ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart 2016/12

Abstract

Units of all ranks are in the process of being defined by Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Points (GSSP) for their lowerboundaries, including those of the Archean and Proterozoic, long defined by Global Standard Stratigraphic Ages (GSSA). Charts and detailed information on ratified GSSPs are available at the website http://www.stratigraphy.org. Numerical ages are subject to revision and do not define units in the Phanerozoic and the Ediacaran; only GSSPs do. For boundaries in the Phanerozoic without ratified GSSPs or without constrained numerical ages, an approximate numerical age (~) is provided. Numerical ages for all systems except Lower Pleistocene, Cretaceous, Triassic, Permian and Precambrian are taken from ‘A Geologic Time Scale 2012’ by Gradstein et al. (2012); those for the Lower Pleistocene, Cretaceous, Triassic, Permian and Precambrian were provided by the relevant ICS subcommissions. Coloring follows the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (http://www.ccgm.org). To cite: Cohen, K.M., Finney, S.C., Gibbard, P.L. & Fan, J.-X. (2013; updated)The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart. Episodes 36: 199-204.