Era |
Period[lower-alpha 1] |
Epoch |
Age[lower-alpha 2] |
Start, mya[lower-alpha 2] |
Event |
Notes |
Cenozoic[lower-alpha 3] |
Quaternary |
Holocene |
|
0.0117[lower-alpha 4] |
|
|
Pleistocene |
Upper |
0.126 |
|
|
Middle |
0.781 |
Australasian strewnfield Lake Bosumtwi[4] |
Brunhes–Matuyama reversal (778.7 ± 1.9)[5] Jaramillo reversal (1.07) |
Calabrian |
1.806* |
|
Olduvai reversal |
Gelasian |
2.588* |
Chilcotin Plateau Basalts[lower-alpha 5] |
Ice age Gauss-Matuyama reversal (2.588) |
Neogene |
Pliocene |
Piacenzian/Blancan |
3.600* |
|
Gilbert-Gauss geomagnetic reversal (3.32) |
Zanclean |
5.333* |
|
Zanclean flood (5.333) |
Miocene |
Messinian |
7.246* |
Chilcotin Plateau Basalts[lower-alpha 5] |
|
Tortonian |
11.62* |
|
|
Serravallian |
13.82* |
|
|
Langhian |
15.97 |
M. Miocene disruption (14.8–14.5)[lower-alpha 6] Columbia River Basalt Group[lower-alpha 7] Chilcotin Plateau Basalts[lower-alpha 5] |
Increased Antarctic deep waters Yellowstone hotspot Nördlinger Ries (14.5-14.3) |
Burdigalian |
20.44 |
|
|
Aquitanian |
23.03* |
Shield volcanoes of Ethiopia[lower-alpha 8] |
Antarctic ice sheet complete |
Paleogene |
Oligocene |
Chattian |
28.1 |
Ethiopian and Yemen traps (31–30)[lower-alpha 8] |
Fish Canyon Tuff (27.51)[lower-alpha 9] |
Rupelian |
33.9* |
Chesapeake Bay impact crater (35.5)[lower-alpha 10] |
Antarctic ice sheet expands Eocene–Oligocene extinction event |
Eocene |
Priabonian |
38.0 |
|
Bartonian |
41.3 |
|
|
Lutetian |
47.8* |
|
Antarctic ice sheet begins |
Ypresian |
56.0* |
N. Atlantic IP Phase II (56–54)[lower-alpha 11] (Brito-Arctic province) (~56)[lower-alpha 12] |
|
Paleocene |
Thanetian |
59.2* |
|
|
Selandian |
61.6* |
N. Atlantic IP (62–58)[lower-alpha 11] (Brito-Arctic province) (~61)[lower-alpha 12] (Thulean Plateau) |
Iceland hotspot[lower-alpha 13] |
Danian |
65.5 ± 0.3* |
Chicxulub Crater (65.5 ± 0.3)[lower-alpha 14] Deccan Traps (65.5 ± 0.3)[lower-alpha 15] |
Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event Shiva crater |
Mesozoic |
Cretaceous |
Upper |
Maastrichtian |
72.1 ± 0.2* |
|
|
Campanian |
83.6 ± 0.2 |
Caribbean LIP (76-74)[lower-alpha 16] Caribbean LIP (82-80)[lower-alpha 16] |
|
Santonian |
86.3 ± 0.5 |
|
|
Coniacian |
89.8 ± 0.3 |
High Arctic LIP (~90-80)[lower-alpha 17] Caribbean LIP (90-88)[lower-alpha 16] Ontong Java Plateau[lower-alpha 18] |
Galápagos hotspot |
Turonian |
93.5 ± 0.8* |
Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event (91.5 ± 8.6)[lower-alpha 19] Madagascar flood basalt (94.5±1.2) |
|
Cenomanian |
100.5* |
|
|
Lower |
Albian |
c. 113.0 |
Kerguelen Plateau (110)[lower-alpha 20] Rajmahal Traps (118)[lower-alpha 21] |
Kerguelen hotspot |
Aptian |
c. 125.0 |
Selli Event (~120)[lower-alpha 19] Ontong Java Plateau (125–120)[lower-alpha 18] |
Louisville hotspot |
Barremian |
c. 129.4 |
High Arctic LIP (130-120)[lower-alpha 17] |
|
Hauterivian |
c. 132.9 |
Abor volcanics (135) |
Kerguelen hotspot |
Valanginian |
c. 139.8 |
Paraná and Etendeka traps (138-128)[lower-alpha 22] |
Tristan hotspot |
Berriasian |
c. 145.0 |
|
Glaciations End-Jurassic extinction |
Jurassic |
Upper |
Tithonian |
152.1 ± 0.9 |
|
|
Kimmeridgian |
157.3 ± 1.0 |
|
|
Oxfordian |
163.5 ± 1.0 |
|
|
Middle |
Callovian |
166.1 ± 1.2 |
|
|
Bathonian |
168.3 ± 1.3* |
|
|
Bajocian |
170.3 ± 1.4* |
|
|
Aalenian |
174.1 ± 1.0* |
|
|
Lower |
Toarcian |
182.7 ± 0.7 |
early Toarcian anoxic event Karoo-Ferrar (~183)[lower-alpha 23] |
Pliensbachian-Toarcian extinction Formed as Gondwana broke up |
Pliensbachian |
190.8 ± 1.0* |
|
|
Sinemurian |
199.3 ± 0.3* |
C. Atlantic magmatic province (Recurrent)(197±1)[lower-alpha 24] |
|
Hettangian |
201.3 ± 0.2* |
Central Atlantic magmatic province (199.5±0.5)[lower-alpha 24] |
Formed as Pangea broke up Triassic–Jurassic extinction event |
Triassic |
Upper |
Rhaetian |
c. 208.5 |
|
|
Norian |
c. 228 |
Wrangellia flood basalts (231–225)[lower-alpha 25] |
|
Carnian |
c. 235* |
|
|
Middle |
Ladinian |
c. 242* |
|
|
Anisian |
247.2 |
|
|
Lower |
Olenekian |
251.2 |
|
|
Induan |
252.2 ± 0.5* |
Siberian Traps (252.6)[lower-alpha 26] |
Permian–Triassic extinction event |
Paleozoic |
Permian |
Lopingian |
Changhsingian |
254.2 ± 0.1* |
|
|
Wuchiapingian |
259.9 ± 0.4* |
Emeishan Traps (258)[lower-alpha 27] |
end-Capitanian/Guadalupian Extinction |
Guadalupian |
Capitanian |
265.1 ± 0.4* |
|
|
Wordian/Kazanian |
268.8 ± 0.5* |
|
|
Roadian/Ufimian |
272.3 ± 0.5* |
|
Olson's Extinction Late Devonian extinction |
Cisuralian |
Kungurian |
279.3 ± 0.6 |
|
|
Artinskian |
290.1 ± 0.1 |
|
|
Sakmarian |
295.5 ± 0.4 |
|
|
Asselian |
298.9 ± 0.2* |
Skagerrak-Centered LIP (297±4 Ma)[lower-alpha 28] |
Pangaea |
Carbon- iferous[lower-alpha 29]/ Pennsyl- vanian |
Upper |
Gzhelian |
303.7 ± 0.1 |
|
|
Kasimovian |
307.0 ± 0.1 |
|
Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse (~305)[lower-alpha 30] |
Middle |
Moscovian |
315.2 ± 0.2 |
|
|
Lower |
Bashkirian |
323.2 ± 0.4* |
|
|
Carbon- iferous[lower-alpha 29]/ Missis- sippian |
Upper |
Serpukhovian |
330.9 ± 0.2 |
|
|
Middle |
Viséan |
346.7 ± 0.4* |
|
|
Lower |
Tournaisian |
358.9 ± 0.4* |
Hangenberg event (358.9 ± 0.4)[lower-alpha 31] |
Late Devonian extinction |
Devonian |
Upper |
Famennian |
372.2 ± 1.6* |
Kellwasser_event (372.2 ± 1.6)[lower-alpha 32] Viluy traps (373.4 ± 0.7)[lower-alpha 33] |
Late Devonian extinction[lower-alpha 34] |
Frasnian |
382.7 ± 1.6* |
|
|
Middle |
Givetian |
387.7 ± 0.8* |
|
|
Eifelian |
393.3 ± 1.2* |
|
|
Lower |
Emsian |
407.6 ± 2.6* |
|
|
Pragian |
410.8 ± 2.8* |
|
|
Lochkovian |
419.2 ± 3.2* |
|
|
Silurian |
Pridoli |
(Stage 8) |
423.0 ± 2.3* |
Lau event (423.0 ± 2.3)[lower-alpha 35] |
|
Ludlow/Cayugan |
Ludfordian |
425.6 ± 0.9* |
|
|
Gorstian |
427.4 ± 0.5* |
Mulde event (427.4 ± 0.5)[lower-alpha 36] |
|
Wenlock |
Homerian/Lockportian |
430.5 ± 0.7* |
|
|
Sheinwoodian/Tonawandan |
433.4 ± 0.8* |
Ireviken event (433.4 ± 2.3)[lower-alpha 37] |
|
Llandovery/ Alexandrian |
Telychian/Ontarian |
438.5 ± 1.1* |
|
|
Aeronian |
440.8 ± 1.2* |
|
|
Rhuddanian |
443.4 ± 1.5* |
|
Ordovician–Silurian extinction event |
Ordovician |
Upper |
Hirnantian |
445.2 ± 1.4* |
Pre-Devonian Traps (~445) |
|
Katian |
453.0 ± 0.7* |
|
|
Sandbian |
458.4 ± 0.9* |
|
|
Middle |
Darriwilian |
467.3 ± 1.1* |
|
|
Dapingian |
470.0 ± 1.4* |
|
|
Lower |
Floian (formerly Arenig) |
477.7 ± 1.4* |
|
|
Tremadocian |
485.4 ± 1.9* |
|
|
Cambrian |
Furongian |
Stage 10 |
c. 489.5 |
|
Cambrian–Ordovician extinction event |
Jiangshanian |
c. 494* |
|
|
Paibian |
c. 497* |
|
|
Series 3 |
Guzhangian |
c. 500.5* |
|
|
Drumian |
c. 504.5* |
|
|
Stage 5 |
c. 509 |
|
|
Series 2 |
Stage 4 |
c. 514 |
|
|
Stage 3 |
c. 521 |
|
|
Terreneuvian |
Stage 2 |
c. 529 |
|
Cambrian explosion |
Fortunian |
541.0 ± 1.0* |
|
End-Ediacaran extinction |
Neo- proterozoic[lower-alpha 38] |
Ediacaran |
|
|
c. 635* |
Long Range dikes (620) |
formed as Iapetus Ocean began |
Cryogenian |
|
|
850[lower-alpha 39] |
Franklin LIP (716.5) |
Snowball Earth |
Tonian |
|
|
1000[lower-alpha 39] |
Warakurna LIP (~1075) |
|
Meso- proterozoic[lower-alpha 38] |
Stenian |
|
|
1200[lower-alpha 39] |
Midcontinent Rift System (~1100)[lower-alpha 40] Mackenzie LIP (~1270) |
Rodinia |
Ectasian |
|
|
1400[lower-alpha 39] |
|
|
Calymmian |
|
|
1600[lower-alpha 39] |
|
|
Paleo- proterozoic[lower-alpha 38] |
Statherian |
|
|
1800[lower-alpha 39] |
Circum-Superior Belt (1884-1864)[lower-alpha 41] Winagami sill complex (1890-1760) |
|
Orosirian |
|
|
2050[lower-alpha 39] |
Kapuskasing and Marathon dike swarm (2126-2101) Fort Frances dike swarm (2076-2067) Vredefort impact structure (2023±4)[lower-alpha 42] |
|
Rhyacian |
|
|
2300[lower-alpha 39] |
Ungava magmatic event |
Huronian glaciation (2220) |
Siderian |
|
|
2500[lower-alpha 39] |
Matachewan dike swarm (2500-2450) Mistassini dike swarm (2500) |
Great Oxygenation Event |
Neoarchean[lower-alpha 38] |
|
|
|
2800[lower-alpha 39] |
|
|
Mesoarchean[lower-alpha 38] |
|
|
|
3200[lower-alpha 39] |
|
|
Paleoarchean[lower-alpha 38] |
|
|
|
3600[lower-alpha 39] |
Kaapvaal craton (3600-3700) |
Vaalbara |
Eoarchean[lower-alpha 38] |
|
|
|
4000 |
|
|
Early Imbrian[lower-alpha 38][lower-alpha 43] |
|
|
|
c. 3850 |
|
|
Nectarian[lower-alpha 38][lower-alpha 43] |
|
|
|
c. 3920 |
|
lunar basins form |
Basin Groups[lower-alpha 38][lower-alpha 43] |
|
|
|
c. 4150 |
Acasta Gneiss |
Late Heavy Bombardment |
Cryptic[lower-alpha 44] |
|
|
|
c. 4600 |
|
Oldest minerals. Earth surface solidifies. |