New Zealand geologic time scale
Encyclopedia
While also using the international Geologic time scale
, many nations - especially those with isolated and therefore non-standard prehistories - use their own system of dividing geologic time into epochs and faunal stage
s.
In New Zealand
, these epochs and stages use local place names (mainly Maori
in origin) back to the Permian
. Prior to this time, they largely use the same terms as used in the Australian geologic time scale, and are not divided into epochs. In practice, these early terms are rarely used, as most New Zealand geology is of more recent origin. In all cases, New Zealand uses the same periods as used internationally; it is only the subdivisions of these periods that have been renamed. Very few epochs and stages cross international period boundaries. Of those that do, almost all are within the Cenozoic Era.
Though the New Zealand geologic time scale has not been formally adopted, it has become widely used by New Zealand earth scientists
, geologists
and palaeontologists since its proposal by J. S. Crampton in 1995.
A standard abbreviation is also used for these epochs and stages, mostly in the form Xx where the first letter is the initial letter of the epoch and the second (lower-case) letter is the initial letter of the stage. These are listed alongside the stage names in the list below.
Currently, we are in the Haweran stage of the Wanganui epoch. The Haweran, which started some 340,000 years ago, is named after the North Island
town of Hawera
.
Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
Permian
Carboniferous
Devonian
Stages prior to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period use either international (Devonian/Silurian) or Australian (Ordovician/Cambrian) geologic stage names; very little New Zealand rock is known from these geologic periods.
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Geologic time scale
The geologic time scale provides a system of chronologic measurement relating stratigraphy to time that is used by geologists, paleontologists and other earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth...
, many nations - especially those with isolated and therefore non-standard prehistories - use their own system of dividing geologic time into epochs and faunal stage
Faunal stage
In chronostratigraphy, a stage is a succession of rock strata laid down in a single age on the geologic timescale, which usually represents millions of years of deposition. A given stage of rock and the corresponding age of time will by convention have the same name, and the same boundaries.Rock...
s.
In New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, these epochs and stages use local place names (mainly Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
in origin) back to the Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
. Prior to this time, they largely use the same terms as used in the Australian geologic time scale, and are not divided into epochs. In practice, these early terms are rarely used, as most New Zealand geology is of more recent origin. In all cases, New Zealand uses the same periods as used internationally; it is only the subdivisions of these periods that have been renamed. Very few epochs and stages cross international period boundaries. Of those that do, almost all are within the Cenozoic Era.
Though the New Zealand geologic time scale has not been formally adopted, it has become widely used by New Zealand earth scientists
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
, geologists
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and palaeontologists since its proposal by J. S. Crampton in 1995.
A standard abbreviation is also used for these epochs and stages, mostly in the form Xx where the first letter is the initial letter of the epoch and the second (lower-case) letter is the initial letter of the stage. These are listed alongside the stage names in the list below.
Currently, we are in the Haweran stage of the Wanganui epoch. The Haweran, which started some 340,000 years ago, is named after the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
town of Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
.
List of New Zealand geologic time epochs and stages
Times given indicate the start of the respective stages and epochs. Several of these stages are further divided into upper and lower or upper, middle, and lower, although this has not been noted below unless unique names have been given to these sub-stages. As with the international geologic scale, these epochs and stages are largely named for locales where rock dating from these time periods is in evidence. Where known, these places are also linked in the list below.Cenozoic Era
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) | International equivalent | Named after |
| Wanganui epoch | W | Pliocene Pliocene The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch... , Pleistocene Pleistocene The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and .... and Holocene Holocene The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"... |
Wanganui Wanganui Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region.... |
|
| Haweran stage | Wq | 0.34 | Hawera Hawera Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,... |
|
| Castlecliffian stage | Wc | 1.63 | Castlecliff | |
| Nukumaruan stage | Wn | 2.40 | Nukumaru | |
| Mangapanian stage | Wm | 3.00 | Mangapani | |
| Waipipian stage | Wp | 3.60 | Waipipi | |
| Opoitian stage | Wo | 5.28 | Opoiti | |
| Taranaki epoch | T | Upper Miocene Miocene The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene... |
Taranaki Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island and is the 10th largest region of New Zealand by population. It is named for the region's main geographical feature, Mount Taranaki.... |
|
| Kapitean stage | Tk | 6.5 | Kapiti Island Kapiti Island -External links:* , Department of Conservation* * , Nature Coast Enterprise *... |
|
| Tongaporutuan stage | Tt | 10.9 | Tongaporutu Tongaporutu Tongaporutu is a settlement in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 at the mouth of the Tongaporutu River, 15 kilometres south of Mokau.Tongaporutu is well known in New Zealand for its 'Three Sisters' rock formations and its Maori petroglyphs... |
|
| Southland epoch | S | Middle Miocene Miocene The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene... |
Southland | |
| Waiauan stage | Sw | 12.7 | Waiau River Waiau River, Southland Waiau River is the largest river in the Southland Region of New Zealand. It is the outflow of Lake Te Anau, flowing from it into Lake Manapouri 10 kilometres to the south, and from there flows south for 70 kilometres before reaching the Foveaux Strait eight kilometres south of Tuatapere... |
|
| Lillburnian stage | Sl | 15.1 | Lillburn Valley | |
| Clifdenian stage | Sc | 15.9 | Clifden Clifden, New Zealand The hamlet of Clifden, New Zealand is a small rural community on the Waiau River, Southland, New Zealand. It is notable for being the site of the Clifden Suspension Bridge and the Clifden Limestone Caves, well-known since early European settlers made it a "must see" place to visit.-Clifden war... |
|
| Pareora epoch | P | Lower Miocene Miocene The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene... |
Pareora Pareora Pareora is a settlement in New Zealand. It is located close to State Highway 1, which bypasses the western edge of the town, and close to the Pacific Ocean coast, five kilometres north of Saint Andrews and 10 kilometres south of Timaru. The Pareora River reaches the ocean just to the south of the... |
|
| Altonian stage | Pl | 19.0 | Alton Alton, New Zealand Alton is a small rural community in south Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located between the towns of Hawera and Patea.-Business history:... |
|
| Otaian stage | Po | 21.7 | Otaio | |
| Landon epoch | L | Oligocene Oligocene The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly... to Lower Miocene Miocene The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene... |
||
| Waitakian stage | Lw | 25.2 | Waitaki River Waitaki River The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. It is the major river of the Mackenzie Basin.It is a braided river which flows through Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki. These are ultimately fed by three large glacial lakes, Pukaki, Tekapo,... |
|
| Duntroonian stage | Ld | 27.3 | Duntroon Duntroon, New Zealand Duntroon is a small farming town in the Waitaki District of New Zealand's South Island. Although traditionally considered a North Otago town, it is presently officially located within the farthest southern reaches of Canterbury... |
|
| Whaingaroan stage | Lwh | 34.3 | Whaingaroa | |
| Arnold epoch | A | Middle to Upper Eocene Eocene The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the... |
Arnold River Arnold River, New Zealand The Arnold River is located in the west of New Zealand's South Island. It is the outflow of Lake Brunner, which it links with the Grey River. The Arnold River flows northwest for 20 kilometres, joining the Grey immediately above the town of Brunner, some 15 kilometres from the Tasman Sea... |
|
| Runangan stage | Ar | 36.0 | Runanga Runanga Runanga may refer to:*Rūnanga, a traditional Māori assembly or tribal gathering.*Rūnanga, the governing council or administrative group of a Māori Hapu or Iwi*Rūnanga, a Maori translation of board of directors or council... |
|
| Kaiatan stage | Ak | 37.0 | Kaiata | |
| Bortonian stage | Ab | 43.0 | Bortons | |
| Dannevirke epoch | D | Lower Palaeocene to Middle Eocene Eocene The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the... |
Dannevirke Dannevirke Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities... |
|
| Porangan stage | Dp | 46.2 | Poranga Poranga Poranga is a town and municipality in the state of Ceará in the Northeast region of Brazil.-References:... |
|
| Heretaungan stage | Dh | 49.5 | Heretaunga Plains Heretaunga Plains There are two places in New Zealand called Heretaunga. For the suburb of Upper Hutt see Heretaunga.The Heretaunga Plains are an area of flat land in the eastern North Island of New Zealand.... |
|
| Mangaorapan stage | Dm | 53.0 | Mangaorapa | |
| Waipawan stage | Dw | 55.5 | Waipawa Waipawa Waipawa is the second-largest town in Central Hawke's Bay in the east of the North Island of New Zealand. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,872, a change of -2.0 percent since the 1996 census.... |
|
| Teurian stage | Dt | 65.0 | Te Uri |
CretaceousCretaceousThe Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) | Named after |
| Mata epoch | M | ||
| Haumurian stage | Mh | 84.0 | Haumuri Bluff |
| Piripauan stage | Mp | 86.5 | Piripaua |
| Raukumara epoch | R | Raukumara Range Raukumara Range The Raukumara Range lies north of Gisborne, near East Cape in New Zealand's North Island. It forms part of the North Island's main mountain chain, which runs north-northeast from Wellington to East Cape, and is composed primarily of greywacke, argillites, siltstones and sandstones. The North... |
|
| Teratan stage | Rt | 89.1 | |
| Mangaotanean stage | Rm | 92.1 | Mangaotane |
| Arowhanan stage | Ra | 95.2 | Arowhana |
| Clarence epoch | C | Clarence River Clarence River, New Zealand Clarence River is located on South Island of New Zealand. It is 160 kilometres long.For its first 50 kilometres, the river runs in a generally southeastern direction. It then turns northeast, running down a long straight valley between the Inland and Seaward Kaikoura Ranges... |
|
| Ngaterian stage | Cn | 100.2 | |
| Motuan stage | Cm | 103.3 | Motu River Motu River Motu River is a major waterway in the eastern portion of the North Island of New Zealand. It rises on the slopes of Maungahaumi on the southern side of the Raukumara Range south of Opotiki, heads east and cuts its way through the range and empties into the Bay of Plenty to the north.The Māori name... |
| Urutawan stage | Cu | 108.4 | Urutawa, a hill north of Matawai Matawai Matawai can refer to one of several things:*Matawai , an ethnic group from Suriname*Matawai language, the language of Suriname's Matawai people*Matawai, New Zealand, a settlement in New Zealand's North Island... |
| Taitai epoch | U | Taitai, a hill near Ruatoria Ruatoria The town of Ruatoria is located in the East Coast region of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second largest centre of population in the sparsely populated region, yet has a population of only 900 .- Geography :... |
|
| Korangan stage | Uk | 117.5 | Koranga |
| Undifferentiated Taitai | 145.5 |
JurassicJurassicThe Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) | Named after |
| Oteke epoch | O | ||
| Puaroan stage | Op | 148.5 | |
| Kawhia epoch | K | Kawhia Harbour Kawhia Harbour Kawhia Harbour is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke and Aotea Harbour, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton... |
|
| Ohauan stage | Ko | 153.5 | |
| Heterian stage | Kh | 157.5 | |
| Temaikan stage | Kt | 175.6 | |
| Herangi epoch | H | ||
| Ururoan stage | Hu | 188.0 | |
| Aratauran stage | Ha | 199.6 |
TriassicTriassicThe Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) | Named after |
| Balfour epoch | B | Balfour Balfour, New Zealand Balfour is a small town located in the Southland Region of New Zealand. According to the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, it has a usually resident population of 135, unchanged from the previous census in 1996.... |
|
| Otapirian stage | Bo | 204.6 | |
| Warepan stage | Bw | 212.0 | Warepa |
| Otamitan stage | Bm | 217.0 | |
| Oretian stage | Br | 227.5 | Oreti River Oreti River The Oreti River is one of the main rivers of Southland, New Zealand, and is 170 kilometres in length.The Oreti has its headwaters close to the Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, and flows south across the Southland Plains to its outflow into Foveaux Strait at the southeastern end... |
| Gore epoch | G | Gore Gore, New Zealand Gore is a town, surrounding borough, and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.-Geography:The Gore District has a land area of 1,251.62 km² and a resident population of... |
|
| Kaihikuan stage | Gk | 238.5 | |
| Etalian stage | Ge | 244.5 | |
| Malakovian stage | Gm | 245.5 | |
| Nelsonian stage | Gn | 250.4 | Nelson Nelson, New Zealand Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island.... |
| Makarewan stage (see Permian Period, below) |
PermianPermianThe PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) | Named after |
| D'Urville epoch | YD | D'Urville Island D'Urville Island, New Zealand D'Urville Island is an island in the Marlborough Sounds along the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville. With an area of approximately , it is the eighth-largest island of New Zealand, and has around 52 permanent... |
|
| Makarewan stage | YDm | 253.8 | Makarewa River Makarewa River The Makarewa River is the largest tributary of the Oreti River, and is located in Southland, New Zealand. It flows for 60 kilometres from its source in the Hokonui Hills, joining the Oreti just north of Invercargill.... |
| Waiitian stage | YDw | ? | Wai-iti River Wai-iti River The Wai-iti River is located in the north of the South Island of New Zealand. It flows northeast for 45 kilometres before combining with the Wairoa River to form the Waimea River. This flows into the southern end of Tasman Bay near Richmond.... |
| Puruhauan stage | YDp | 260.4 | |
| Aparima epoch | YA | Aparima River Aparima River The Aparima River is located in Southland, New Zealand. It has its headwaters in the Takitimu Mountains, south of Lake Te Anau, and flows south for 100 kilometres before entering Foveaux Strait near Riverton at the north end of Oreti Beach.... |
|
| Flettian stage | YAf | 266.5 | |
| Barettian stage | YAr | 273.0 | |
| Mangapirian stage | YAm | 280.0 | |
| Telfordian stage | YAt | 283.0 | |
| Pre-Telfordian epoch (not subdivided into stages) | Ypt | 299.0 |
CarboniferousCarboniferousThe Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| Carboniferous Period (not subdivided) | F | 359.2 |
DevonianDevonianThe Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
Period
Stages prior to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period use either international (Devonian/Silurian) or Australian (Ordovician/Cambrian) geologic stage names; very little New Zealand rock is known from these geologic periods.| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| Upper Devonian epoch | JU | |
| Famennian stage | 374.5 | |
| Frasnian stage | 385.3 | |
| Middle Devonian epoch | JM | |
| Givetian stage | 391.8 | |
| Eifelian stage | 397.5 | |
| Lower Devonian epoch | JL | |
| Emsian stage | Jem | 407.0 |
| Pragian stage | Jpr | 411.2 |
| Lochkovian stage | Jlo | 417.2 |
SilurianSilurianThe Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| Pridoli epoch (not subdivided into stages) | Epr | 419.7 |
| Ludlow epoch | Elu | |
| Ludfordian stage | 422.0 | |
| Gorstian stage | 423.5 | |
| Wenlock epoch | Ewe | |
| Homerian stage | 426.2 | |
| Sheinwoodian stage | 428.4 | |
| Llandovery epoch | Ela | |
| Telychian stage | 435.9 | |
| Aeronian stage | 439.7 | |
| Rhuddanian stage | 443.2 |
OrdovicianOrdovicianThe Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| Upper Ordovician epoch | ||
| Bolindian stage | Vbo | 449.7 |
| Eastonian stage | Vea | 456.1 |
| Gisbornian stage | Vgi | 460.5 |
| Middle Ordovician epoch | ||
| Darriwilian stage | Vda | 468.1 |
| Yapeenian stage | Vya | 468.9 |
| Castlemainian stage | Vca | 472.0 |
| Lower Ordovician epoch | ||
| Chewtonian stage | Vch | 473.9 |
| Bendigonian stage | Vbe | 476.8 |
| Lancefieldian stage | Vla | 488.7 |
| Pre-Lancefieldian stage | Vpl | 490.0 |
CambrianCambrianThe Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
Period
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| Datsonian stage | Xda | 491.5 |
| Payntonian stage | Xpa | 494.0 |
| Iverian stage | Xiv | 498.5 |
| Idamean stage | Xid | 501.0 |
| Mindyallan stage | Xmi | 503.0 |
| Boomerangian stage | Xbo | 504.0 |
| Undillan stage | Xun | 505.0 |
| Floran stage | Xfl | 507.0 |
| Ordian/Templetonian stage | Xor | 513.0 |
| Early Cambrian (not subdivided) | XL | 542.0 |
Proterozoic and Archaean Aeons
| Name | Abbreviation | Start date (Ma) |
| (Not subdivided) | Z |
Footnotes to time scale
- This stage is sometimes further divided into Mangaoran (lower) and Waikatoan (upper).
- This stage is sometimes further divided into Kiriteherean (lower) and Marokopan (upper).
- Until recently, the Flettian and Barettian stages were together known as the Braxtonian stage.