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.

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).

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).

The Cretaceous is the last geochronologic period of the Mesozoic, starting with the Berriasian age (at the transition from the Jurassic period) and ending with the Maastrichtian age (at the transition to the Paleogene period). It is officially subdivided in two epochs (Early and Late Cretaceous).

The Jurassic is the middle geochronologic period of the Mesozoic, starting with the Hettangian age (at the transition from the Triassic period) and ending with the Tithonian age (at the transition to the Cretaceous period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Early, Middle and Late Jurassic).

The Triassic is the first geochronologic period of the Mesozoic, starting with the Induan age (at the transition from the Permian period) and ending with the Rhaetian age (at the transition to the Jurassic period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Early, Middle and Late Triassic).

Tectonically it is a rather quiet period inbetween the Variscan and Alpine orogenic cycles. The first deposits are transgressive on a vast peneplain.

The Permian is the last geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Asselian age (at the transition from the Carboniferous period) and ending with the Changhsingian age (at the transition to the Triassic period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Cisuralian, Guadalupian and Lopingian).

The Carboniferous is the penultimate geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Tournaisian age (at the transition from the Devonian period) and ending with the Gzhelian age (at the transition to the Permian period). It is subdivided in two epochs (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian).

The Devonian is a geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Lochkovian age (at the transition from the Silurian period) and ending with the Famennian age (at the transition to the Pernian period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Early, Middle and Late Devonian).

The Silurian is a geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Rhuddanian age (at the transition from the Ordovician period) and ending with the Pridoli Epoch (at the transition to the Devonian period). It is subdivided in four epochs (Llandovery, Wenlock, Ludlow and Pridoli).

The Ordovician is the second geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Tremadocian age (at the transition from the Cambrian period) and ending with the Hirnantian age (at the transition to the Silurian period). It is subdivided in three epochs (Early, Middle and Late Ordovician).

The Cambrian is the first geochronologic period of the Paleozoic, starting with the Fortunian age (at the transition from the Proterozoic eon) and ending with an unnamed age of the Furongian epoch (at the transition to the Ordovician period). It is subdivided in four epochs (Terreneuvian, "Series 2", Miaolingian and Furongian).

The Proterozoic is the last geochronologic eon of the Precambrian, starting with the Siderian period (at the transition from the Archean eon) and ending with the Ediacaran period (at the transition to the Phanerozoic eon). It is subdivided in three eras (Paleo-, Meso- and Neoproterozoic).

... banded iron stones (2800-1800 Ma), tillites (2600-2100, 850 and 600 Ma) ...

The Archean is the middle geochronologic eon of the Precambrian (between the Hadean and the Proterozoic). It is subdivided in four eras (Eo-, Paleo-, Meso- and Neoarchean).

... composed of granulites, green belts, non-metamorphic sedimentary rocks (argilites, arkoses, sandstones, rarely carbonates and evaporites), as well as first banded iron-stones.

The Hadean is the first geochronologic eon of the Precambrian (before the Archean) and goes back to the origin of the Earth 4.56 billion years ago.