format version: 1.2
date: 04/01/2008
default chronostrat: UNESCO
Standard Chronostratigraphy : Period Epoch Stage GSSPs International Commission on Stratigraphy (2006). Click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/gssp.htm">GSSP</a> for official boundary (GSSP) definitions, status and nomenclature.
Period block 90 USGS-Named
TOP 0
Quaternary 2.588 The Quaternary, formerly an era or sub-era, was assigned in rank by IUGS/ICS/INQUA in 2007 to be a period/system. It spans the past 2.6 myr according to the International Quaternary Association (INQUA).
Neogene 23.03
Paleogene 65.5
Cretaceous 145.5 dashed
Jurassic 199.6 dashed
Triassic 251.0
Epoch block USGS-Named
TOP 0
Holocene 0.0117
Pleistocene 2.588 formerly Late Neogene, now extended downward by IUGS/ICS/INQUA in 2007 enable the Quaternary to be inserted an official Period.
Pliocene 5.333 was Middle Neogene, now Late Neogene
Miocene 23.03 Early Neogene
Oligocene 33.9 Late Paleogene
Eocene 55.8 Middle Paleogene
Stage block USGS-Named
TOP 0.0117 End of Younger Dryas from ice-core layers relative to AD2000. Submitted as GSSA by Holocene working group (currently in Quat Subcomm voting)
Lt. Pleist. 0.126 dashed Spans the last Interglacial and following glacial cycle.
M. Pleist. 0.781 dashed Ionian is the potential name for this Stage.
Calabrian 1.806 Calabrian GSSP is the former Plio-Pleistocene boundary (Vrica)
Gelasian 2.588 Gelasian stage is proposed to be transferred to Pleistocene series by IUGS/ICS/INQUA (submitted May 2007; but on-hold by IUGS until Jan 2009) to enable formalization of the Quaternary as an official system of the international scale.
Piacenzian 3.600
Zanclean 5.333
Messinian 7.248
Tortonian 11.608
Serravallian 13.82 Ratified (2007) -- Mi3b isotopic event (global cooling episode) in upper magnetic polarity chronozone C5ACn. Above (13.65 Ma) is the lowest occurrence of nannofossil Sphenolithus heteromorphus (which was working base of Serravallian in GTS2004).
GSSPs event 80 USGS-Named The base of each unit of the geologic time scale is defined at a specific location and point (Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point, GSSP), where it coincides with an array of paleontological, geochemical, paleomagnetic or other markers for high-resolution global correlation. The current status of currently ratified GSSPs and possible markers for the other geologic units are summarized at www.stratigraphy.org [Click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/gssp.htm">GSSP</a> ]
EVENT
GSSP 1.806 The base of the Calabrian Stage of Pleistocene Series [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/pliple.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined as the base of the marine claystones conformably overlying the sapropelic Marker Bed "e" in the Vrica Section, Italy.
GSSP 2.588 The base of the Gelasian Stage, base of the Quaternary System/Period and associated base of Pleistocene (as revised in 2007 by IUGS/ICS/INQUA) [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/gelasian.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined as the base of the marly layer overlying sapropel MPRS 250, located at 62m in Monte San Nicola section, Italy. The astronomical age of sapropel MPRS 250 (mid-point), corresponding to precessional cycle 250 from the present, is 2.588 Ma, which can be assumed as the age of the boundary.
GSSP 3.6 The base of the Piacenzian Stage [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/piacenzian.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined as the base of the beige marl bed of the small-scale carbonate cycle 77. It corresponds to precessional excursion 347 as numbered from the present, with an astrochronological age estimate of 3.600 Ma. The GSSP is located in the Punta Piccola section, Italy.
GSSP 5.333 The base of the Pliocene Series and the Zanclean Stage [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/miopli.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined as the base of the Trubi Formation. The age of the Zanclean and Pliocene GSSP at the base of the stage is 5.33 Ma in the orbitally calibrated time scale, and lies within the lowermost reversed episode of the Gilbert Chron (C3n.4r), below the Thvera normal subchron.
GSSP 7.248 The base of the Messinian stage [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/messi.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined at the base of the reddish layer of sedimentary cycle no. 15 at Oued Akrech, Morocco, NW Africa. This point coincides closely with the first regular occurrence of the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia miotumida and the first occurrence of the calcareous nannofossil Amaurolithus delicatus, and falls within the interval of reversed polarity that corresponds to C3Br.1r. The base of the reddish layer and, thus, the Messinian GSSP has been assigned an astronomical age of 7.251Ma.
GSSP 11.608 The base of the Tortonian Stage [click <a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/tortonian.htm">GSSP</a> for graphics] is defined as the mid-point of the sapropel layer of basic cycle number 76 in the Monte dei Corvi Beach section, located on the Adriatic coast of central Italy, 5km SE of Ancona. This level has been assigned an astronomical age of 11.608 Ma. It coincides almost exactly with the Last Common Occurrences of the calcareous nannofossil Discoaster kugleri and the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides subquadratus, and is associated with the short normal-polarity subchron C5r.2n. This level coincides closely with oxygen isotope event Mi-5 and the associated glacio-eustatic sea-level low-stand of supercycle T3.1 and concurrent deep-sea hiatus NH4.
Geomagnetic Polarity chron GTS2004 composites [Cenozoic-Late Jurassic from chapter on geomagnetic polarity time scale; Late Triassic provided by Dennis Kent in June 2005 (after Kent and Olsen, 1999); and other periods after compilations in associated GTS2004 chapter].
C-Sequence
TOP 0.000
N C1 0.781 C1n (Brunhes)
R C1 0.988 C1r.1r (Matuyama)
N C1 1.072 C1r.1n (Jaramillo)
R C1 1.173 C1r.2r
N C1 1.185 C1r.2n (Cobb Mountain)
R C1 1.778 C1r.3r
N C2 1.945 C2n (Olduvai)
R C2 2.128 C2r.1r
N C2 2.148 C2r.1n (Reunion)
R C2 2.581 C2r.2r (Matuyama continued)
N C2A 3.032 C2An.1n (Gauss)
No data No Data 83.300 Used as a filler in this example
Cretaceous Normal Super-Chron ("Cretaceous Quiet Zone")
N C34 102.000 C34n
R M"-3"r set 102.200 M"-3"r set
N (C34n) 108.000 (C34n)
R M"-2"r set 108.200 M"-2"r set
N (C34n) 118.500 (C34n)
Type Mississippian Lithostrat facies 80 234/201/201 notitle Generalized from Heckel et al., 2005; with additional correlations by Paul Brenckle, written commun., October 2006)
Morrowan
TOP 312.18 Base of Atokan (same as middle of Russian Melekessian -- See note on Regional Stages)
Sandstone Caseyville 317.60 Base of Lane conodont zone 16. "According to the 'Handbook of Illinois Stratigraphy' published by the Illinois survey, the Caseyville Formation includes all of the Morrowan." (Paul Brenckle, written commun., Oct 2006)
Gap 318.10 Base of Lane conodont zone 15 = base-Pennsylvanian (in gap)
Chesterian
Gap 319.77 Middle of Lane conodont zone 12
Claystone Grove Church 320.10 Base of Lane conodont zone 12
Limestone Kinkaid 321.68 See note on Menard. Base of Foram Zone Mf17.
Sandstone Degonia 322.07 See note on Menard
Clayey limestone Clore 322.46 See note on Menard
Sandstone Palestine 322.86 See note on Menard
Ammonoid major marker event 236/204/215 PERMIAN = Kozur (2003), Davydov et al., 2004, and Henderson (2005); CARBONIFEROUS = GTS2004 diagram (Davydov et al., 2004 and unpublished zonation table), DEVONIAN = Becker and House (2000)
FAD
Pseudotirolites 251.70
Paratirolites 252.23
Iranites, Sinoceltites 253.52
Araxoceras 256.44
Anderssonoceras 257.10
Roadoceras, Doulingoceras 260.40
LAD
Cravenoceras 321.05
Goniatites 323.25
Climenida 359.20
EXTINCTION of all Devonian ammonoids; except Cymaclymenia evoluta, striata, and involvens 361.19
Spheno. brevispina 363.48
Manticoceras, Beloceras, Gephuroceratidae, Beloceratidae, Tornoceratidae 374.50
Koenenitidae 382.28
Sequences (SEPM Global or Tethyan) sequence off Hardenbol, J., Jacquin, T., Vail, P.R., et al. (SEPM charts. 1998)
MFS 0.00 Major A major transgression-MFS is indicated for Today, which presumes continued melting of glaciers will exceed the Eemian previous maximum highstand.
LGM SB 0.02 Major Last Glacial Maximum; Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2
MSF 0.13 Major Base of Eemian stage; MIS 5
MIS 6 SB 0.14 Major Peak of Illinoian/Saalian glacial; MIS 6
MFS 0.24 Medium Onset of main pulse of interglacial MIS 7 MSF after glacial MIS 8
MIS 8 SB 0.27 Medium Glacial MIS 8.
MFS 0.42 Medium Interglacial MIS 11 MSF after glacial MIS 10
MIS 12 SB 0.44 Major Glacial MIS 12 (approx.) is a major peak. Glacial MIS 10 and 14 are lesser shifts than MIS 12 or MIS 16, therefore are omitted here.
Phanerozoic T-R Cycles (SEPM; GTS04) trend CENOZOIC-MESOZOIC = Hardenbol, J., Jacquin, T., Vail, P.R., et al. (SEPM charts. 1998); PALEOZOIC = GTS2004 diagrams
MSF 0.00 Major A major transgression-MFS is indicated for Today, which presumes continued melting of glaciers will exceed the Eemian previous maximum highstand.
LGM SB 0.02 Major Last Glacial Maximum; Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2
MFS 2.92 Medium SEPM chart displays as 3/4ths from base of Pia 1 sequence. Marine isotope curve suggests this is a very broad highstand, and spans most of "Sequence Pia 1". This highstand is termination of Pliocene transgressive trend; which is a "Medium" MSF on long-term trend.
Me 2 SB 5.77 Medium Middle of Nanno Zone NN11d (CN9d) = midway between LAD of nanno Discoaster quinqueramus and LAD of Amaurolithus amplificus. This lowstand is minimum of Late Miocene regression; which is a "medium" SB on long-term scale.
MFS 10.51 Major Middle of Sequence Ser 4/Tor 1. This flooding event is a major short transgression in Late Miocene; and indicated as "major" on long-term trend.
Ser 4/Tor 1 SB 11.80 Major 0.1 myr above Base of Nanno Zone NN7 (CN5b; FAD D. kugleri -- which aslo coincided with Base of Foram Zone M11 =FAD G. nepenthes in Hardenbol chart; but this foram FAD is now placed 0.2 myr later). Maximum regression of Middle Miocene trend. Assigned as major SB for Long-Term trend.
High-Res Plio-Pleist point off Miller et al. (Science, 2005) based on conversion of oxygen-isotope data. They have similar detail extending back to 9 Ma, and a generalized curve back to 170 Ma, but the time scales in their table are Berggren et al (1995) and Gradstein et al (1994), which significantly diverge from GTS2004 below 5.32 myr, therefore this older curve is omitted until conversions are available.
nopoints line -125 50
0.000 -1.6
0.005 -3.3
0.010 -52.4
0.015 -120.4
0.020 -122.2
0.025 -99.1
0.030 -102.6
0.035 -91.0
0.040 -85.7
0.045 -80.4
0.050 -75.3
Range range off No ranges in default dataset, so here is a sample column.
donald 0
donald 1 rare
donald 2
donald 3 frequent
donald 4 flood
mickey 3
mickey 4 rare
mickey 5 missing
mickey 6 flood
mickey 6 sample
mickey 4.5 sample
mickey 3.3 sample
goofy 4
goofy 6 abundant
pluto 0 rare
pluto 3 frequent
pluto 5 flood
minnie 5
minnie 6 abundant
scroodge 2
scroodge 4 flood
scroodge 6 frequent