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
  • 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
  • D. H. Erwin and S. A. Bowring. 2004. Cambrian time scale. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • M. Harzhauser and W. E. Piller. 2004. Integrated stratigraphy of the Sarmatian (Upper Middle Miocene) in the western Central Paratethys. Stratigraphy 1(1):65-86 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
  • 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
  • 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 126197 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCambrian of SiberiaCentral Paratethys StagesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCambrian of North AmericaDevonian of CzechoslovakiaAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeEuropean Faunal ZonesCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCarboniferous of North AmericaSilurian of North AmericaObsolete Names for ICS UnitsPermian of North AmericaCarboniferous Subepochs
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanianTarantian0.0117
ChibanianIonian0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 16Tertiary †2.58
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianPannonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianSarmatian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
BadenianMN 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
PaleogeneOligoceneChattian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Rupelian27.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early Chadronian33.9
37
Bartonian37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
Ypresian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetian56
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate 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
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
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianCapitanian259.51
WordianWordian264.28
RoadianRoadian266.9
CisuralianKungurianLeonardianCathedralian273.01
Hessian281.9 *
Artinskian283.5
WolfcampianLenoxian286.1 *
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianBursumian †Nealian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianVirgilianLate Pennsylvanian298.9
KasimovianMissourian303.7
Desmoinesian305.9 *
MoscovianMiddle Pennsylvanian307
Atokan312.7 *
BashkirianEarly Pennsylvanian315.2
Morrowan318.4 *
MississippianSerpukhovianChesterianLate Mississippian323.2
ViseanMiddle Mississippian330.9
Meramecian335.8 *
Osagean343.1 *
TournaisianEarly Mississippian346.7
Kinderhookian351.9 *
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianSrbsko382.7
EifelianChotec387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDaleje/Zlichovian393.3
PragianPragian407.6
LochkovianLochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliCayugan419.2
Niagaran422.5 *
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerianLockportian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianOntarian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Alexandrian438.7 *
MedinanClinton440.1 *
440.7 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantian443.8
Katian445.2
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilian458.4
Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloian470
Tremadocian477.7
Mansian †483.55 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10BatyrbaianTavgian †Ketyan †/YurakianFranconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Aksaian490.7 *
Sakian492.2 *
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
Ensyan †/Maduan/Nganasanian494.7 *
MiaolingianGuzhangianAyusokkanianMarjumianAlbertian †Series 3 †497
Mayan/Menevian499.5
Drumian500.5
WuliuanAmgan/SolvanTopazanStage 5 †504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Waucoban †509
ToyonianLenian †510 *
Dyeran511 *
Botomian512.5 *
Stage 3514
Montezuman514.8 *
Atdabanian515.6 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2Tommotian521
Nemakit-Daldynian525.5
FortunianManykaian †529
538.8