List of Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points

This is a list of Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points. Since 1977, Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points are internationally agreed upon reference points on stratigraphic sections of rock which define the lower boundaries of stages on the geologic time scale. They are selected by the International Commission on Stratigraphy based on multiple factors, but their accessibility and the degree to which they are representative of the same boundary on sections worldwide are among the most important.
Since GSSPs require well-preserved sections of rock without interruptions in sedimentation, and since most are defined by different stages of animal life, defining them becomes progressively more difficult as one goes further back in time.

Organization of this list

This list is divided first into the geologic eras of the Phanerozoic and then into the geologic periods of each era. Each period is marked below the era bar on top of its subdivided epochs and stages. Each stage is assigned an age in mya, an acronym for million years ago, which is the age at which it began. Most of these ages are derived from astronomical cycles in sediments, magnetic data, biostratigraphic data, and radiometric dating methods. The GSSP assigned to each stage is that stage's lower boundary and oldest point.
Ages are given in "million year ago". They are obtained with different radiometric dating methods depending on the type of rock and its age. Ages that have a tilde prefix are approximate ages for GSSPs that have not been defined or not been accurately dated.
The Status column has a "golden spike" for every GSSP which has been formally agreed by the ICS. Those without have only candidate sections which have not yet been formally ratified. The clock stands for times that are currently defined only by an age.
The "Defining markers" column lists the evidence in the rock used to define the boundary. Most of the boundaries rely on the fossil record, paleomagnetic data, and/or climate data determined by carbon and oxygen isotopes.

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Pliocene	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pliocene	Piacenzian			Punta Piccola Section, Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Italy	Magnetic: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C2An. Biologic: Extinction of Globorotalia margaritae and Pulleniatina primalis.
Pliocene	Zanclean			Heraclea Minoa sectionHeraclea Minoa, Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, Italy	Magnetic: Top of magnetic polarity chronozone C3r. Biologic: First appearance of Ceratolithus acutus and near extinction of Triquetrorhabdulus rugosus.
Miocene	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Miocene	Messinian			Oued Akrech section,Rabat, Morocco	Magnetic: Within magnetic polarity chronozone C3Br.1r. Biologic: First regular occurrence of the Globorotalia miotumida. Biologic: First appearance of Amaurolithus delicatus.
Miocene	Tortonian			Monte dei Corvi Beach section,Ancona, Italy	Magnetic: Within normal-polarity subchron C5r.2n Biologic: Last Common Occurrence of the Discoaster kugleri. Biologic: Last Common Occurrence of the Globigerinoides subquadratus. Climatic: Oxygen isotope event Mi-5.
Miocene	Serravallian			Ras il Pellegrin section,Fomm ir-Riħ Bay, Malta	Magnetic: Within magnetic polarity chronozone C5ABr. Biologic: Below first appearance of Sphenolithus heteromorphus Climatic: Mi3b isotopic event.
Miocene	Langhian			Candidate sections: La Vedova, Italy St. Peter's Pool, Malta Astronomically tuned Ocean Drilling Program-core	Magnetic: Top of magnetic polarity chronozone C5Cn.1n. Biologic: Near first appearance of Praeorbulina glomerosa.	-
Miocene	Burdigalian			Candidate sections: Astronomically tuned ODP core	Near FAD of Globigerinoides altiaperturus or near top of magnetic polarity chronozone C6An	-
Miocene	Aquitanian			Lemme-Carrosio Section,Carrosio, Italy	Magnetic: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C6Cn.2n. Biologic: Near first appearance of Paragloborotalia kugleri.

[Paleogene]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Oligocene	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Oligocene	Chattian			Candidate section: Monte Cagnero, Central Apennines, Italy	Potentially extinction of planktonic foraminifer Chiloguembelina ; or an isotopic/climatic event	-	-
Oligocene	Rupelian			Massignano quarry section,Massignano, Ancona, Italy	Biologic: Extinction of Hantkenina and Cribrohantkenina.
Eocene	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eocene	Priabonian			Alano section,Piave river, Venetian Prealps, Belluno, Italy	Biologic: Near first appearance of Chiasmolithus oamaruensis.	-	-
Eocene	Bartonian			Contessa highway sectionGubbio, Central Apennines, Italy	Biologic: Near Extinction of Reticulofenestra reticulata	-	-
Eocene	Lutetian			Gorrondatxe sea-cliff section,Western Pyrenees, Basque Country, Spain	Biologic: First appearance of Hantkenina.
Eocene	Ypresian			Dababiya section,Luxor, Egypt	Climatic: Base of negative Carbon Isotope Excursion.
Paleocene	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Paleocene	Thanetian			Zumaia Section,Basque Country, Spain	Magnetic: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C26n.
Paleocene	Selandian			Zumaia Section,Basque Country, Spain	Chemical: Onset of sea-level drop and carbon isotope shift. Magnetic: 30 precession cycles after the top of magnetic polarity Chron 27n
Paleocene	Danian			El Kef Section,El Kef, Tunisia	Iridium enriched layer associated with a major meteorite impact and subsequent extinction event.

[Mesozoic]

[Cretaceous]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Upper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Upper	Maastrichtian			Grande Carrière quarry, Landes, France	Biologic: 12 biostratigraphic criteria Biologic: First appearance of Pachydiscus neubergicus is just above the boundary.
Upper	Campanian			Candidate sections: Seaford Head, Sussex, England Waxahachie dam spillway, Texas, United States	Biologic: Extinction of Marsupites testudinarius.	-
Upper	Santonian			Olazagutia, Spain	Biologic: First appearance of Cladoceramus undulatoplicatus.	-
Upper	Coniacian			Candidate sections: Słupia Nadbrzeżna, Poland Pueblo, Colorado, United States Salzgitter-Salder quarry, Germany	Biologic: First appearance of Cremnoceramus rotundatus.	-
Upper	Turonian			Rock Canyon,Colorado, United States	Biologic: First appearance of Watinoceras devonense.
Upper	Cenomanian			Mont Risoux,Hautes-Alpes, France	Biologic: First appearance of Rotalipora globotruncanoides
Lower	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lower	Albian			Candidate section: France	Candidates: Haptophyte FAD of Praediscosphaera columnata Carbon-isotope excursion Ammonite	-	-
Lower	Aptian			Candidate section: Gorgo a Cerbara, Piobbico, Central Apennines, Italy	Magnetic: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone M0r. Biologic: Near first appearance of Paradeshayesites oglanlensis.	-	-
Lower	Barremian			Candidate section: Río Argos, Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia Province, Spain	Biologic: First appearance of Spitidiscus hugii or Spitidiscus vandeckii group.	-	-
Lower	Hauterivian			Candidate section: La Charce, Drôme, France	Biologic: First appearance of genus Acanthodiscus.	-	-
Lower	Valanginian			Candidates sections: Montbrun-les-Bains, Drôme, France Cañada Luenga, Betic Cordillera, Spain	Biologic: First appearance of Calpionellites darderi. Biologic: First appearance of Thurmanniceras pertransiens.	-	-
Lower	Berriasian			Candidate section: Vaca Muerta, Neuquén Basin, Argentina	Candidates: Magnetic—base of Chron M18r Base of Calpionellid zone B

[Jurassic]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Upper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Upper	Tithonian			Candidate sections: Mt. Crussol, France Canjuers, France Fornazzo, Sicily	Magnetic: Base of magnetic polarity chronozone M22An. Biologic: Near first appearance of Hybonoticeras hybonotum. Biologic: First appearance of genus Gravesia.	-	-
Upper	Kimmeridgian			Candidate section: Flodigarry, Skye, Scotland	Biologic: First appearance of Pictonia baylei.		-
Upper	Oxfordian			Candidate sections: Redcliff Point, Dorset, England Savouron, Provence, France	Biologic: Horizon of Cardioceras redcliffense.	-	-
Middle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Middle	Callovian			Candidate sections: Pfeffingen, Swabian Alb, Germany Russia	Biologic: First appearance of genus Kepplerites.	-	-
Middle	Bathonian			Ravin du Bès, Bas-Auran, Alpes de Haute, France	Biologic: First appearance of Gonolkites convergen.
Middle	Bajocian			Cabo Mondego, Portugal	Biologic: First appearance of Hyperlioceras mundum, Hyperlioceras furcatum, Braunsina aspera, and Braunsina elegantula Biologic: First appearance of genus Hyperlioceras.
Middle	Aalenian			Fuentelsaz, Spain	Biologic: First appearance of Leioceras opalinum and Leioceras lineatum Biologic: First appearance of genus Leioceras.
Lower	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lower	Toarcian			Peniche, Portugal	Biologic: Near first appearance of Eodactylites fauna. Biologic: Coincides with Protogrammoceras paltus horizon of NW-Europe.	-	-
Lower	Pliensbachian			Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, England	Biologic: First appearance of Bifericeras donovani and genera Apoderoceras.
Lower	Sinemurian			East Quantoxhead, West Somerset, England	Biologic: First appearance of the Vermiceras quantoxense, Vermiceras palmeri .
Lower	Hettangian			Kuhjoch section, Karwendel mountains, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria	Biologic: Near first appearance of smooth Psiloceras spela group.

[Triassic]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Upper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Upper	Rhaetian	~		Candidate sections: Steinbergkogel, Austria Pignola-Abriola, Italy Turkey British Columbia	Biologic: First appearance of Misikella posthernsteini. Biologic: Near first appearance of genus Cochloceras. Biologic: Near first appearance of Epigondolella mosheri. Biologic: Near first appearance of Proparvicingula moniliformis.	-	-
Upper	Norian	~		Candidate sections: Black Bear Ridge, British Columbia Pizzo Mondello, Sicily	Base of Stikinoceras kerri ammonoid zone and near FAD of Metapolygnathus echinatus within the M. communisti conodont zones.	-	-
Upper	Carnian	~		Prati di Stuores, Dolomites, Italy	Biologic: First appearance of Daxatina canadensis. Biologic: Near first appearance of Metapolygnathus polygnathiformis. Magnetic: Above magnetic zone S2n.
Middle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Middle	Ladinian	~		Bagolino, Lombardian pre-Alps, Italy	Biologic: First appearance of Eoprotrachyceras curionii. Biologic: First appearance of Budurovignathus praehungaricus.
Middle	Anisian			Candidate sections: Desli Caira, Northern Dobruja, Romania Guandao, Guizhou, China	Biologic: First appearance of Chiosella timorensis. Magnetic: Base of magnetic zone MT1n.
Lower	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lower	Olenekian			Candidate sections: Mud village, Spiti valley, India Chaohu, China	Biologic: First appearance of Neospathodus waageni. Biologic: Near first appearance of genera Flemingites and Euflemingites.
Lower	Induan			Meishan, Zhejiang, China	Biologic: First appearance of Hindeodus parvus.

[Paleozoic]

[Permian]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Lopingian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lopingian	Changhsingian			Zhejiang, China	Biologic: Near first appearance of Clarkina wangi.
Lopingian	Wuchiapingian			Penglaitan Section,Laibin, Guangxi, China	Biologic: First appearance of Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri.
Guadalupian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Guadalupian	Capitanian			Nipple Hill, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas, U.S.A.	Biologic: First appearance of Jinogondolella postserrata.
Guadalupian	Wordian			Guadalupe Pass, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas, U.S.A.	Biologic: First appearance of Jinogondolella aserrata.
Guadalupian	Roadian			Stratotype Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas, U.S.A.	Biologic: First appearance of Jinogondolella nanginkensis.
Cisuralian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cisuralian	Kungurian			Candidate section: Ural mountains	Biologic: Near first appearance of Neostreptognathodus pnevi.	-
Cisuralian	Artinskian			Candidate section: Ural mountains	Biologic: First appearance of Sweetognathus whitei.	-
Cisuralian	Sakmarian			Candidate section: Kondurovsky, Orenburg, Russia.	Biologic: Near first appearance of Sweetognathus merrelli.	-
Cisuralian	Asselian			Aidaralash, Ural Mountains, Kazakhstan	Biologic: First appearance of Streptognathodus isolatus within the morphotype Streptognathodus wabaunsensis chronocline.

[Carboniferous]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Pennsylvanian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pennsylvanian	Gzhelian			Candidate sections: Ural mountains Nashui, Luodian County, Guizhou, China	Biologic: First appearance Idiognathodus simulator and close to first appearance of Shumardites	-
Pennsylvanian	Kasimovian			Candidate sections: Ural mountains United States Nashui, Luodian County, Guizhou, China	Biologic: First appearance of Protriticites or 1 million years older Montiparus montiparus	-
Pennsylvanian	Moscovian			Candidate sections: Ural mountains Nashui, Luodian County, Guizhou, China	Biologic: First appearance of Idiognathoides postsulcatus or Declinognathodus donetzianus	-
Pennsylvanian	Bashkirian			Arrow Canyon, Nevada, United States	Biologic: First appearance of Declinognathodus nodiliferus.
Mississippian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mississippian	Serpukhovian			Candidate sections: Verkhnyaya Kardailovka, Ural mountains Nashui, Luodian County, Guizhou, China	Biologic: First appearance of Lochriea ziegleri	-
Mississippian	Visean			Pengchong Section,Guangxi, China	Biologic: First appearance of Eoparastaffella simplex
Mississippian	Tournaisian			La Serre, Montagne Noire, France	Biologic: First appearance of Siphonodella sulcata. In 2006 it was discovered that this GSSP has biostratigraphic problems.

[Devonian]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Upper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Upper	Famennian			Coumiac quarry, Montagne Noire, France	Biologic: Abundant occurrence of Palmatolepis triangularis. Biologic: Upper Kellwasser Extinction of all Ancyrodella and Ozarkodina and most Palmatolepis, Polygnathus, and Ancyrognathus. Biologic: Coincides with the first appearance of Phoenixites frechi.
Upper	Frasnian			Col du Puech de la Suque, Montagne Noire, France	Biologic: First appearance of Ancyrodella rotundiloba.
Middle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Middle	Givetian			Jebel Mech Irdane, Tafilalt, Morocco	Biologic: First appearance of Polygnathus hemiansatus. Biologic: Just below first appearance of Maenioceras.
Middle	Eifelian			Wetteldorf Richtschnitt section,Wetteldorf, Eifel, Germany	Biologic: First appearance of Polygnathus costatus partitus.
Lower	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lower	Emsian			Zinzil'ban Gorge, Uzbekistan	Biologic: First appearance of Polygnathus kitabicus.
Lower	Pragian			Velká Chuchle quarryVelká Chuchle, Prague, Czech Republic	Biologic: First appearance of Eognathodus sulcatus.
Lower	Lochkovian			Klonk, Prague, Czech Republic	Biologic: First appearance of Monograptus uniformis.

[Silurian]

[Ordovician]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Upper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Upper	Hirnantian			Wangjiawan section Wangjiawan, Yichang, China	Biologic: First appearance of Normalograptus extraordinarius. Climatic: Base of major positive carbon isotope excursion. Climatic: Beginning of sea-level fall associated with onset of a major glaciation.
Upper	Katian			Black Knob Ridge section,Oklahoma, United States	Biologic: First appearance of Diplacanthograptus caudatus. Climatic: Just below base of Guttenberg carbon isotope excursion.
Upper	Sandbian			Fågelsång sectionSularp Brook, Skåne, Sweden	Biologic: First appearance of Nemagraptus gracilis. 1.4 m below a phosphorite marker bed.
Middle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Middle	Darriwilian			Huangnitang SectionHuangnitang Village, Changshan, Zhejiang, China	Biologic: First appearance of Undulograptus austrodentatus.
Middle	Dapingian			Huanghuachang sectionHuanghuachang, Yichang, China	Biologic: Lowest appearance of Baltoniodus triangularis.
Lower	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lower	Floian			Diabasbrottet quarry,Västergötland, Sweden	Biologic: Lowest appearance of Tetragraptus approximatus.
Lower	Tremadocian			Greenpoint sectionGreen Point, Newfoundland, Canada	Biologic: First appearance of Iapetognathus fluctivagus. Biologic: Planktonic graptolites occur 4.8 m above boundary. Climatic: Coincides with a peak in carbon isotopes.

[Cambrian]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Furongian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Furongian	Stage 10			Candidate sections: Duibian, Zhejiang, China Lawson Cove, Utah, United States	Candidates: Biologic: First appearance of Lotagnostus americanus. Biologic: First appearance of Cordylodus andresi. Biologic: First appearance of Eoconodontus notchpeakensis.	-
Furongian	Jiangshanian	~		Duibian B SectionDuibian, Zhejiang, China	Biologic: First appearance of Agnostotes orientalis.
Furongian	Paibian	~		Paibi sectionPaibi, Hunan, China	Biologic: First appearance of the agnostoid Glyptagnostus reticulatus. Climatic: Coincides with base of the Steptoean positive carbon isotope excursion.
Series 3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Series 3	Guzhangian	~		Luoyixi sectionLuoyixi, Guzhang, Hunan, China	Biologic: First appearance of Lejopyge laevigata.
Series 3	Drumian	~		Drumian sectionWheeler Shale, Utah, U.S.A.	Biologic: First appearance of Ptychagnostus atavus.
Series 3	Stage 5	~		Candidate sections: Wuliu-Zengjiayan, Guizhou, China Split Mountain, Nevada, United States Molodo river section, Bulunsky District, Sakha Republic, Russia	Biologic: First appearance of Oryctocephalus indicus. Biologic: First appearance of Ovatoryctocara granulata.	-
Series 2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Series 2	Stage 4	~		-	Biologic: First appearance Arthricocephalus chauveaui. Biologic: First appearance Olenellus or Redlichia.	-
Series 2	Stage 3	~		-	Biologic: First appearance of trilobites	-
Terreneuvian	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Terreneuvian	Stage 2	~		-	Biologic: First appearance of small shelly fauna or archaeocyathids	-	-
Terreneuvian	Fortunian			Fortune head section,Newfoundland, Canada	Biologic: First appearance of Treptichnus pedum.

[Precambrian]

[Proterozoic]

Epoch	Stage	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Neoproterozoic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Neoproterozoic	Ediacaran			Enorama Creek section Flinders Ranges, South Australia	Geologic: Worldwide distinct cap carbonates. Isotopic: Beginning of a distinctive pattern of secular changes in carbon isotopes.
Neoproterozoic	Cryogenian			Defined chronometrically with an interim calibrated age of ca. 720 Ma. GSSP is in progress.	Geologic: the GSSP has been recommended to be placed at a stratigraphic level beneath the first appearance of widespread glaciation associated with the Sturtian glacial epoch.	-
Neoproterozoic	Tonian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Mesoproterozoic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mesoproterozoic	Stenian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Mesoproterozoic	Ectasian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Mesoproterozoic	Calymmian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Paleoproterozoic	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Paleoproterozoic	Statherian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Paleoproterozoic	Orosirian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Paleoproterozoic	Rhyacian			Defined chronometrically	-	-
Paleoproterozoic	Siderian			Defined chronometrically	-	-

[Archean]

Era	-	Age	Status	GSSP location	Defining markers	Geographic Coordinates	References
Neoarchean
Mesoarchean
Paleoarchean
Eoarchean
Hadean		4567

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