| Era
|
Period
|
Epoch
|
Age
|
Start, mya
|
Event
|
Notes
|
| Cenozoic
|
Quaternary
|
Holocene
|
|
0.0117
|
|
|
| Pleistocene
|
Upper
|
0.126
|
|
|
| Middle
|
0.781
|
Australasian strewnfield
Lake Bosumtwi
|
Brunhes–Matuyama reversal (778.7 ± 1.9)
Jaramillo reversal (1.07)
|
| Calabrian
|
1.806*
|
|
Olduvai reversal
|
| Gelasian
|
2.588*
|
Chilcotin Plateau Basalts
|
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
|
|
| Tortonian
|
11.62*
|
|
|
| Serravallian
|
13.82*
|
|
|
| Langhian
|
15.97
|
M. Miocene disruption (14.8–14.5)
Columbia River Basalt Group
Chilcotin Plateau Basalts
|
Increased Antarctic deep waters
Yellowstone hotspot
Nördlinger Ries (14.5-14.3)
|
| Burdigalian
|
20.44
|
|
|
| Aquitanian
|
23.03*
|
Shield volcanoes of Ethiopia
|
Antarctic ice sheet complete
|
| Paleogene
|
Oligocene
|
Chattian
|
28.1
|
Ethiopian and Yemen traps (31–30)
|
Fish Canyon Tuff (27.51)
|
| Rupelian
|
33.9*
|
Chesapeake Bay impact crater (35.5)
|
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)
(Brito-Arctic province) (~56)
|
|
| Paleocene
|
Thanetian
|
59.2*
|
|
|
| Selandian
|
61.6*
|
N. Atlantic IP (62–58)
(Brito-Arctic province) (~61)
(Thulean Plateau)
|
Iceland hotspot
|
| Danian
|
65.5 ± 0.3*
|
Chicxulub Crater (65.5 ± 0.3)
Deccan Traps (65.5 ± 0.3)
|
Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event
Shiva crater
|
| Mesozoic
|
Cretaceous
|
Upper
|
Maastrichtian
|
72.1 ± 0.2*
|
|
|
| Campanian
|
83.6 ± 0.2
|
Caribbean LIP (76-74)
Caribbean LIP (82-80)
|
|
| Santonian
|
86.3 ± 0.5
|
|
|
| Coniacian
|
89.8 ± 0.3
|
High Arctic LIP (~90-80)
Caribbean LIP (90-88)
Ontong Java Plateau
|
Galápagos hotspot
|
| Turonian
|
93.5 ± 0.8*
|
Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event (91.5 ± 8.6)
Madagascar flood basalt (94.5±1.2)
|
|
| Cenomanian
|
100.5*
|
|
|
| Lower
|
Albian
|
c. 113.0
|
Kerguelen Plateau (110)
Rajmahal Traps (118)
|
Kerguelen hotspot
|
| Aptian
|
c. 125.0
|
Selli Event (~120)
Ontong Java Plateau (125–120)
|
Louisville hotspot
|
| Barremian
|
c. 129.4
|
High Arctic LIP (130-120)
|
|
| Hauterivian
|
c. 132.9
|
Abor volcanics (135)
|
Kerguelen hotspot
|
| Valanginian
|
c. 139.8
|
Paraná and Etendeka traps (138-128)
|
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)
|
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)
|
|
| Hettangian
|
201.3 ± 0.2*
|
Central Atlantic magmatic province (199.5±0.5)
|
Formed as Pangea broke up
Triassic–Jurassic extinction event
|
| Triassic
|
Upper
|
Rhaetian
|
c. 208.5
|
|
|
| Norian
|
c. 228
|
Wrangellia flood basalts (231–225)
|
Carnian pluvial episode
|
| Carnian
|
c. 235*
|
|
|
| Middle
|
Ladinian
|
c. 242*
|
|
|
| Anisian
|
247.2
|
|
|
| Lower
|
Olenekian
|
251.2
|
|
|
| Induan
|
252.2 ± 0.5*
|
Siberian Traps (252.6)
|
Permian–Triassic extinction event
|
| Paleozoic
|
Permian
|
Lopingian
|
Changhsingian
|
254.2 ± 0.1*
|
|
|
| Wuchiapingian
|
259.9 ± 0.4*
|
Emeishan Traps (258)
|
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
|
| 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)
|
Pangaea
|
Carbon-
iferous/
Pennsyl-
vanian
|
Upper
|
Gzhelian
|
303.7 ± 0.1
|
|
|
| Kasimovian
|
307.0 ± 0.1
|
|
Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse (~305)
|
| Middle
|
Moscovian
|
315.2 ± 0.2
|
|
|
| Lower
|
Bashkirian
|
323.2 ± 0.4*
|
|
|
Carbon-
iferous/
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)
|
Late Devonian extinction
|
| Devonian
|
Upper
|
Famennian
|
372.2 ± 1.6*
|
Kellwasser_event (372.2 ± 1.6)
Viluy traps (373.4 ± 0.7)
|
Late Devonian extinction
|
| 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)
|
|
| Ludlow/Cayugan
|
Ludfordian
|
425.6 ± 0.9*
|
|
|
| Gorstian
|
427.4 ± 0.5*
|
Mulde event (427.4 ± 0.5)
|
|
| Wenlock
|
Homerian/Lockportian
|
430.5 ± 0.7*
|
|
|
| Sheinwoodian/Tonawandan
|
433.4 ± 0.8*
|
Ireviken event (433.4 ± 2.3)
|
|
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
|
Ediacaran
|
|
|
c. 635*
|
Long Range dikes (620)
|
formed as Iapetus Ocean began
|
| Cryogenian
|
|
|
850
|
Franklin LIP (716.5)
|
Snowball Earth
|
| Tonian
|
|
|
1000
|
Warakurna LIP (~1075)
|
|
Meso-
proterozoic
|
Stenian
|
|
|
1200
|
Midcontinent Rift System (~1100)
Mackenzie LIP (~1270)
|
Rodinia
|
| Ectasian
|
|
|
1400
|
|
|
| Calymmian
|
|
|
1600
|
|
|
Paleo-
proterozoic
|
Statherian
|
|
|
1800
|
Circum-Superior Belt (1884-1864)
Winagami sill complex (1890-1760)
|
|
| Orosirian
|
|
|
2050
|
Kapuskasing and Marathon dike swarm (2126-2101)
Fort Frances dike swarm (2076-2067)
Vredefort impact structure (2023±4)
|
|
| Rhyacian
|
|
|
2300
|
Ungava magmatic event
|
Huronian glaciation (2220)
|
| Siderian
|
|
|
2500
|
Matachewan dike swarm (2500-2450)
Mistassini dike swarm (2500)
|
Great Oxygenation Event
|
| Neoarchean
|
|
|
|
2800
|
|
|
| Mesoarchean
|
|
|
|
3200
|
|
|
| Paleoarchean
|
|
|
|
3600
|
Kaapvaal craton (3600-3700)
|
Vaalbara
|
| Eoarchean
|
|
|
|
4000
|
|
|
| Early Imbrian
|
|
|
|
c. 3850
|
|
|
| Nectarian
|
|
|
|
c. 3920
|
|
lunar basins form
|
| Basin Groups
|
|
|
|
c. 4150
|
Acasta Gneiss
|
Late Heavy Bombardment
|
| Cryptic
|
|
|
|
c. 4600
|
|
Oldest minerals. Earth surface solidifies.
|