Cenozoic

Back to Mesozoic (~ 251 Ma)

Representation and status

Index
cnz
Color CMYK
5 / 0 / 90 / 0
Color RGB
R: 242 G: 249 B: 29
Rank
chronostratigraphic Era
Validity
Unit is in Use
Status
valid formal name

Nomenclature

Deutsch
Känozoikum
Français
Cénozoïque
Italiano
Cenozoico
English
Cenozoic
Historical Variants

--- (Phillips 1841), Cénozoïque = Caenozoïque (Denizot et al. 1957), Erdneuzeit, Neuzeit, Neozoikum, Kaenozoikum

Hierarchy and sequence

Subordinate units

  • Quaternary (2.58 Ma)

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Period
    Status
    valid formal name
    In short

    The Quaternary is the last geochronologic period of the Cenozoic, starting with the Gelasian age (at the transition from the Neogene period) and still going on into the Present. It is subdivided in two epochs (Pleistocene and Holocene). The base of the Quaternary is set at the Gauss/Matuyama palaeomagnetic reversal and the period is characterised by successive glacials in a context of increased global ice volume. In Switzerland one can assume that all of the (peri)glacial deposits belong to the Quaternary.

    Age
    Gelasian
    Show details

    • Holocene (11.7 ka)

      Name Origin

      holos = fully, entirely , kaïno = recent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Holocene is the most recent geochronologic epoch of the Quaternary, referring to the warm episod that began with the end of the last glacial period.

      Age
      Holocene
      Show details

      • Meghalayan (4.2 ka)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Last chronostratigraphic stage of the Holocene.

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Subatlantic

        Rank
        climato/palynostratigraphy
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Current climatic/palynological stage of the postglacial European Quaternary (approximate age range: from 2800-2450 calBP = 850-500 BC to present).

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Subboreal

        Rank
        climato/palynostratigraphy
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Palynological stage of the postglacial European Quaternary (approximate age range: 5500-2800 calBP).

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Northgrippian (8.2 ka)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Middle chronostratigraphic stage of the Holocene.

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Atlantic

        Name Origin

        Warm and moist climatic phase originally based on the study of Danish peat bogs.

        Rank
        climato/palynostratigraphy
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Palynological stage depicting a postglacial climatic optimum in Europe, and characterised by the presence of oak, elm, linden and iva (approximate range: 9000-5500 calBP).

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Greenlandian (11.7 ka)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Subperiod
        Status
        local name (informal)
        In short

        First chronostratigraphic stage of the Holocene.

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Boreal

        Name Origin

        Cold climatic phase originally based on the study of Danish peat bogs.

        Rank
        climato/palynostratigraphy
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Palynological stage of the postglacial European Quaternary (approximate age range: 10200-9000 calBP).

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

      • Preboreal

        Name Origin

        Transitional climatic phase originally based on the study of Danish peat bogs.

        Rank
        climato/palynostratigraphy
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Palynological stage of the postglacial European Quaternary, at the base of the Holocene (approximate age range: 11650-10200 calBP).

        Age
        Holocene
        Show details

    • Pleistocene (2.58 Ma)

      Name Origin

      pleistos = le plus , kaïno = récent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Pleistocene is the first geochronologic epoch of the Quaternary, starting with the Gelasian age (at the transition from the Pliocene epoch) and ending with an unnamed age at the transition to the Holocene epoch. It is subdivided in three subepochs (Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene).

      Age
      Gelasian
      Show details

      • Late Pleistocene (129 ka)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        The Late Pleistocene is the last geochronologic subepoch of the Pleistocene, comprising only one (unnamed) age. Its base was set at the start of the Eem Interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e).

        Correlatively, the Late Pleistocene corresponds in Switzerland to the last interglacial–glacial cycle (Gondiswil Interglacial and Birrfeld Glacial).

        Show details

        • Younger Dryas

          Name Origin

          Named after the cold-climate wildflower Dryas octopetala Linnaeus.

          Rank
          climato/palynostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short

          Late glacial cold floral stage at the end of the Late Pleistocene (12900-11500 BP = 11000-9500 av. J.C.).

          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Allerød

          Name Origin

          Named after the town of Allerød (Denmark).

          Rank
          climato/palynostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short

          Warmer climatic oscillation of the late glacial Pleistocene (11800-11000 BP = 11400-10730 av. J.C.), identified on the basis of pollen analysis.

          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Older Dryas

          Name Origin

          Named after the cold-climate wildflower Dryas octopetala Linnaeus.

          Rank
          climato/palynostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short

          Late glacial floral stage (12000-11800 BP = 11590-11400 av. J.C.)

          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Bølling

          Name Origin

          série de tourbes découvertes au lac Bølling, dans le Jutland central

          Rank
          climato/palynostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short

          Late glacial floral stage (13000-12000 BP = 11720-11590 av. J.C.).

          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Oldest Dryas

          Name Origin

          Named after the cold-climate wildflower Dryas octopetala Linnaeus.

          Rank
          climato/palynostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short

          Ab ca. 18'000-15'000 BP, je nach Autor.

          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Eemian

          Name Origin

          Named after the river Eem in the area of the city of Amersfoort (Netherlands).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          Nomenclatorial Remarks
          Riss-Würm interglacial (Alps), Ipswichian (United Kingdom), Mikulin interglacial (Russia), Valdivia interglacial (Chile), Sangamonian (North America)
          In short
          Initial palynostratigraphic subdivision of the Late Pleistocene («Tarantian») of NW Europe, roughly corresponding to MIS-5e and to the Riss-Würm Interglacial.
          Age
          Spätes Pleistozän
          Show details

      • Middle Pleistocene (774 ka)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        The Middle Pleistocene is the middle geochronologic subepoch of the Pleistocene, comprising only the Chibanian age. Its base was set at the boundary between the Matuyama and Brunhes magnetostratigraphic epochs.

        In Switzerland the age of the Hochterrasse deposits roughly coincides with the Middle Pleistocene.

        Show details

        • Chibanian

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Stage
          Status
          valid formal name
          In short

          New stage name for the Middle Pleistocene.

          Age
          Mittleres Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Saalian

          Name Origin

          Named after the river Saale (Deutschland).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short
          Terminal substage of the Middle Pleistocene of NW Europe, between Holsteinian and Eemian, characterised by cold climate (culminating in the Alpine region with the Riss glaciation).
          Age
          Mittleres Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Holsteinian

          Name Origin

          Named after the Holstein region (N Germany).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          Nomenclatorial Remarks
          Hoxnian (United Kingdom), Likhvinian (Russia)
          In short
          Palynostratigraphic subdivision of the Middle Pleistocene (Ionian) of NW Europe, corresponding to MIS-11 and to the Mindel-Riss Interglacial.
          Age
          Mittleres Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Elsterian

          Name Origin

          Named after the river Weisse Elster (E Germany), a tributary of the river Saale.

          Rank
          chronostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          Nomenclatorial Remarks
          Anglian (United Kingdom), Okian (Russia)
          In short
          Substage of the Middle Pleistocene of NW Europe, corresponding to MIS-12 and characterised by a cold climate (culminating in the Alpine region with the Mindel glaciation).
          Age
          Mittleres Pleistozän
          Show details

        • Cromerian

          Name Origin

          Named after the East Anglian town of Cromer (UK).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphy
          Status
          informal term
          In short
          Initial palynostratigraphic subdivision of the Middle Pleistocene («Ionian») of NW Europe, encompassing several glacial/interglacial cycles under a relatively mild climate (Günz-Mindel Interglacial).
          Age
          Mittleres Pleistozän
          Show details

      • Early Pleistocene (2.58 Ma)

        Rank
        chronostratigraphy
        In short

        The Early Pleistocene is the first geochronologic subepoch of the Pleistocene, starting with the Gelasian age (at the transition from the Piacenzian age) and ending with the Calabrian age (at the transition to the Chibanian age). It is characterised by a predominantly reversed polarised paleomagnetic field (Matuyama) and the onset of large glacial fluctuations.

        Age
        Gelasian
        Show details

        • Calabrian (1.80 Ma)

          Name Origin

          Named after the Calabria region (Italy).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Stage
          Status
          valid formal name
          In short
          Second substage of the Early Pleistocene.
          Age
          Frühes Pleistozän
          Show details

          • Sicilian

            Name Origin

            Named after Sicilia (Italia).

            Rank
            chronostratigraphic Substage
            Status
            valid
            In short
            Regional substage (= late Calabrian, Early Pleistocene) in Italy.
            Age
            Calabrian
            Show details

          • Emilian

            Name Origin

            Named after the Emilia region (Italia).

            Rank
            chronostratigraphic Substage
            Status
            valid
            In short
            Regional substage (= middle Calabrian, Early Pleistocene) in Italy.
            Age
            Calabrian
            Show details

          • Santernian

            Rank
            chronostratigraphic Substage
            Status
            valid
            In short
            Regional substage (= early Calabrian, Early Pleistocene) in Italy.
            Age
            Calabrian
            Show details

        • Gelasian (2.58 Ma)

          Name Origin

          Named after the town of Gela (Italia), Sicilia.

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Stage
          Status
          valid formal name
          Age
          Frühes Pleistozän
          Show details

  • Neogene (23.03 Ma)

    Name Origin

    neos = new , genos = birth

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Period
    Status
    valid formal name
    In short

    The Neogene (formal name for the «late Tertiary») is the middle geochronologic period of the Cenozoic, starting with the Aquitanian age (at the transition from the Paleogene period) and ending with the Piacenzian age (at the transition to the Quaternary period). It is subdivided in two epochs (Miocene and Pliocene).

    Age
    Aquitanian
    Show details

    • Pliocene (5.333 Ma)

      Name Origin

      plios = plus , kaïno = récent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Pliocene is the last geochronologic epoch of the Neogene, starting with the Zanclean age (at the transition from the Miocene epoch) and ending with the Piacenzian age (at the transition to the Pleistocene epoch).

      Age
      Zancléen
      Show details

      • Piacenzian (3.600 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the village of Piacenzia (Italia).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Age
        spätes Pliozän
        Show details

      • Zanclean (5.333 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Derived from Zancla, the pre-Roman name for the town of Messina in Sicily (Italy).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        First stage of the Pliocene.

        Age
        Pliozän
        Show details

    • Miocene (23.03 Ma)

      Name Origin

      meios = less, kaïno = recent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Miocene is the first geochronologic epoch of the Neogene, starting with the Aquitanian age (at the transition from the Oligocene epoch) and ending with the Messinian age (at the transition to the Pliocene epoch).

      Age
      Aquitanian
      Show details

      • Messinian (7.246 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the town of Messina (Italia), Sicilia.

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Last stage of the Miocene.

        Age
        spätes Miozän
        Show details

      • Tortonian (11.63 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the city of Tortona (Italia), Piemonte.

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Stage of the Late Miocene.

        Age
        spätes Miozän
        Show details

      • Serravallian (13.82 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the town of Serravalle Scrivia (Italia), Piemonte.

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Stage of the Middle Miocene.

        Age
        mittleres Miozän
        Show details

      • Langhian (15.97 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Langhe area north of Ceva (Italy).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Nomenclatorial Remarks
        <p>le Langhe (plural)</p>
        In short

        Stage of the Middle Miocene.

        Age
        mittleres Miozän
        Show details

        • Nördlinger-Ries-Impakt

          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short
          Meteorischer Impakt im Grenzgebiet zwischen Schwäbischer Alb und Fränkischer Alb, der durch Coesit-führende Impaktite (insb. Suevit = Schwabenstein) und Tektite (sog. Moldavit) bewiesen wurde.
          Age
          Langhian
          Show details

      • Burdigalian (20.44 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the town of Bordeaux = Burdigala (Gironde, France).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Nomenclatorial Remarks
        <p>Latin: Burdigalia</p>
        In short

        Second stage of the Miocene.

        Age
        frühes Miozän
        Show details

      • Aquitanian (23.03 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Aquitaine region (France).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        First stage of the Miocene Series, and hence base of the Neogene System.

        Age
        frühes Miozän
        Show details

  • Palaeogene (66.0 Ma)

    Name Origin

    palaeos = ancient , genos = birth

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Period
    Status
    valid formal name
    In short

    The Paleogene (formal name for the «early Tertiary») is the first geochronologic period of the Cenozoic, starting with the Danian age (at the transition from the Cretaceous period) and ending with the Chattian age (at the transition to the Neogene period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene).

    Age
    Danian
    Show details

    • Oligocene (33.9 Ma)

      Name Origin

      oligos = peu , kaïno = récent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Oligocene is the last geochronologic epoch of the Paleogene, starting with the Rupelian age (at the transition from the Eocene epoch) and ending with the Chattian age (at the transition to the Miocene epoch).

      Age
      Rupélien
      Show details

      • Chattian (27.82 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Chatti tribe (Deutschland).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Age
        Oligozän
        Show details

      • Rupelian (33.9 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Rupel river (Belgium).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        First stage of the Oligocene. Its definition was originally based on the Rupel Group.

        Age
        frühes Oligozän
        Show details

    • Eocene (56.0 Ma)

      Name Origin

      eos = aurore, début , kaïno = récent

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Eocene is the middle geochronologic epoch of the Paleogene, starting with the Ypresian age (at the transition from the Paleocene epoch) and ending with the Priabonian age (at the transition to the Oligocene epoch). It is subdivided in four ages (Ypresian, Lutetian, Bartonian and Priabonian).

      Age
      Yprésien
      Show details

      • Priabonian (37.71 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the village of Priabona (Italia), Vicenza.

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Nomenclatorial Remarks
        <p>Parastratotypes à Ghenderle, Brendola, Mossano et Possagno (Cita 1969) ; calcaires marneux à Echinides de Priabona (Boussac 1909a)</p>
        In short

        Last stage of the Eocene. Definition originally based on the «assises de la Granella», «groupe des couches à Orbitoides de Priabona» and «marnes de Brendola».

        Age
        spätes Eozän
        Show details

      • Bartonian (~41 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the village of Barton-on-Sea (Hampshire, UK).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Second stage of the Middle Eocene. Its definition was originally based both on the Barton Beds (Hampshire) and the Sables d'Auvers-Beauchamp (Paris Basin).

        Age
        mittleres Eozän
        Show details

        • Marinesian

          Name Origin

          Named after the village of Marines (Val-d'Oise, France)

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Substage
          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short

          Second substage of the Bartonian in the Paris Basin. Original definition based on the «Sables de Marines». It corresponds to the Late Bartonian of the International Time Scale.

          Age
          Bartonien
          Show details

        • Auversian

          Name Origin

          Named after the town of Auvers-sur-Oise (Val d'Oise, France) ; le stratotype des sablières du Bois-le-Roi est en cours d'aménagement.

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Substage
          Status
          local name (informal)
          Valid term
          Bartonian
          In short

          First substage of the Bartonian in the Paris Basin. It corresponds to the Early Bartonian of the International Time Scale.

          Age
          frühes Bartonien
          Show details

      • Lutetian (47.8 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the town of Paris = Lutetia (France).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Second stage of the Eocene.

        Age
        mittleres Eozän
        Show details

      • Ypresian (56.0 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the village of Ypres = Ieper(Belgium).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        First stage of the Eocene.

        Age
        frühes Eozän
        Show details

        • Cuisian

          Name Origin

          Named after the village of Cuise-la-Motte (Oise, France).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Substage
          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short
          Last, informal substage of the Ypresian.
          Age
          spätes Yprésien
          Show details

        • Sparnacian

          Name Origin

          Named after the town of Épernay = Sparnacum (Marne, France).

          Rank
          chronostratigraphic Substage
          Status
          local name (informal)
          In short
          Early Ypresian of the Paris Basin.
          Age
          frühes Eozän
          Show details

    • Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)

      Rank
      climato/palynostratigraphy
      Status
      informal term
      In short
      Global thermal maximum marked by a strong negative anomaly in δ13C values at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary.
      Show details

    • Paleocene (66.0 Ma)

      Name Origin

      palaeos = ancient , eos = dawn, kaïno = recent (i.e. Palaeo-Eocene, see Pulvertaft 1999)

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Epoch
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Paleocene is the first geochronologic epoch of the Paleogene, starting with the Danian age (at the transition from the Late Cretaceous epoch) and ending with the Thanttian age (at the transition to the Eocene epoch). It is subdivided in three ages (Danian, Selandian and Thanetian).

      Age
      Danian
      Show details

      • Thanetian (59.2 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Isle of Thanet (Kent, UK).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        Last stage of the Paleocene.

        Age
        spätes Paläozän
        Show details

      • Selandian (61.6 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Zealand island (Denmark).

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        Age
        mittleres Paläozän
        Show details

      • Danian (66.0 Ma)

        Name Origin

        Named after the Latin name for Denmark.

        Rank
        chronostratigraphic Stage
        Status
        valid formal name
        In short

        First stage of the Paleocene (and hence of the Cenozoic as well).

        Age
        frühes Paläozän
        Show details
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