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
  • 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. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • J. Meng and M. C. McKenna. 1998. Faunal turnovers of Paleogene mammals from the Mongolian Plateau. Nature 394:364-367 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 126610 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaCarboniferous of North AmericaNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesDevonian of CzechoslovakiaPaleogene Mammal Ages of AsiaCarboniferous of ChinaObsolete 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
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianTabenbulakianHsandagolian23.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
RupelianKekeamuan27.82
29.5
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianHouldjinian/Ergilian/Ulangochuian33.9
37
BartonianSharamurunian/Irdinmanhan/Arshantan37.71
Late Uintan/Early Uintan39.7
Lutetian41.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/Gardnerbuttian46.2
YpresianBumbanian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/Sandcouleean50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf154.9
PaleoceneThanetianGashatan56
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/DiscitesEpizigzagiceras168.2
HumphresianumRotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/Widebayense168.4
AalenianConcavum/Murchisonae/OpalinumHowelli/Scissum/Westermanni170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsenseYakounensis/Hillebrandti/Crassicosta174.7
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
180.1
Kanense181.3 *
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
Carlottense182.3 *
Kunae183.5 *
PliensbachianSpinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
SinemurianRaricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetian201.4
Norian208.5
Carnian227
Middle TriassicLadinian237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekian247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingian251.902
WuchiapingianLongtanian †254.14
GuadalupianCapitanian259.51
Wordian264.28
Roadian266.9
CisuralianKungurian273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianBursumian †293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianVirgilian298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
KasimovianMissourian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
Desmoinesian305.9 *
Moscovian307
Atokan312.7 *
Bashkirian315.2
Morrowan318.4 *
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianChesterianDewunian323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
Visean330.9
Jiusian335 *
Meramecian335.8 *
Osagean343.1 *
TournaisianTangbagouan346.7
Kinderhookian351.9 *
DevonianLate DevonianFamennian358.9
Frasnian372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianSrbsko382.7
EifelianChotec387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDaleje/Zlichovian393.3
PragianPragian407.6
LochkovianLochkovian410.8
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