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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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. I. Raine, A. G. Beu, A. F. Boyes, H. J. Campbell, R. A. Cooper, J. S. Crampton, M. P. Crundwell, C. J. Hollis, and H. E. G. Morgans. 2015. Revised Calibration of the New Zealand Geological Timescale: NZGT2015/1. GNS Science Report 2012(39) view
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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 126710 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleCenozoic SubepochsCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCretaceous-Cenozoic of New ZealandMammal Paleogene ZonesPermian-Jurassic of New ZealandCarboniferous SubepochsObsolete Names for ICS Units
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanWanganuiHaweran0
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantianSheridanian0.0117
ChibanianMiddle PleistoceneIonian0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Castlecliffian0.34
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
Nukumaruan1.63
Gelasian1.8
Mangapanian2.4
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneTertiary †2.58
Waipipian3
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
Opoitian3.7
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinianLate MioceneTaranakiKapitean5.333
Tongaporutuan7.2
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
SouthlandWaiauan11.04
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Lillburnian13.05
Langhian13.82
Clifdenian15.1
PareoraAltonian15.9
BurdigalianEarly Miocene15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
Otaian18.7
Aquitanian20.44
LandonWaitakian21.7
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate OligoceneMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Duntroonian25.2
Whaingaroan27.3
RupelianEarly OligoceneMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate EoceneLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
ArnoldRunangan34.6
Kaiatan36.7
37
BartonianMiddle EoceneMP 1637.71
Bortonian39.1
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
DannevirkePorangan42.6
Heretaungan45.7
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianEarly EoceneMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Mangaorapan48.9
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Waipawan52
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianLate PaleoceneTeurianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianMataHaumurian66
Campanian72.1
SantonianPiripauan83.6
RaukumaraTeratan86.1
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Mangaotanean90.5
Arowhanan93.7
Cenomanian93.9
ClarenceNgaterian95.2
Motuan99.5
Early CretaceousAlbian100.5
Urutawan103.3
TaitaiKorangan108.4
Aptian113
117.5
Barremian121.4
Hauterivian125.77
Valanginian132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianOtekePuaroan145
Kimmeridgian149.2
KawhiaOhauan150
Heterian154.5
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
Temaikan164.3
Bathonian165.3
Bajocian168.2
Aalenian170.9
Early JurassicToarcian174.7
HerangiUruroan176
Pliensbachian184.2
Aratauran188.9
Sinemurian192.9
Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianBalfourOtapirian201.4
NorianWarepan208.5
Otamitan217
Oretian221
Carnian227
GoreKaihikuan227.5
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Etalian238
Anisian242
Malakovian246
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Nelsonian249
Induan251.2
DUrvilleMakarewan251.5
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
Waiitian253.2
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
Puruhauan254.2
GuadalupianCapitanianAparimaFlettian259.51
Wordian264.28
Barettian266
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Mangapirian276
Artinskian283.5
Telfordian285
288.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianLate Pennsylvanian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianMiddle Pennsylvanian307
BashkirianEarly Pennsylvanian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianLate Mississippian323.2
ViseanMiddle Mississippian330.9
TournaisianEarly Mississippian346.7
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 10485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
509