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Geological Time (table)

Geological time scale diagrams can be challenging to read. Including the diagram in our first chapter on Geological Time. Below we have provided the same information that is in the time scale diagram but this time in a table format. The table is key word searchable and also allows us to provide the epochs and stages for the Mesozoic and Paleozoic. This information is again based on the New Zealand Timescale produced by GNS Science Te Pū Ao. Note though that epochs and stages from the Cambrian through to the Carboniferous use either international epoch and stage information (Devonian and Silurian) or Australian epoch and stage information (Ordovician and Cambrian). Additional details for the Cambrian have been sourced from Wikipedia.

Stage Time when stage began (millions of years ago) Series Epoch Period Era
Haweran 0.34 Wanganui Holocene Quaternary Cenozoic
Castlecliffian 1.63 Pleistocene Neogene
Nukumaruan 2.40
Mangapanian 3.00 Plio./Pleistocene
Waipipian 3.70 Pliocene
Opoitian 5.33
Kapitean 7.2 Taranaki Miocene
Tongaporutuan 11.04
Waiauan 13.05 Southland
Lillburnian 15.1
Clifdenian 15.9
Altonian 18.7 Pareora
Otaian 21.7
Waitakian 25.2 Landon Olig./Miocene Pal./Neogene
Duntroonian 27.3 Oligocene Paleogene
Whaingaroan 34.6 Eoc./Oligocene
Runangan 36.7 Arnold Eocene
Kaiatan 39.1
Bortonian 42.6
Porangan 45.7 Dannevirke
Heretaungan 48.9
Mangaorapan 52.0
Waipawan 56.0
Teurian 66.0 Paleocene
Haumurian 83.6 Mata Late Cretaceous Mesozoic
Piripauan 86.5
Teratan 90.5 Raukumara
Mangaotanean 93.7
Mangaotanean 95.2
Ngaterian 99.5 Clarence
Motuan 103.3 Early/Late
Urutawan 108.4 Early
Korangan 117.5 Taitai
No stages recognised 145.0
Puaroan 150.0 Oteke Late Jurassic
Ohauan 154.5 Kawhia
Heterian 164.3 Middle/Late
Temaikan 176.0 Early/Middle
Ururoan 188.9 Herangi Early
Aratauran 201.3
Otapirian 208.5 Balfour Late Triassic
Warepan 217.0
Otamitan 221.0
Otamitan 227.5
Kaihikuan 238.0 Gore Middle/Late
Etalian 246.0 Middle
Malakovian 249.0 Early/Middle
Nelsonian 251.5 Early
Makarewan 253.2 D’Urville Late Permian Paleozoic
Waiitian 254.2
Puruhauan 259.8
Flettian 266.0 Aparima Middle
Barettian 276.0 Early/Middle
Mangapirian 285.0 Early
Telfordian 288.5
pre-Telfordian 298.9
No stages recognised 323.2 Pennsylvanian Carboniferous
358.9 Mississippian
Famennian 372.2 Late Devonian
Frasnian 382.7
Givetian  387.7 Middle
Eifelian 393.3
Emsian 407.6 Early
Pragian 410.8
Lochkovian 419.2
Přídolí 423.0 Přídolí Silurian
Ludfordian 425.6 Ludlow
Gorstian 427.4
Homerian 430.5 Wenlock
Sheinwoodian 433.4
Telychian 438.5 Llandovery
Aeronian 440.8
Rhuddanian 443.8
Bolindian 448.4 Late Ordovician
Eastonian 453.0
Gisbornian 448.4
Darriwilian 467.3 Middle
Yapeenian 468.3
Castlemainian 470.0
Chewtonian 472.4 Early
Bendigonian 476
Lancefieldian 484.3
Warendan 485.4
Datsonian 486.8 Furongian Cambrian
Payntonian 489.5
Iverian 494.0
Idamean 497.0 Miaolingian Epoch 3
Mindyallan 499.0
Boomerangian 500.5
Undillan 503.0
Floran 504.5
Templetonian 508.0 Mia./Series 1-2 Ep.3/Epochs 1-2
Ordian 511.5 Series 1-2 Epochs 1-2
No stages recognised 541.0
definition

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