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. 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
  • 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
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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 126701 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCarboniferous of ChinaOrdovician of ChinaAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeMammal Paleogene ZonesObsolete Precambrian AgesTen Million Year BinsPermian of ChinaObsolete Names for ICS Units
PhanerozoicCenozoicQuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 60
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate Pleistocene0.0117
Chibanian0.129
Calabrian0.774
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
SerravallianCenozoic 511.63
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 25Cenozoic 423.03
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ACenozoic 333.9
BartonianMP 1637.71
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 11Cenozoic 241.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 5Cenozoic 156
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
MesozoicCretaceousLate 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
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/OpalinumJurassic 3170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/JamesoniJurassic 2184.2
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/BucklandiJurassic 1192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PaleozoicPermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4Meishanian251.902
Baoqingian253.4 *
WuchiapingianLaoshanianLongtanian †254.14
Laibinian257.7 *
GuadalupianCapitanianLengwuan259.51
WordianKuhfengian264.28
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2Luodianian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Longlinian285.4 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1Zisongian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
300.1
Kasimovian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianDewunianCarboniferous 3323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
Jiusian335 *
TournaisianTangbagouanCarboniferous 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 2419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianHirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †Ordovician 5443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianGuniu †/HuloOrdovician 3458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianDapingianOrdovician 2467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianXinchangianOrdovician 1477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
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
ProterozoicNeoproterozoicEdiacaranVendian †Poundian †538.8
Wonokan †571.7 *
635