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
  • 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • Z.-X. Qiu and Z.-D. Qiu. 1995. Chronological sequence and subdivision of Chinese Neogene mammalian faunas. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 116(1-2):41-70 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

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 126691 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesNorth American Land Mammal AgesDevonian SubagesCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeNeogene Mammal Ages of ChinaPrecambrian of RussiaCambrian EpochsObsolete Names for ICS Units
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanSaintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantianNihewanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
ChibanianIonian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianYusheanTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
Baodean4.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
Tunggurian11.1
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
LanghianShanwangian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
Xiejiaan16.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Rupelian27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianChadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
Bartonian37.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
Ypresian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetian56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
MesozoicCretaceousLate 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
Bajocian168.2
Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
Pliensbachian184.2
Sinemurian192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
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 DevonianFamennianLate Famennian358.9
Middle Famennian365.3 *
Early Famennian368.5 *
FrasnianLate Frasnian372.2
Middle Frasnian375.4 *
Early Frasnian379.3 *
Middle DevonianGivetianLate Givetian382.7
Middle Givetian383.7 *
Early Givetian385.9 *
EifelianLate Eifelian387.7
Early Eifelian390.3 *
Early DevonianEmsianLate Emsian393.3
Early Emsian398.3 *
PragianPragian407.6
LochkovianLate Lochkovian410.8
Middle Lochkovian412.8 *
Early Lochkovian415.6 *
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 10Late Cambrian485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianMiddle CambrianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
Series 2Stage 4Early Cambrian509
Stage 3514
TerreneuvianStage 2521
Fortunian529
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaranVendian538.8
Cryogenian635
Tonian720
Karatau800
MesoproterozoicStenian1000
Yurmatian1100
Ectasian1200
Burzyan1375
1400