Geologic Time Scale: The Cenozoic Era

2007 U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Time Scale

Period	Subperiod	Epoch	Age	Dates (m.y.)
Quaternary		Holocene		0.0115-0
		Pleistocene	Late	0.126-0.0115
			Middle	0.781-0.126
			Early	1.806-0.781
Tertiary	Neogene	Pliocene	Gelasian	2.588-1.806
			Piacenzian	3.600-2.588
			Zanclean	5.332-3.600
		Miocene	Messinian	7.246-5.332
			Tortonian	11.608-7.246
			Serravallian	13.65-11.608
			Langhian	15.97-13.65
			Burdigalian	20.43-15.97
			Aquitanian	23.03-20.43
	Paleogene	Oligocene	Chattian	28.4-23.03
			Rupelian	33.9-28.4
		Eocene	Priabonian	37.2-33.9
			Bartonian	40.4-37.2
			Lutetian	48.6-40.4
			Ypresian	55.8-48.6
		Paleocene	Thanetian	58.7-55.8
			Selandian	61.7-58.7
			Danian	66.5-61.7

2004 International Geologic Time Scale

Period	Epoch	Age	Dates (m.y.)
Neogene	Holocene		0.0115-0
	Pleistocene	Late	0.126-0.0115
		Middle	0.781-0.126
		Early	1.806-0.781
	Pliocene	Gelasian	2.588-1.806
		Piacenzian	3.600-2.588
		Zanclean	5.332-3.600
	Miocene	Messinian	7.246-5.332
		Tortonian	11.608-7.246
		Serravallian	13.65-11.608
		Langhian	15.97-13.65
		Burdigalian	20.43-15.97
		Aquitanian	23.03-20.43
Paleogene	Oligocene	Chattian	28.4-23.03
		Rupelian	33.9-28.4
	Eocene	Priabonian	37.2-33.9
		Bartonian	40.4-37.2
		Lutetian	48.6-40.4
		Ypresian	55.8-48.6
	Paleocene	Thanetian	58.7-55.8
		Selandian	61.7-58.7
		Danian	66.5-61.7

(c) 2007 Andrew Alden, licensed to About.com, Inc. (fair use policy). Data from Geologic Time Scale of 2004.

Back to the top-level geologic time scale

These geologic time scales represent the working edge of historical geology, showing the latest names and dates of the smallest recognized divisions of geologic time. The Cenozoic Era is the third and latest part of the Phanerozoic Eon. For anyone but specialists, the rounded-off dates in the Phanerozoic table are sufficient. Each of these dates also has a specified uncertainty, which you can look up at the source.

The 2004 International Geologic Time Scale, for the first time, does not recognize the Quaternary and Tertiary periods, but these names have a long history and are widely understood. Geologists continue to wrangle over this development, and the U.S. Geological Survey has retained the traditional periods in its latest standard.

The Holocene Epoch officially begins 10,000 years ago as measured by radiocarbon; unfortunately the radiocarbon scale is now known to be 1500 years too young at that point in time. There is a proposal to add an Anthropocene Epoch on top of the Holocene, reflecting the human influence on the Earth. My idea is to use Anthropocene instead as the name for the age corresponding to the Holocene.

The dates and colors shown on this table were specified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy in 2004 with the exception of the colors and dates for the Quaternary and Tertiary, which are those specified by the U.S. Geological Survey.

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