INTERNATIONAL STRATIGRAPHIC CHART

ICS International Commission on Stratigraphy

Eonothem

Eonothem

Eonothem

Eonothem
Sub-Era
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
Quaternary *

0.0118 150.8 ±4.0 Upper 374.5 ±2.6 Neo- ~630

Upper Upper Kimmeridgian Frasnian Cryogenian
0.126 155.7 ±4.0 385.3 ±2.6 proterozoic 850

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

Proterozoic
Lower 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
Pliocene Piacenzian Bajocian Lower Pragian Calymmian
Neogene

3.600 171.6 ±3.0 411.2 ±2.8 1600

Precambrian
Zanclean Aalenian Lochkovian Statherian

Meso zoic
5.332 175.6 ±2.0 416.0 ±2.8 1800
Messinian Toarcian Pridoli Paleo- Orosirian
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
Tertiary*

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 ±0.1 228.0 ±2.0 439.0 ±1.8 3200
Rupelian Ladinian Rhuddanian
33.9 ±0.1 Middle 237.0 ±2.0 443.7 ±1.5 Paleoarchean
Priabonian Anisian Hirnantian
245.0 ±1.5
Paleogene

37.2 ±0.1 445.6 ±1.5 3600

Bartonian Olenekian Upper Katian
Eocene Lower 249.7 ±0.7 Eoarchean Lower limit is

Ordovician
40.4 ±0.2 455.8 ±1.6
Lutetian Induan Sandbian not defined
48.6 ±0.2 251.0 ±0.4 460.9 ±1.6
Ypresian Changhsingian Darriwilian
55.8 ±0.2 Lopingian 253.8 ±0.7 Middle 468.1 ±1.6
Thanetian Wuchiapingian Stage 3 Subdivisions of the global geologic record are
58.7 ±0.2 260.4 ±0.7 471.8 ±1.6 formally defined by their lower boundary. Each unit
Paleocene Selandian Capitanian Floian of the Phanerozoic (~542 Ma to Present) and the
61.7 ±0.2 265.8 ±0.7 Lower 478.6 ±1.7 base of Ediacaran are defined by a basal Global
Permian

Danian Guadalupian Wordian Tremadocian Standard Section and Point (GSSP ), whereas
65.5 ±0.3 268.0 ±0.7 488.3 ±1.7
Maastrichtian Roadian Stage 10 Precambrian units are formally subdivided by
70.6 ±0.6 270.6 ±0.7 ~ 492.0 * absolute age (Global Standard Stratigraphic Age,
Campanian Kungurian Furongian Stage 9 GSSA). Details of each GSSP are posted on the
Paleo zoic

83.5 ±0.7 275.6 ±0.7 ~ 496.0 * ICS website (www.stratigraphy.org).

Santonian Artinskian Paibian International chronostratigraphic units, rank,
Upper 85.8 ±0.7 Cisuralian 284.4 ±0.7 501.0 ±2.0
Coniacian Sakmarian Stage 7 names and formal status are approved by the

Cambrian
Mesozoic

89.3 ±1.0 294.6 ±0.8 ~ 503.0 * International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS)

Cretaceous

Turonian Asselian Series 3 Drumian and ratified by the International Union of Geological
93.5 ±0.8 299.0 ±0.8 ~ 506.5 * Sciences (IUGS).
Cenomanian Gzhelian Stage 5
99.6 ±0.9 Upper 303.9 ±0.9 ~ 510.0 * Numerical ages of the unit boundaries in the
sylvanian
Carboniferous

Albian Kasimovian Stage 4 Phanerozoic are subject to revision. Some stages

Penn-

112.0 ±1.0 306.5 ±1.0 Series 2 ~ 517.0 * within the Ordovician and Cambrian will be formally
Aptian Middle Moscovian Stage 3 named upon international agreement on their GSSP
125.0 ±1.0 311.7 ±1.1 ~ 521.0 *
Barremian Lower Bashkirian limits. Most sub-Series boundaries (e.g., Middle
Stage 2
Lower 130.0 ±1.5 318.1 ±1.3 Series 1 ~ 534.6 * and Upper Aptian) are not formally defined.
Hauterivian Upper Serpukhovian Stage 1 Colors are according to the Commission for the
542.0 ±1.0
sippian
Missis-

136.4 ±2.0 326.4 ±1.6 Geological Map of the World (www.cgmw.org).

Valanginian Middle Visean This chart was drafted by Gabi Ogg. Intra Cambrian unit ages The listed numerical ages are from 'A Geologic
140.2 ±3.0 345.3 ±2.1 with * are informal, and awaiting ratified defnitions.
Berriasian Lower Tournaisian 359.2 ±2.5 Time Scale 2004', by F.M. Gradstein, J.G. Ogg,
145.5 ±4.0 Copyright © 2006 International Commission on Stratigraphy A.G. Smith, et al. (2004; Cambridge University Press).
Quaternary*: Formal chronostratigraphic unit sensu joint ICS-INQUA taskforce (2005) and ICS.
Tertiary*: Informal chronostratigraphic unit sensu Aubry et al. (2005, Episodes 28/2).