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Geologic timescale

Fossil Collecting Code

Fossil Collecting Code

 

Adapted from: 'A Geologic Time Scale 2004' by F.Gradstein, J.Ogg and A.Smith (available to purchase at Amazon.co.uk).

 

Eon

Era

Period

Epoch

Stage

Base age (mya)

 Fossil collecting locations
  C
A
E
N
O
Z
O
I
C

 

 

 

N
E
O
G
E
N
E

 

 

Q
U
A
T
E
R
N
A
R
Y
Holocene - 0.0115

 
Pleistocene Late / Upper 0.126

 
Middle 0.781

Pakefield   
Early / Lower 1.806

 
Pliocene Gelasian 2.588

 
Piacenzian 3.600

Walton-on-the-Naze

Zanclean 5.332

 
Miocene Messinian 7.246

 
Tortonian 11.608

 
Serravallian 13.65

 
Langhian 15.97

 
Burdigalian 20.43

 
Aquitanian 23.03

 
P
A
L
A
E
O
G
E
N
E		 Oligocene Chattian 28.4 ± 0.1

 
Rupelian 33.9 ± 0.1

Bouldnor   

Eocene Priabonian 37.2 ± 0.1

Alum Bay  

Bartonian 40.4 ± 0.2

Alum Bay  Barton on Sea

Lutetian 48.6 ± 0.2

Alum Bay  Bracklesham Bay

Ypresian 55.8 ± 0.2

Alum Bay  Herne Bay  Isle of Sheppey

Walton-on-the-Naze   
Palaeocene Thanetian 58.7 ± 0.2

 
Selandian 61.7 ± 0.2

 
Danian 65.5 ± 0.3

 
M
E
S
O
Z
O
I
C		 C
R
E
T
A
C
E
O
U
S		 Late / Upper Maastrichtian 70.6 ± 0.6

 
Campanian 83.5 ± 0.7

Peacehaven  
Santonian 85.8 ± 0.7

Peacehaven  Seaford  Seven Sisters

Coniacian 89.3 ± 1.0

Lulworth Cove  Seaford  Seven Sisters

Turonian 93.5 ± 0.8

Dover  Eastbourne  Lulworth Cove

Cenomanian 99.6 ± 0.9

Eastbourne  Hunstanton  Lulworth Cove

Early / Lower Albian 112.0 ± 1.0

Eastbourne  Folkestone  Hunstanton  Lulworth Cove

Aptian 125.0 ± 1.0

Lulworth Cove

Barremian 130.0 ± 1.5

Hanover Point  Lulworth Cove

Hauterivian 136.4 ± 2.0

Lulworth Cove

Valanginian 140.2 ± 3.0

Lulworth Cove

Berriasian 145.5 ± 4.0

Durlston Bay  Hastings  Lulworth Cove

J
U
R
A
S
S
I
C		 Late / Upper Tithonian 150.8 ± 4.0

Lulworth Cove

Kimmeridgian 155.7 ± 4.0

Chapman's Pool  Kimmeridge

Oxfordian 161.2 ± 4.0

Grafham Water  Osmington Mills

Middle Callovian 164.7 ± 4.0

Brora River

Bathonian 167.7 ± 3.5

Burton Bradstock
Bajocian 171.6 ± 3.0

Burton Bradstock  Isle of Skye

Aalenian 175.6 ± 2.0

Burton Bradstock

Early / Lower Toarcian 183.0 ± 1.5

Burton Bradstock  Eype  Kettleness  Port Mulgrave

Pliensbachian 189.6 ± 1.5

Charmouth  Eype  Kettleness  Lyme Regis  Seatown

Sinemurian 196.5 ± 1.0

Charmouth  Dunrobin Castle  Llantwit Major

Quantoxhead  Lyme Regis

Hettangian 199.6 ± 0.6

Quantoxhead  Blue Anchor

T
R
I
A
S
S
I
C		 Late / Upper Rhaetian 203.6 ± 1.5

Aust  Blue Anchor

Norian 216.5 ± 2.0

Aust  Blue Anchor

Carnian 228.0 ± 2.0

 
Middle Ladinian 237.0 ± 2.0

 
Anisian 245.0 ± 1.5

 
Early / Lower Olenekian 249.7 ± 0.7

 
Induan 251.0 ± 0.4

 
P
A
L
A
E
O
Z
O
I
C		 P
E
R
M
I
A
N		 Lopingian Changhsingian 253.8 ± 0.7

 
Wuchiapingian 260.4 ± 0.7

 
Guadalupian Capitanian 265.8 ± 0.7

 
Wordian 268.0 ± 0.7

 
Roadian 270.6 ± 0.7

 
Cisuralian Kungurian 275.6 ± 0.7

 
Artinskian 284.4 ± 0.7

 
Sakmarian 294.6 ± 0.8

 
Asselian 299.0 ± 0.8

 
 
C
A
R
B
O
N
I
F
E
R
O
U
S
 		 Pennsylvanian (Late) Gzhelian 303.9 ± 0.9

 
Kasimovian 306.5 ± 1.0

 
Pennsylvanian (Middle) Moscovian 311.7 ± 1.1

 
Pennsylvanian (Early) Bashkirian 318.1 ± 1.3

 
Mississippian (Late) Serpukhovian 326.4 ± 1.6

 
Mississippian (Middle) Visean 345.3 ± 2.1

Aberlady  Crail

Mississippian (Early) Tournaisian 359.2 ± 2.5

 
D
E
V
O
N
I
A
N		 Late / Upper Famennian 374.5 ± 2.6

 
Frasnian 385.3 ± 2.6

 
Middle Givetian 391.8 ± 2.7

 
Eifelian 397.5 ± 2.7

 
Early / Lower Emsian 407.0 ± 2.6

 
Pragian 411.2 ± 2.8

 
Lochkovian 416.0 ± 2.8

 
S
I
L
U
R
I
A
N		 Pridoli - 418.7 ± 2.7

 
Ludlow Ludfordian 421.3 ± 2.6

 
Gordtian 422.9 ± 2.5

Marloes Sands

Wenlock Homerian 426.2 ± 2.4

Marloes Sands
Sheinwoodian 428.2 ± 2.3

Marloes Sands

Llandovery Telychian 436.0 ± 1.9

Marloes Sands

Aeronian 439.0 ± 1.8

Marloes Sands

Rhuddanian 443.7 ± 1.5

 
O
R
D
O
V
I
C
I
A
N		 Late / Upper Hirnantian 445.6 ± 1.5

 
- 455.8 ± 1.6

 
- 460.9 ± 1.6

 
Middle Darriwilian 468.1 ± 1.6

 
- 471.8 ± 1.6

 
Early / Lower - 478.6 ± 1.7

 
Tremadocian 488.3 ± 1.7

 
C
A
M
B
R
I
A
N		 Furongian - -

 
Paibian 501.0 ± 2.0

 
Middle - -

 
- 513.0 ± 2.0

 
Early / Lower - -

 
- 542.0 ± 1.0

 

 

Precambrian

 

  Eon Era Period Base age
(mya)
P
R
E
C
A
M
B
R
I
A
N		 P
R
O
T
E
R
O
Z
O
I
C		 Neoproterozoic Ediacaran 630
Cryogenian 850
Tonian 1,000
Mesoproterozoic Stenian 1,200
Ectasian 1,400
Calymmian 1,600
Paleoproterozoic Statherian 1,800
Orosirian 2,050
Rhyacian 2,300
Siderian 2,500

A
R
C
H
E
A
N
 Neoarchean - 2,800
Mesoarchean - 3,200
Paleoarchean - 3,600
Eoarchean - Base not defined

 

Adapted from: 'A Geologic Time Scale 2004' by F.Gradstein, J.Ogg and A.Smith (available to purchase at Amazon.co.uk)

 

   

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