMiddle Tithonian145
Early Tithonian146.3 *
KimmeridgianLate Kimmeridgian149.2
Early Kimmeridgian152.2 *
OxfordianLate OxfordianMiddle Oxfordian/Early Oxfordian154.8
157.9 *
Middle JurassicCallovianLate Callovian/Middle Callovian/Early Callovian161.5
BathonianLate Bathonian/Middle Bathonian/Early Bathonian165.3
BajocianLate BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
Early Bajocian168.6 *
AalenianLate Aalenian/Middle Aalenian/Early AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLate ToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Middle Toarcian180.4 *
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
Early Toarcian182.9 *
PliensbachianLate Pliensbachian/Early PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianLate Sinemurian/Early SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianLate Hettangian/Middle Hettangian/Early HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
NorianSevatian208.5
Alaunian213.2 *
Lacian216.7 *
CarnianTuvalian227
Julian233.4 *
Middle TriassicLadinianLongobardian237
Fassanian239.7 *
AnisianIllyrian242
Pelsonian243.8 *
Bithynian244.7 *
Aegean245.5 *
Early TriassicOlenekianSpathian247.2
Smithian248.9 *
InduanDienerian251.2
Griesbachian251.4 *
251.902