Skip to main content
Geosciences LibreTexts

Geological Time (table)

  • Page ID
    45123
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \(\newcommand{\longvect}{\overrightarrow}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    3

    Geological time scale diagrams can be challenging to read. Including the diagram in our first chapter on Geological Time. Below we have provided the same information that is in the time scale diagram but this time in a table format. The table is key word searchable and also allows us to provide the epochs and stages for the Mesozoic and Paleozoic. This information is again based on the New Zealand Timescale produced by GNS Science Te Pū Ao. Note though that epochs and stages from the Cambrian through to the Carboniferous use either international epoch and stage information (Devonian and Silurian) or Australian epoch and stage information (Ordovician and Cambrian). Additional details for the Cambrian have been sourced from Wikipedia.

    Stage Time when stage began (millions of years ago) Series Epoch Period Era
    Haweran 0.34 Wanganui Holocene Quaternary Cenozoic
    Castlecliffian 1.63 Pleistocene Neogene
    Nukumaruan 2.40
    Mangapanian 3.00 Plio./Pleistocene
    Waipipian 3.70 Pliocene
    Opoitian 5.33
    Kapitean 7.2 Taranaki Miocene
    Tongaporutuan 11.04
    Waiauan 13.05 Southland
    Lillburnian 15.1
    Clifdenian 15.9
    Altonian 18.7 Pareora
    Otaian 21.7
    Waitakian 25.2 Landon Olig./Miocene Pal./Neogene
    Duntroonian 27.3 Oligocene Paleogene
    Whaingaroan 34.6 Eoc./Oligocene
    Runangan 36.7 Arnold Eocene
    Kaiatan 39.1
    Bortonian 42.6
    Porangan 45.7 Dannevirke
    Heretaungan 48.9
    Mangaorapan 52.0
    Waipawan 56.0
    Teurian 66.0 Paleocene
    Haumurian 83.6 Mata Late Cretaceous Mesozoic
    Piripauan 86.5
    Teratan 90.5 Raukumara
    Mangaotanean 93.7
    Mangaotanean 95.2
    Ngaterian 99.5 Clarence
    Motuan 103.3 Early/Late
    Urutawan 108.4 Early
    Korangan 117.5 Taitai
    No stages recognised 145.0
    Puaroan 150.0 Oteke Late Jurassic
    Ohauan 154.5 Kawhia
    Heterian 164.3 Middle/Late
    Temaikan 176.0 Early/Middle
    Ururoan 188.9 Herangi Early
    Aratauran 201.3
    Otapirian 208.5 Balfour Late Triassic
    Warepan 217.0
    Otamitan 221.0
    Otamitan 227.5
    Kaihikuan 238.0 Gore Middle/Late
    Etalian 246.0 Middle
    Malakovian 249.0 Early/Middle
    Nelsonian 251.5 Early
    Makarewan 253.2 D’Urville Late Permian Paleozoic
    Waiitian 254.2
    Puruhauan 259.8
    Flettian 266.0 Aparima Middle
    Barettian 276.0 Early/Middle
    Mangapirian 285.0 Early
    Telfordian 288.5
    pre-Telfordian 298.9
    No stages recognised 323.2 Pennsylvanian Carboniferous
    358.9 Mississippian
    Famennian 372.2 Late Devonian
    Frasnian 382.7
    Givetian 387.7 Middle
    Eifelian 393.3
    Emsian 407.6 Early
    Pragian 410.8
    Lochkovian 419.2
    Přídolí 423.0 Přídolí Silurian
    Ludfordian 425.6 Ludlow
    Gorstian 427.4
    Homerian 430.5 Wenlock
    Sheinwoodian 433.4
    Telychian 438.5 Llandovery
    Aeronian 440.8
    Rhuddanian 443.8
    Bolindian 448.4 Late Ordovician
    Eastonian 453.0
    Gisbornian 448.4
    Darriwilian 467.3 Middle
    Yapeenian 468.3
    Castlemainian 470.0
    Chewtonian 472.4 Early
    Bendigonian 476
    Lancefieldian 484.3
    Warendan 485.4
    Datsonian 486.8 Furongian Cambrian
    Payntonian 489.5
    Iverian 494.0
    Idamean 497.0 Miaolingian Epoch 3
    Mindyallan 499.0
    Boomerangian 500.5
    Undillan 503.0
    Floran 504.5
    Templetonian 508.0 Mia./Series 1-2 Ep.3/Epochs 1-2
    Ordian 511.5 Series 1-2 Epochs 1-2
    No stages recognised 541.0