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. 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
  • F. M. Gradstein, F. P. Agterberg, J. G. Ogg, J. Hardenbol, P. Van Veen, J. Thierry, and Z. Huang. 1995. A Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time scale. SEPM Special Publication 54 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 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
  • M. Freudenthal. 2006. Mammal Paleogene zones. personal communication view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 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 126163 collections

Show more time

Show linear time

International Chronostratigraphic TimescalePermian-Jurassic of New ZealandMesozoic SubagesMammal Paleogene ZonesDevonian of Eastern North AmericaCarboniferous of North AmericaSilurian of EnglandAmmonite Chrons of North AmericaCarboniferous of ChinaObsolete Names for ICS Units
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianTertiary †2.58
Zanclean3.6
MioceneMessinian5.333
Tortonian7.246
Serravallian11.63
Langhian13.82
Burdigalian15.98
Aquitanian20.44
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianMP 30/MP 29/MP 28/MP 27/MP 26MP 2523.03
RupelianMP 24/MP 23/MP 22/MP 2127.82
EocenePriabonianMP 20/MP 19/MP 18/MP 17B/MP 17A33.9
BartonianMP 1637.71
LutetianMP 15/MP 14/MP 13/MP 12/MP 1141.2
YpresianMP 10/MP 8 + 9/MP 747.8
PaleoceneThanetianMP 6MP 1 - 556
Selandian59.2
Danian61.6
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianLate Maastrichtian/Early Maastrichtian66
CampanianLate Campanian/Middle Campanian/Early Campanian72.1
SantonianLate Santonian/Middle Santonian/Early Santonian83.6
ConiacianLate Coniacian/Middle Coniacian/Early Coniacian86.3
TuronianLate Turonian/Middle Turonian/Early Turonian89.8
CenomanianLate Cenomanian/Middle Cenomanian/Early Cenomanian93.9
Early CretaceousAlbianLate Albian100.5
Middle Albian106.2 *
Early Albian109.9 *
AptianLate Aptian113
Early Aptian119.5 *
BarremianLate Barremian/Early Barremian121.4
HauterivianLate Hauterivian/Early Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianLate Valanginian/Early Valanginian132.6
BerriasianLate Berriasian139.8
Middle Berriasian140.6 *
Early Berriasian142.7 *
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianOtekePuaroanLate TithonianMiddle Tithonian145
Early Tithonian146.3 *
KimmeridgianLate Kimmeridgian149.2
KawhiaOhauan150
Early Kimmeridgian152.2 *
Heterian154.5
OxfordianLate OxfordianMiddle Oxfordian/Early Oxfordian154.8
157.9 *
Middle JurassicCallovianLate Callovian/Middle Callovian/Early Callovian161.5
Temaikan164.3
BathonianLate Bathonian/Middle Bathonian/Early Bathonian165.3
BajocianLate BajocianEpizigzagiceras168.2
Rotundum/Oblatum/Kirschneri/Crassicostatus/Widebayense168.4
Early Bajocian168.6 *
AalenianLate Aalenian/Middle Aalenian/Early AalenianHowelli/Scissum/Westermanni170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLate ToarcianYakounensis/Hillebrandti/Crassicosta174.7
HerangiUruroan176
Planulata179.3 *
Arnioceras arnouldi179.8 *
Middle Toarcian180.4 *
Kanense181.3 *
Carlottense182.3 *
Early Toarcian182.9 *
Kunae183.5 *
PliensbachianLate Pliensbachian/Early Pliensbachian184.2
Freboldi185.1 *
Whiteavesi/ImlayiTetraspidoceras186.2 *
Aratauran188.9
189.2 *
Plesechioceras harbledownense/Asteroceras varians/CoronicerasCanadensis190.3 *
SinemurianLate Sinemurian/Early Sinemurian192.9
PseudaetomocerasPsiloceras196.4 *
Franziceras/Euphyllites196.5 *
HettangianLate Hettangian/Middle Hettangian/Early Hettangian199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianBalfourOtapirian201.4
NorianWarepanSevatian208.5
Alaunian213.2 *
Lacian216.7 *
Otamitan217
Oretian221
CarnianTuvalian227
GoreKaihikuan227.5
Julian233.4 *
Middle TriassicLadinianLongobardian237
Etalian238
Fassanian239.7 *
AnisianIllyrian242
Pelsonian243.8 *
Bithynian244.7 *
Aegean245.5 *
Malakovian246
Early TriassicOlenekianSpathian247.2
Smithian248.9 *
Nelsonian249
InduanDienerian251.2
Griesbachian251.4 *
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
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 DevonianFamennianConewangan/Conneautan/Canadaway358.9
FrasnianWest Fallsian/Sonyean372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianGeneseean/Taghanican/TioughnioganCazenovian382.7
EifelianSouthwoodian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianSawkillian/Deer ParkianHelderbergian393.3
Pragian407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliRed Downtonian/Temeside Shales/Downton CastleWhitcliffe/Leintwardine419.2
Bringewood/Elton421.3
LudlowLudfordianCoalbrookdaleWenlock (England)/Tickwood423
Gorstian425.6
Buildwas426.4 *
WenlockHomerian427.4
WychWoolhope428.4 *
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychian433.4
436.3 *
Aeronian438.5
Cowleigh Park439.3 *
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