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. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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
  • 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 126165 collections

Show more time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleMammal Paleogene ZonesOrdovician of ChinaSilurian of North AmericaPermian of Western EuropeDevonian SubagesNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesCretaceous SubepochsCarboniferous SubepochsObsolete Names for ICS Units
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/Sappan0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/Rexroadian1.4
Gelasian1.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early Hemphillian4.7
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Late Clarendonian/Early Clarendonian9.4
Serravallian11.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early Barstovian12.5
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early Hemingfordian16.3
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonian18.5
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17ALate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early Chadronian33.9
37
BartonianMP 1637.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti156.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To160.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu163.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianSenonian66
Campanian72.1
Santonian83.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbianGallic100.5
Aptian113
Barremian121.4
HauterivianNeocomian125.77
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
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianZechsteinLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianRotliegendes259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
ArtinskianAutunian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianLate Pennsylvanian298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianMiddle Pennsylvanian307
BashkirianEarly Pennsylvanian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianLate Mississippian323.2
ViseanMiddle Mississippian330.9
TournaisianEarly Mississippian346.7
DevonianLate 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 *
SilurianPridoliCayugan419.2
Niagaran422.5 *
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerianLockportian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianOntarian433.4
Aeronian438.5
Alexandrian438.7 *
MedinanClinton440.1 *
440.7 *
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianHirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
Sandbian453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianDarriwilianGuniu †/Hulo458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianDapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianXinchangian477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10485.4
Jiangshanian489.5
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianSeries 3 †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanStage 5 †504.5
509