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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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
  • 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
  • J. A. Lillegraven and M. C. McKenna. 1986. Fossil mammals from the "Mesaverde" Formation (Late Cretaceous, Judithian) of the Bighorn and Wind River basins, Wyoming, with definitions of Late Cretaceous North American Land-Mammal "Ages". American Museum Novitates 2840:1-68 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

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 Land Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeCambrian of ChinaNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCretaceous North American Land-Mammal AgesCambrian of North AmericaPermian of ChinaObsolete Names for ICS Units
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
IrvingtonianCudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
BlancanSenecan/Rexroadian1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
HemphillianLate Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
ClarendonianLate Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
Serravallian11.63
Barstovianlate Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
HemingfordianLate Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
Arikareeanlate Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Rupelian27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianChadronianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early Chadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
Bartonian37.71
UintanLate Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
BridgerianTwinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
Ypresian47.8
WasatchianLostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
ClarkforkianCf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetian56
TiffanianTi6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
TorrejonianTo3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
PuercanPu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLancian/Edmontonian66
CampanianJudithian/Aquilan72.1
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
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianMeishanian251.902
Baoqingian253.4 *
WuchiapingianLaoshanianLongtanian †254.14
Laibinian257.7 *
GuadalupianCapitanianLengwuan259.51
WordianKuhfengian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianLuodianian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Longlinian285.4 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianZisongian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
300.1
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
Tremadocian477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10NiucheheanTaoyuanian †Franconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
JiangshanianJiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
PaibianPaibian494
Waergangian †/Youshuanian494.9 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianGuzhangianWangcunian †MarjumianAlbertian †Series 3 †497
DrumianDrumian500.5
WuliuanWuliuan/TaijangianTopazanStage 5 †504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4DuyunianWaucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3Nangaoian514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Meishucunian521
Fortunian529
Jinnigian530.7
538.8