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Geological time chart
The schedule below, shows us the main events, taking place in different geological periods. We find the oldest periods located at the bottom of the chart, because usually the oldest geological deposits are located at the bottom of a geological formation. Right now, we live in a period called the Holocene, it is a part of the Quaternary period. The main classification is an "Era", which is divided into "periods".
We prefer to use the time chart proposed and updated by the International Commission on Stratigraphy. This commission develops the geological time in an international context, the upper and lower limits of the different time periods are fixed. To determine these limits, the commission uses of as much absolute time dating as possible. Each geological unit has been attributed a so called “locus typicus” or type location. This is a representative section, where a specific geological unit is clearly visible and most complete.
| Period | Epoch | Stage | Million years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quaternary (0-2.590 Million Years) | Holocene | 0 - 0.012 | |
| Pleistocene | Upper Pleistocene | 0.012 - 0.126 | |
| Middle Pleistocene | 0.126 - 0.781 | ||
| Calabrian | 0.781 - 1.806 | ||
| Gelasian | 1.806 - 2.588 | ||
| Neogene (2.588-23.03 Million Years) | Pliocene | Piacenzian | 2.588 - 3.600 |
| Zanclean | 3.600 - 5.333 | ||
| Miocene | Messinian | 5.333 - 7.246 | |
| Tortonian | 7.246 - 11.62 | ||
| Serravallian | 11.62 - 13.82 | ||
| Langhian | 13.82 - 15.97 | ||
| Burdigalian | 15.97 - 20.44 | ||
| Aquitanian | 20.44 - 23.03 | ||
| Paleogene (23.03-66.00 Million Years) | Oligocene | Chattian | 23.03 - 28.10 |
| Rupelian | 28.10 - 33.90 | ||
| Eocene | Priabonian | 33.90 - 38.00 | |
| Bartonian | 38.00 - 41.30 | ||
| Lutetian | 41.30 - 47.80 | ||
| Ypresian | 47.80 - 56.00 | ||
| Paleocene | Thanetian | 56.00 - 59.20 | |
| Selandian | 59.20 - 61.60 | ||
| Danian | 61.60 - 66.00 | ||
| Cretaceous (66.00-145.0 Million Years) | Upper Cretaceous | Maastrichtian | 66.00 - 72.10 |
| Campanian | 72.10 - 83.60 | ||
| Santonian | 83.60 - 86.30 | ||
| Coniacian | 86.30 - 89.80 | ||
| Turonian | 89.80 - 93.90 | ||
| Cenomanian | 93.90 - 100.5 | ||
| Lower Cretaceous | Albian | 100.5 - 113.0 | |
| Aptian | 113.0 - 125.0 | ||
| Barremian | 125.0 - 129.4 | ||
| Hauterivian | 129.4 - 132.9 | ||
| Valanginian | 132.9 - 139.8 | ||
| Berriasian | 139.8 - 145.0 | ||
| Jurassic (145.0-201.3 Million Years) | Upper Jurassic | Tithonian | 145.0 - 152.1 |
| Kimmeridgian | 152.1 - 157.3 | ||
| Oxfordian | 157.3 - 163.5 | ||
| Middle Jurassic | Callovian | 163.5 - 166.1 | |
| Bathonian | 166.1 - 168.3 | ||
| Bajocian | 168.3 - 170.3 | ||
| Aalenian | 170.3 - 174.1 | ||
| Lower Jurassic | Toarcian | 174.1 - 182.7 | |
| Pliensbachian | 182.7 - 190.8 | ||
| Sinemurian | 190.8 - 199.3 | ||
| Hettangian | 199.3 - 201.3 | ||
| Triassic (201.3-252.2 Million Years) | Upper Triassic | Rhaetian | 201.3 - 208.5 |
| Norian | 208.5 - 228.0 | ||
| Carnian | 228.0 - 235.0 | ||
| Middle Triassic | Ladinian | 235.0 - 242.0 | |
| Anisian | 242.0 - 247.2 | ||
| Lower Triassic | Olenekian | 247.2 - 251.2 | |
| Induan | 251.2 - 252.2 | ||
| Permian (252.2-298.9 Million Years) | Lopingian | Changhsingian | 252.2 - 254.2 |
| Wuchiapingian | 254.2 - 259.9 | ||
| Guadelupian | Capitanian | 259.9 - 265.1 | |
| Wordian | 265.1 - 268.8 | ||
| Roadian | 268.8 - 272.3 | ||
| Cisuralian | Kungurian | 272.3 - 279.3 | |
| Artinskian | 279.3 - 290.1 | ||
| Sakmarian | 290.1 - 295.5 | ||
| Asselian | 295.5 - 298.9 | ||
| Carboniferous (298.9-358.9 Million Years) | Pennsylvanian | Gzhelian | 298.9 - 303.7 |
| Kasimovian | 303.7 - 307.0 | ||
| Moscovian | 307.0 - 315.2 | ||
| Bashkirian | 315.2 - 323.2 | ||
| Mississippian | Serpukhovian | 323.2 - 330.9 | |
| Visean | 330.9 - 346.7 | ||
| Tournaisian | 346.7 - 358.9 | ||
| Devonian (358.9-419.2 Million Years) | Upper Devonian | Famennian | 358.9 - 372.2 |
| Frasnian | 372.2 - 382.7 | ||
| Middle Devonian | Givetian | 382.7 - 387.7 | |
| Eifelian | 387.7 - 393.3 | ||
| Lower Devonian | Emsian | 393.3 - 407.6 | |
| Pragian | 407.6 - 410.8 | ||
| Lochkovian | 410.8 - 419.2 | ||
| Silurian (419.2-443.4 Million Years) | Pridoli | 419.2 - 423.0 | |
| Ludlow | Ludfordian | 423.0 - 425.6 | |
| Gorstian | 425.6 - 427.4 | ||
| Wenlock | Homerian | 427.4 - 430.5 | |
| Sheinwoodian | 430.5 - 433.4 | ||
| Llandovery | Telychian | 433.4 - 438.5 | |
| Aeronian | 438.5 - 440.8 | ||
| Rhuddanian | 440.8 - 443.4 | ||
| Ordovician (443.4-485.4 Million Years) | Upper Ordovician | Hirnantian | 443.4 - 445.2 |
| Katian | 445.2 - 453.0 | ||
| Sandbian | 453.0 - 458.4 | ||
| Middle Ordovician | Darriwilian | 458.4 - 467.3 | |
| Dapingian | 467.3 - 470.0 | ||
| Lower Ordovician | Floian | 470.0 - 477.7 | |
| Tremadocian | 477.7 - 485.4 | ||
| Cambrian (485.4-541.0 Million Years) | Furongian | Stage 10 | 485.4 - 489.5 |
| Jiangshanian | 489.5 - 494.0 | ||
| Paibian | 494.0 - 497.0 | ||
| Series 3 | Guzhangian | 497.0 - 500.5 | |
| Drumian | 500.5 - 504.5 | ||
| Stage 5 | 504.5 - 509.0 | ||
| Series 2 | Stage 4 | 509.0 - 514.0 | |
| Stage 3 | 514.0 - 521.0 | ||
| Terreneuvian | Stage 2 | 521.0 - 529.0 | |
| Fortunian | 529.0 - 541.0 | ||
| Precambrian (541.0-4,600 Million Years) | 541.0 - 4,600 |
