| Eon | Era | Period | end - began (Mya) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phanerozoic Eon: PH | Cenozoic Era: CZ | Quaternary Q | 0 - 1.81 |
| Neogene N | 1.81 - 23.8 | ||
| Paleogene E | 23.8 - 65.5 | ||
| Mesozoic Era: MZ | Cretaceous K | 65.5 - 142.0 | |
| Jurassic J | 142.0 - 205.1 | ||
| Triassic T | 205.1 - 251.4 | ||
| Paleozoic Era: PZ | Permian P | 251.4 - 292 | |
| Carboniferous C | 292 - 354 | ||
| Devonian D | 354 - 417 | ||
| Silurian S | 417 - 440 | ||
| Ordovician O | 440 - 495 | ||
| Cambrian Є | 495 - 545 | ||
| Proterozoic PR | Neoproterozoic NP | 540 - 1000 | |
| Mesoproterozoic MP | 1000 - 1600 | ||
| Paleoproterozoic PP | 1600 - 2500 | ||
| Archean AR | Neoarchean NA | 2500 - 2800 | |
| Mesoarchean MA | 2800 - 3200 | ||
| Paleoarchean PA | 3200 - 3600 | ||
| Eoarchean EA | 3600 - | ||
| eon | era | period | when began myrs ago |
duration myrs | |
| Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | 1.64 | 1.64 | |
| Tertiary | 65 | 63.4 | |||
| Mesozoic | Cretaceous | 144.2 | 79.2 | ||
| Jurassic | 205.7 | 61.5 | |||
| Triassic | 248.2 | 42.5 | |||
| Palaeozoic | Permian | 290 | 45 | ||
| Carboniferous | 362.5 | 72.5 | |||
| Devonian | 408.5 | 46 | |||
| Silurian | 439 | 30.5 | |||
| Ordovician | 510 | 71 | |||
| Cambrian | 570 | 60 | |||
| Precambrian | Proterozoic | Sinian (late Proterozoic) |
Vendian | 610 | 40 |
| Sturtian | 800 | 190 | |||
| Riphean; (middle Proterozoic) |
1600 | 800 | |||
| Animikean | 2200 | 400 | |||
| Huronian | 2450 | 150 | |||
| Archaean | Randian | 2800 | 350 | ||
| Swazian | 3500 | 700 | |||
| Izuan | 3800 | 300 | |||
| Hadean | 4560 | 760 | |||
| Eon | Era | Period | Epoch | Age | end - began (Mya) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanerozoic Eon: PH | Cenozoic Era: CZ | Quaternary Q | Holocene Q2 | 0 - 0.01 | |
| Pleistocene Q1 | Calabrian | 0.01 - 1.81 | |||
| Neogene N | Pliocene N2 | Gelasian n9 | 1.81 - 2.58 | ||
| Piacenzian n8 | 2.58 - 3.60 | ||||
| Zanclian n7 | 3.60 - 5.32 | ||||
| Miocene N1 | Messinian n6 | 5.32 - 7.12 | |||
| Tortonian n5 | 7.12 - 11.2 | ||||
| Serravallian n4 | 11.2 - 14.8 | ||||
| Langhian n3 | 14.8 - 16.4 | ||||
| Burdigalian n2 | 16.4 - 20.5 | ||||
| Aquitanian n1 | 20.5 - 23.8 | ||||
| Paleogene E | Oligocene E3 | Chattian e9 | 23.8 - 28.5 | ||
| Rupelian e8 | 28.5 - 33.7 | ||||
| Eocene E2 | Priabonian e7 | 33.7 - 37.0 | |||
| Bartonian e6 | 37.0 - 41.3 | ||||
| Lutetian e5 | 41.3 - 49.0 | ||||
| Ypresian e4 | 49.0 - 55.0 | ||||
| Paleocene E1 | Thanetian e3 | 55.0 - 57.9 | |||
| Selandian e2 | 57.9 - 61.0 | ||||
| Danian e1 | 61.0 - 65.5 | ||||
| Mesozoic Era: MZ | Cretaceous K | Upper/Late K2 | Maastrichtian k6 | 65.5 - 71.3 | |
| Campanian k5 | 71.3 - 83.5 | ||||
| Santonian k4 | 83.5 - 85.8 | ||||
| Coniacian k3 | 85.8 - 89.0 | ||||
| Turonian k2 | 89.0 - 93.5 | ||||
| Cenomanian k1 | 93.5 - 98.9 | ||||
| Lower/Early K1 | Albian b6 | 98.9 - 112.2 | |||
| Aptian b5 | 112.2 - 121.0 | ||||
| Barremian b4 | 121.0 - 127.0 | ||||
| Hauterivian b3 | 127.0 - 132.0 | ||||
| Valanginian b2 | 132.0 - 136.5 | ||||
| Berriasian b1 | 136.5 - 142.0 | ||||
| Jurassic J | Upper/Late J3 | Tithonian j7 | 142.0 - 150.7 | ||
| Kimmeridgian j6 | 150.7 - 154.1 | ||||
| Oxfordian j5 | 154.1 - 159.4 | ||||
| Middle J2 | Callovian j4 | 159.4 - 164.4 | |||
| Bathonian j3 | 164.4 - 169.2 | ||||
| Bajocian j2 | 169.2 - 176.5 | ||||
| Aalenian j1 | 176.5 - 180.1 | ||||
| Lower/Early J1 | Toarcian l4 | 180.1 - 189.6 | |||
| Pliensbachian l3 | 189.6 - 195.3 | ||||
| Sinemurian l2 | 195.3 - 201.9 | ||||
| Hettangian l1 | 201.9 - 205.1 | ||||
| Triassic T | Upper/Late T3 | Rhaetian t7 | 205.1 - 209.6 | ||
| Norian t6 | 209.6 - 220.7 | ||||
| Carnian t5 | 220.7 - 227.4 | ||||
| Middle T2 | Ladinian t4 | 227.4 - 234.3 | |||
| Anisian t3 | 234.3 - 241.7 | ||||
| Lower/Early T1 | Olenekian t2 | 241.7 - 244.8 | |||
| Induan t1 | 244.8 - 250 | ||||
| Paleozoic Era: PZ | Permian P | Lopingian P3 | Changxingian p9 | 251.4 - 253.4 | |
| Wuchiapingian p8 | - | ||||
| Guadalupian P2 | Capitanian p7 | - 265 | |||
| Wordian p6 | 265 - | ||||
| Roadian p5 | - | ||||
| Cisuralian P1 | Kungurian p4 | - | |||
| Artinskian p3 | - 283 | ||||
| Sakmarian p2 | 283 - | ||||
| Asselian p1 | - 292 | ||||
| Carboniferous C | Pennsylvanian C2 | Gzhelian c7 | 292 - | ||
| Kasimovian c6 | - | ||||
| Moscovian c5 | - | ||||
| Bashkirian c4 | - 320 | ||||
| Mississippian C1 | Serpukhovian c3 | 320 - 327 | |||
| Viséan c2 | 327 - 342 | ||||
| Tournaisian c1 | 342 - 354 | ||||
| Devonian D | Upper/Late D3 | Famennian d7 | 354 - 364 | ||
| Frasnian d6 | 364 - 370 | ||||
| Middle D2 | Givetian d5 | 370 - 380 | |||
| Eifelian d4 | 380 - 391 | ||||
| Lower/Early D1 | Emsian d3 | 391 - 400 | |||
| Pragian d2 | 400 - 412 | ||||
| Lochkovian d1 | 412 - 417 | ||||
| Silurian S | Pridoli S4 | s8 | 417 - 419 | ||
| Ludlow S3 | Ludfordian s7 | 419 - | |||
| Gorstian s6 | - 423 | ||||
| Wenlock S2 | Homerian s5 | 423 - | |||
| Sheinwoodian s4 | - 428 | ||||
| Llandovery S1 | Telychian s3 | 428 - | |||
| Aeronian s2 | - | ||||
| Rhuddanian s1 | - 440 | ||||
| Ordovician O | Upper/Late O3 | "Sixth Stage" | 440 - | ||
| "Fifth Stage" | - | ||||
| Middle O2 | Darriwillien | - 467.5 | |||
| "Third Stage" | - | ||||
| Lower/Early O1 | "Second Stage" | - | |||
| Tremadoc | - 495 | ||||
| Cambrian Є | Upper/Late Є3 | 495 - 500 | |||
| Middle Є2 | 500 - 520 | ||||
| Lower/Early Є1 | 520 - 545 | ||||
| Proterozoic PR | Neoproterozoic NP | Neoproterozoic III NP3 | 540 - 650 | ||
| Cryogenian NP2 | 650 - 850 | ||||
| Tonian NP1 | 850 - 1000 | ||||
| Mesoproterozoic MP | Stenian MP3 | 1000 - 1200 | |||
| Ectasian MP2 | 1200 - 1400 | ||||
| Calymmian MP1 | 1400 - 1600 | ||||
| Paleoproterozoic PP | Statherian PP4 | 1600 - 1800 | |||
| Orosirian PP3 | 1800 - 2050 | ||||
| Rhyacian PP2 | 2050 - 2300 | ||||
| Siderian PP1 | 2300 - 2500 | ||||
| Archean AR | Neoarchean NA | 2500 - 2800 | |||
| Mesoarchean MA | 2800 - 3200 | ||||
| Paleoarchean PA | 3200 - 3600 | ||||
| Eoarchean EA | 3600 - | ||||
| era | Sub-Era |
|
|
|
Start (mya) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cenozoic | Quaternary or Pleistogene | Holocene | 0.01 | ||
| Pleistocene | 1.64 | ||||
| Tertiary | Neogene | Pliocene | Piacenzian | 3.4 | |
| Zanclian | 5.2 | ||||
| Miocene | Messinian | 6.7 | |||
| Tortonian | 10.4 | ||||
| Serravallian | 14.2 | ||||
| Langhian | 16.3 | ||||
| Burdigalian | 21.5 | ||||
| Aquitanian | 23.3 | ||||
| Paleogene | Oligocene | Chattian | 29.3 | ||
| Rupelian | 35.4 | ||||
| Eocene | Priabonian | 38.6 | |||
| Bartonian | 42.1 | ||||
| Lutetian | 50.0 | ||||
| Ypresian | 56.5 | ||||
| Paleocene | Thanetian | 60.5 | |||
| Danian | 65.0 | ||||
| Mesozoic | Cretaceous | Gulf | Senonian | Maastrichtian | 74.0 |
| Campanian | 83.0 | ||||
| Santonian | 86.6 | ||||
| Coniacian | 88.5 | ||||
| Gallic | Turonian | 90.4 | |||
| Cenomanian | 97.0 | ||||
| K1 | Albian | 112.0 | |||
| Aptian | 124.5 | ||||
| Barremian | 131.8 | ||||
| Neocomian | Hauterivian | 135.0 | |||
| Valanginian | 140.7 | ||||
| Berriasian | 145.6 | ||||
| Jurassic | Malm | Tithonian | 152.1 | ||
| Kimmeridgian | 154.7 | ||||
| Oxfordian | 157.1 | ||||
| Dogger | Callovian | 161.3 | |||
| Bathonian | 166.1 | ||||
| Bajocian | 173.5 | ||||
| Aalenian | 178.0 | ||||
| Lias | Toarcian | 187.0 | |||
| Pliensbachian | 194.5 | ||||
| Sinemurian | 203.5 | ||||
| Hettangian | 208.0 | ||||
| Triassic | Tr3 | Rhaetian | 209.5 | ||
| Norian | 223.4 | ||||
| Carnian | 235.0 | ||||
| Tr2 | Ladinian | 239.5 | |||
| Anisian | 241.1 | ||||
| Scythian | Spathian | 241.9 | |||
| Nammalian | 243.4 | ||||
| Griesbachian | 245.0 | ||||
| Palaeozoic | Permian | Zechstein | Changxingian |
247.5 | |
| Longtanian | 250.0 | ||||
| Capitanian | 252.5 | ||||
| Wordian | 255.0 | ||||
| Ufimian | 256.1 | ||||
| Rotliegendes | Kungurian | 259.7 | |||
| Artinskian | 268.8 | ||||
| Sakmarian | 281.5 | ||||
| Asselian | 290.0 | ||||
| Carboniferous | Pennsylvanian | Gzelian | Noginskian | 293.6 | |
| Klazminskian | 295.1 | ||||
| Kasimovian | Dorogomilovskian | 298.3 | |||
| Chamovnicheskian | 299.9 | ||||
| Krevyakinskian | 303.0 | ||||
| Moscovian | Myachkovskian | 305.0 | |||
| Podolskian | 307.1 | ||||
| Kashirskian | 309.2 | ||||
| Vereiskian | 311.3 | ||||
| Bashkirian | Melekesskian | 313.4 | |||
| Cheremshanskian | 318.3 | ||||
| Yeadonian | 320.6 | ||||
| Marsdenian | 321.5 | ||||
| Kinderscoutian | 322.8 | ||||
| Mississippian | Serpukhovian | Alportian | 325.6 | ||
| Chokierian | 328.3 | ||||
| Arnsbergian | 331.1 | ||||
| Pendleian | 332.9 | ||||
| Viséan | Brigantian | 336.0 | |||
| Asbian | 339.4 | ||||
| Holkerian | 342.8 | ||||
| Arundian | 345.0 | ||||
| Chadian | 349.5 | ||||
| Tournaisian | Ivorian | 353.8 | |||
| Hastarian | 362.5 | ||||
| Devonian | Upper | Famennian | 367.0 | ||
| Frasnian | 377.4 | ||||
| Middle | Givetian | 380.8 | |||
| Eifelian | 386.0 | ||||
| Lower | Emsian | 390.4 | |||
| Pragian | 396.3 | ||||
| Lochkovian | 408.5 | ||||
| Silurian | Pridoli | 410.7 | |||
| Ludlow | Ludfordian | 415.1 | |||
| Gorstian | 424.0 | ||||
| Wenlock | Gleedonian | 425.4 | |||
| Whitwellian | 426.1 | ||||
| Sheinwoodian | 430.4 | ||||
| Llandovery | Telychian | 432.6 | |||
| Aeronian | 436.9 | ||||
| Rhuddanian | 439.0 | ||||
| Ordovician | Bala | Hirnantian | Hirnantian | 439.5 | |
| Rawtheyan | 440.1 | ||||
| Cautleyan | 440.6 | ||||
| Pusgillian | 443.1 | ||||
| Caradoc | Onnian | 444.0 | |||
| Actonian | 444.5 | ||||
| Marshbrookian | 447.1 | ||||
| Longvillian | 449.7 | ||||
| Soudleyan | 457.5 | ||||
| Harnagian | 462.3 | ||||
| Costonian | 463.9 | ||||
| Dyfed | Llandeilo | Late | 465.4 | ||
| Mid | 467.0 | ||||
| Early | 468.6 | ||||
| Llanvirn | Late | 472.7 | |||
| Early | 476.1 | ||||
| Canadian | Arenig | 493.0 | |||
| Tremadoc | 510.0 | ||||
| Cambrian | Merioneth | Dolgellian | 514.1 | ||
| Maentwrogian | 517.2 | ||||
| St David's | Menevian | 530.2 | |||
| Solvan | 536.0 | ||||
| Caerfai | Lenian | 553.7 | |||
| Atdabanian | 560.0 | ||||
| Tommotian | 570.0 | ||||
| Proterozoic | Sinian | Vendian | Ediacara | Poundian | 580 |
| Wonokan | 590 | ||||
| Varanger | Mortensnes | 600 | |||
| Smalfjord | 610 | ||||
| Sturtian | 825 | ||||
| Riphean | Karatau | 1100 | |||
| Yurmatian | 1375 | ||||
| Burzyan | 1675 | ||||
| Animikean | 2225 | ||||
| Huronian | 2475 | ||||
| Archaean | Randian | 2825 | |||
| Swazian | 3525 | ||||
| Isuan | 3875 | ||||
| Priscoan | Hadean | Early Imbrian | 3900 | ||
| Nectarian | 3975 | ||||
| Basin Groups | 4150 | ||||
| Cryptic | 4560 | ||||
Sources:
Harland W.B., et
al., "A Geologic Time Scale 1989," Cambridge University Press: Cambridge UK,
Revised Edition, 1990.
Allaby A. &
Allaby M., eds, "A Dictionary of Earth Sciences," [1990], Oxford University
Press: Oxford UK, Second Edition, 1999.