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
  • 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
  • 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, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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 TimescaleCenozoic SubepochsCenozoic Subepochs of Southern EuropeCretaceous SubepochsEuropean Faunal ZonesAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaCarboniferous of ChinaObsolete Names for ICS Units
QuaternaryPleistoceneLate PleistoceneLate PleistoceneTarantian0.0117
ChibanianMiddle PleistoceneIonian0.129
CalabrianEarly Pleistocene0.774
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianLate PlioceneMN 16Tertiary †2.58
MN 153.2
ZancleanEarly Pliocene3.6
MN 144.2
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinianLate Miocene5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianMiddle Miocene11.63
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianEarly MioceneMN 415.98
MN 316.9
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianLate Oligocene23.03
RupelianEarly Oligocene27.82
EocenePriabonianLate Eocene33.9
BartonianMiddle Eocene37.71
Lutetian41.2
YpresianEarly Eocene47.8
PaleoceneThanetianLate Paleocene56
SelandianMiddle Paleocene59.2
DanianEarly Paleocene61.6
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
BajocianEpizigzagiceras168.2
Rotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/Widebayense168.4
AalenianHowelli/Scissum/Westermanni170.9
Early JurassicToarcianYakounensis/Hillebrandti/Crassicosta174.7
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
Kanense181.3 *
Carlottense182.3 *
Kunae183.5 *
Pliensbachian184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
Sinemurian192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
Hettangian199.5
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
Asselian293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelian298.9
Xiaodushanian300 *
Kasimovian303.7
Dalaun305.8 *
Moscovian307
Bashkirian315.2
Huashibanian318.5 *
Lousuan321.2 *
MississippianSerpukhovianDewunian323.2
Shangsian330.8 *
Visean330.9
Jiusian335 *
TournaisianTangbagouan346.7
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