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
  • 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
  • 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. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • 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

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 126138 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleTen Million Year BinsEuropean Faunal ZonesCenozoic SubepochsSilurian of EnglandPermian of North AmericaCretaceous North American Land-Mammal AgesCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeObsolete Names for ICS Units
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantian0.0117
ChibanianMiddle PleistoceneIonian0.129
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Late PlioceneTertiary †2.58
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MN 144.2
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianCenozoic 5Middle Miocene11.63
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 4Early Miocene15.98
MN 316.9
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 4Late Oligocene23.03
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
EocenePriabonianCenozoic 3Late Eocene33.9
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 1Late Paleocene56
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
MesozoicCretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 8Lancian/Edmontonian66
CampanianCretaceous 7Judithian/Aquilan72.1
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
Bajocian168.2
AalenianJurassic 3170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
PliensbachianJurassic 2184.2
SinemurianJurassic 1192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianCapitanian259.51
WordianWordian264.28
RoadianPermian 3Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2LeonardianCathedralian273.01
Hessian281.9 *
Artinskian283.5
WolfcampianLenoxian286.1 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1Nealian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianCarboniferous 3323.2
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
TournaisianCarboniferous 1346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianDevonian 5358.9
FrasnianDevonian 4372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianDevonian 3382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDevonian 2393.3
PragianDevonian 1407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliSilurian 2Red Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5443.8
Katian445.2
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3458.4
DapingianOrdovician 2467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
TremadocianOrdovician 1477.7
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4Series 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3Stage 5 †504.5
Series 2Stage 4509
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
FortunianCambrian 1529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaran538.8
Cryogenian635
Tonian720
MesoproterozoicStenian1000
Ectasian1200
Calymmian1400
PaleoproterozoicStatherian1600
Orosirian1800
Rhyacian2050
Siderian2300
ArcheanNeoarchean2500
Mesoarchean2800
Paleoarchean3200
Eoarchean3600
Hadean4000
4600