Famennian
Givetian Eifelian
Lochkovian Pragian Frasnian
Emsian
Ludfordian Gorstian Homerian Sheinwoodian
Telychian Aeronian Rhuddanian
P h a n e r o z o i c P a l e o z o i c
Pridoli
Ludlow Wenlock
Llandovery Upper Middle
Lower
Devonian
411.2 ±2.8 416.0 ±2.8
422.9 ±2.5
428.2 ±2.3
Lopingian
Guadalupian
Cisuralian Upper
Upper Middle
Middle Lower
Lower
Upper
Upper Middle
Middle Lower
Lower
P h a n e r o z o i c P a l e o z o i c M e s o z o i c Carboniferous Permian Jurassic T riassic
150.8 ±4.0 155.7 ±4.0 161.2 ±4.0 164.7 ±4.0 167.7 ±3.5 171.6 ±3.0 175.6 ±2.0 183.0 ±1.5 189.6 ±1.5 196.5 ±1.0 199.6 ±0.6 203.6 ±1.5 216.5 ±2.0 228.0 ±2.0 237.0 ±2.0 245.0 ±1.5 249.7 ±0.7 251.0 ±0.4
318.1 ±1.3 260.4 ±0.7 253.8 ±0.7
265.8 ±0.7 268.0 ±0.7 270.6 ±0.7 275.6 ±0.7 284.4 ±0.7 294.6 ±0.8 299.0 ±0.8 303.9 ±0.9 306.5 ±1.0 311.7 ±1.1 Tithonian
Kimmeridgian Oxfordian
Callovian Bajocian Bathonian
Aalenian Toarcian Pliensbachian
Sinemurian Hettangian Rhaetian
Norian Carnian Ladinian Anisian Olenekian
Induan Changhsingian Wuchiapingian Capitanian
Wordian Roadian Kungurian
Artinskian Sakmarian
Asselian Gzhelian Kasimovian
Moscovian Bashkirian Serpukhovian
Visean Tournaisian Penn- sylvanian
Missis- sippian
359.2 ±2.5 345.3 ±2.1 326.4 ±1.6
374.5 ±2.6 385.3 ±2.6 391.8 ±2.7 397.5 ±2.7 407.0 ±2.8
443.7 ±1.5 436.0 ±1.9 439.0 ±1.8 418.7 ±2.7
Ediacaran Cryogenian
Tonian Stenian Ectasian Calymmian
Statherian Orosirian Rhyacian Siderian Neo-
proterozoic
Neoarchean Mesoarchean Paleoarchean Eoarchean
Meso- proterozoic
Paleo- proterozoic
Archean Proterozoic P r e c a m b r i a n
~630 850 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2050 2300 2500
2800
3200
3600 Upper
Middle Lower
Selandian Tortonian Serravallian
Langhian Burdigalian
Aquitanian
Ypresian Chattian Rupelian Priabonian
Danian Thanetian Bartonian Lutetian
Campanian Santonian
Turonian Coniacian
Albian Aptian
Berriasian Barremian Valanginian Hauterivian Maastrichtian
Cenomanian Piacenzian
Messinian Zanclean Gelasian
P h a n e r o z o i c C e n o z o i c M e s o z o i c
1.806 0.126 0.781
2.588
5.332 7.246 11.608 13.82 15.97 20.43
70.6 ±0.6 65.5 ±0.3
83.5 ±0.7 85.8 ±0.7 89.3 ±1.0 93.5 ±0.8 40.4 ±0.2 37.2 ±0.1 33.9 ±0.1 28.4 ±0.1 23.03
48.6 ±0.2 55.8 ±0.2 58.7 ±0.2 61.7 ±0.2
99.6 ±0.9 112.0 ±1.0 125.0 ±1.0 130.0 ±1.5 136.4 ±2.0 140.2 ±3.0 145.5 ±4.0
Cretaceous Paleogene Neogene
System Period
Eonothem Eon Erathem Era Stage Age Age Ma GSSPEpoch Series
Eonothem Eon Erathem Era System Stage Age Age Ma GSSPEpoch Series Period Eonothem Eon Erathem Era Age Ma GSSP GSSASystem Period
Eonothem Eon Era Sub-Era Stage Age Age Ma GSSPEpoch Series Period
3.600
Oligocene
Eocene
Paleocene Pliocene
Miocene Pleistocene
Upper
Lower Holocene
0.0118
INTERNATIONAL STRATIGRAPHIC CHART
International Commission on Stratigraphy
421.3 ±2.6
426.2 ±2.4
Tremadocian Darriwilian Hirnantian
Paibian Upper
Middle Lower
Series 3
Stage 3 Stage 2 Stage 1 Stage 5 Drumian Stage 7 Stage 9 Stage 10
Floian Stage 3 Sandbian Katian
Stage 4 Series 2
Series 1 Furongian
Cambrian Ordovician
~ 503.0 *
~ 506.5 *
~ 510.0 *
~ 517.0 *
~ 521.0 *
~ 534.6 * 460.9 ±1.6
471.8 ±1.6
488.3 ±1.7
~ 492.0 *
~ 496.0 * 501.0 ±2.0
542.0 ±1.0 455.8 ±1.6 445.6 ±1.5
468.1 ±1.6
478.6 ±1.7
Lower limit is not defined
Silurian
Quaternary*: Formal chronostratigraphic unit sensu joint ICS-INQUA taskforce (2005) and ICS.
Tertiary*: Informal chronostratigraphic unit sensu Aubry et al. (2005, Episodes 28/2).
Erathem System
542 359.2 ±2.5
145.5 ±4.0
Quaternary *
ICS
Copyright © 2006 International Commission on Stratigraphy
Subdivisions of the global geologic record are formally defined by their lower boundary. Each unit of the Phanerozoic (~542 Ma to Present) and the base of Ediacaran are defined by a basal Global Standard Section and Point (GSSP ), whereas Precambrian units are formally subdivided by absolute age (Global Standard Stratigraphic Age, GSSA). Details of each GSSP are posted on the ICS website (www.stratigraphy.org).
International chronostratigraphic units, rank, names and formal status are approved by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) and ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
Numerical ages of the unit boundaries in the Phanerozoic are subject to revision. Some stages within the Ordovician and Cambrian will be formally named upon international agreement on their GSSP limits. Most sub-Series boundaries (e.g., Middle and Upper Aptian) are not formally defined.
Colors are according to the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (www.cgmw.org).
The listed numerical ages are from 'A Geologic Time Scale 2004', by F.M. Gradstein, J.G. Ogg, A.G. Smith, et al. (2004; Cambridge University Press).
This chart was drafted by Gabi Ogg. Intra Cambrian unit ages with * are informal, and awaiting ratified defnitions.