Pleistocene (2.58 Ma)

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Representation and status

Color CMYK
0 / 5 / 30 / 0
Color RGB
R: 255 G: 242 B: 174
Rank
chronostratigraphic Epoch
Validity
Unit is in Use
Status
valid formal name

Nomenclature

Deutsch
Pleistozän
Français
Pléistocène
Italiano
Pleistocene
English
Pleistocene (2.58 Ma)
Origin of the Name

pleistos = le plus , kaïno = récent

Historical Variants

Quaternaire ancien (Boyer & Girardot 1890), Eiszeitalter, Diluvium = Eiszeit (Roesli 1948), Pleistocän, Pleistocaen

Hierarchy and sequence

Subordinate units
Units at roof

Age

Age at base
  • Gelasian
Dating Method

The base of the Early Pleistocene (and base of the Quaternary) is defined at the Gauss-Matuyama paleomagnetic reversal, around 2.58 Ma, which also roughly corresponds to the onset of MIS-103.

  • 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).

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    • Younger Dryas

      Name Origin

      Named after the cold-climate wildflower Dryas octopetala Linnaeus.

      Rank
      climato/palynostratigraphy
      Status
      informal term
      In short
      Cold floral stage at the end of the Late Pleistocene (12900-11500 BP = 11000-9500 av. J.C.).
      Age
      Late Pleistocene
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    • 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
      Late Pleistocene
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    • Older Dryas

      Name Origin

      Named after the cold-climate wildflower Dryas octopetala Linnaeus.

      Rank
      climato/palynostratigraphy
      Status
      informal term
      In short
      (12000-11800 BP = 11590-11400 av. J.C.)
      Age
      Late Pleistocene
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    • Bølling

      Name Origin
      série de tourbes découvertes au lac Bølling, dans le Jutland central
      Rank
      climato/palynostratigraphy
      Status
      informal term
      In short
      Floral stage (13000-12000 BP = 11720-11590 av. J.C.).
      Age
      Late Pleistocene
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    • 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
      Late Pleistocene
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    • 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
      Late Pleistocene
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  • 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.

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    • Chibanian

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Stage
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      New stage name for the Middle Pleistocene.

      Age
      Mittleres Pleistozän
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    • 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
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    • 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
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    • 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
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    • 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
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  • 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
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    • 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
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      • Sicilian

        Name Origin

        Named after Sicilia (Italia).

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

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