INTERNATIONAL STRATIGRAPHIC CHART

ICS International Commission on Stratigraphy

Eonothem

Eonothem

Eonothem

Eonothem
Erathem

Erathem

Erathem

Erathem
System

System

System

System
Period

Period

Period

Period
Series
Epoch

Series
Epoch

Series
Epoch
GSSP

GSSP

GSSP

GSSP
GSSA
Stage

Stage

Stage
Eon

Age

Age

Eon

Age

Age

Eon

Age

Age

Eon

Age
Era

Era

Era

Era
Ma

Ma

Ma

Ma
145.5 ±4.0 359.2 ±2.5 542
Holocene Tithonian Famennian Ediacaran
0.0117 150.8 ±4.0 Upper 374.5 ±2.6 Neo- ~635
Quaternary

Upper Upper Kimmeridgian Frasnian Cryogenian

0.126 ~ 155.6 385.3 ±2.6 proterozoic 850

Devonian
“Ionian” Oxfordian Givetian Tonian
Pleistocene 0.781 161.2 ±4.0 Middle 391.8 ±2.7 1000

Proterozoic
Calabrian Callovian Eifelian Stenian
1.806 164.7 ±4.0 397.5 ±2.7 1200
Meso-

Jurassic
Gelasian Bathonian Emsian Ectasian
2.588 Middle 167.7 ±3.5 407.0 ±2.8 proterozoic 1400
Piacenzian Bajocian Lower Pragian Calymmian
Pliocene 3.600 171.6 ±3.0 411.2 ±2.8 1600
Zanclean Aalenian Lochkovian Statherian

Meso zoic
5.332 175.6 ±2.0 1800

Precambrian
416.0 ±2.8
Messinian Toarcian Pridoli Paleo- Orosirian
Neogene

7.246 183.0 ±1.5 418.7 ±2.7 2050

Tortonian Pliensbachian Ludfordian proterozoic Rhyacian
Cenozoic

11.608 Lower 189.6 ±1.5 Ludlow 421.3 ±2.6 2300

Serravallian Sinemurian Gorstian Siderian
Miocene 13.82 196.5 ±1.0 2500

Silurian
422.9 ±2.5
Langhian Hettangian Homerian
15.97 199.6 ±0.6 Wenlock 426.2 ±2.4 Neoarchean
Burdigalian Rhaetian Sheinwoodian
20.43 203.6 ±1.5 428.2 ±2.3 2800
Aquitanian Upper Norian Telychian

Archean
23.03 216.5 ±2.0 436.0 ±1.9 Mesoarchean
Phanerozoic

Phanerozoic

Phanerozoic
Carnian
Triassic
Chattian Llandovery Aeronian

Paleo zoic
Oligocene 28.4 ±0.1 ~ 228.7 439.0 ±1.8 3200
Rupelian Ladinian Rhuddanian
33.9 ±0.1 Middle 237.0 ±2.0 443.7 ±1.5 Paleoarchean
Priabonian Anisian Hirnantian
~ 245.9
Paleogene

37.2 ±0.1 445.6 ±1.5 3600

Bartonian Olenekian Upper Katian
Eocene Lower ~ 249.5 Eoarchean

Ordovician
40.4 ±0.2 455.8 ±1.6
Lutetian Induan Sandbian
48.6 ±0.2 251.0 ±0.4 460.9 ±1.6 4000
Ypresian Changhsingian Darriwilian
55.8 ±0.2 Lopingian 253.8 ±0.7 Middle 468.1 ±1.6 Hadean (informal)
Thanetian Wuchiapingian Dapingian
58.7 ±0.2 260.4 ±0.7 471.8 ±1.6 ~4600
Paleocene Selandian Capitanian Floian
~ 61.1 265.8 ±0.7 Lower 478.6 ±1.7Subdivisions of the global geologic record are
Permian

Danian Guadalupian Wordian Tremadocian formally defined by their lower boundary. Each unit
65.5 ±0.3 268.0 ±0.7 488.3 ±1.7 of the Phanerozoic (~542 Ma to Present) and the
Maastrichtian Roadian Stage 10
70.6 ±0.6 270.6 ±0.7 ~ 492 * base of Ediacaran are defined by a basal Global
Campanian Kungurian Furongian Stage 9 Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP ),
Paleo zoic

83.5 ±0.7 275.6 ±0.7 ~ 496 * whereas Precambrian units are formally subdivided
Santonian Artinskian Paibian by absolute age (Global Standard Stratigraphic Age,
Upper 85.8 ±0.7 Cisuralian 284.4 ±0.7 ~ 499
Coniacian Sakmarian Guzhangian GSSA). Details of each GSSP are posted on the

Cambrian
ICS website (www.stratigraphy.org).
Mesozoic

~ 88.6 294.6 ±0.8 ~ 503

Cretaceous

Turonian Asselian Series 3 Drumian Numerical ages of the unit boundaries in the
93.6 ±0.8 299.0 ±0.8 ~ 506.5 Phanerozoic are subject to revision. Some stages
Cenomanian Gzhelian Stage 5 within the Cambrian will be formally named upon
99.6 ±0.9 Upper 303.4 ±0.9 ~ 510 *
sylvanian

international agreement on their GSSP limits. Most

Carboniferous

Albian Kasimovian Stage 4

Penn-

112.0 ±1.0 307.2 ±1.0 Series 2 ~ 515 * sub-Series boundaries (e.g., Middle and Upper
Aptian Middle Moscovian Stage 3 Aptian) are not formally defined.
125.0 ±1.0 311.7 ±1.1 ~ 521 * Colors are according to the Commission for the
Barremian Lower Bashkirian Stage 2 Geological Map of the World (www.cgmw.org).
Lower 130.0 ±1.5 318.1 ±1.3 Terreneuvian ~ 528 *
Hauterivian Upper Serpukhovian Fortunian 542.0 ±1.0 The listed numerical ages are from 'A Geologic
sippian

Time Scale 2004', by F.M. Gradstein, J.G. Ogg,

Missis-

~ 133.9 328.3 ±1.6

Valanginian Middle Visean This chart was drafted by Gabi Ogg. Intra Cambrian unit ages A.G. Smith, et al. (2004; Cambridge University Press)
140.2 ±3.0 345.3 ±2.1 with * are informal, and awaiting ratified definitions. and “The Concise Geologic Time Scale” by J.G. Ogg,
Berriasian 145.5 ±4.0 Lower Tournaisian 359.2 ±2.5
Copyright © 2009 International Commission on Stratigraphy G. Ogg and F.M. Gradstein (2008).
August 2009