A New Geologic Time Scale, With Special Reference to Precambrian and Neogene

Felix M. Gradstein¹, James G. Ogg², Alan G. Smith³, Wouter Bleeker⁴, and Lucas J. Lourens⁵

1. Geological Museum, University of Oslo, N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
Email: felix.gradstein@nhm.uio.no
2. Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1397, USA.
3. Department of Earth Sciences, Cambridge University,
Cambridge CB2 3EQ, England.
4. Geological Survey of Canada,
601 Booth Str., Ottawa, Ontario K1A OE8, Canada.
5. Faculty of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University,
3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Presented by: Rolando Peña

 

A Geologic Time Scale (GTS2004) is presented that integrates currently available stratigraphic and geochronologic information. Key features of the new scale are outlined, how it was constructed, and how it can be further improved. The accompanying International Stratigraphic Chart, issued under auspices of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), shows the current chronostratigraphic scale and ages with estimates of uncertainty for all stage boundaries. Special reference is made to the Precambrian part of the time scale, which is coming of age in terms of detail, and to the Neogene portion, which has attained an ultra-high-precision absolute-age calibration.