Aquitanian (stage)

Aquitanian
Aquitanian
23.03 – 20.44 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Chronology
←	Messinian salinity crisis
←	North American prairie expands
	Subdivision of the Neogene according to the ICS, as of 2023.; Vertical axis scale: Millions of years ago
Formerly part of	Tertiary Period/System
Usage information
Celestial body	Earth
Regional usage	Global (ICS)
Time scale(s) used	ICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unit	Age
Stratigraphic unit	Stage
Time span formality	Formal
Lower boundary definition	Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C6Cn.2n; FAD of the Planktonic foraminiferan Paragloborotalia kugleri;
Lower boundary GSSP	Lemme-Carrosio Section, Carrosio, Italy; 44°39′32″N 8°50′11″E / 44.6589°N 8.8364°E
Lower GSSP ratified	1996
Upper boundary definition	Not formally defined
Upper boundary definition candidates	Near FAD of the Planktonic Foraminiferan Globigerinoides altiaperturus; Near top of magnetic polarity chronozone C6An;
Upper boundary GSSP candidate section(s)	Astronomically tuned ODP-core

The Aquitanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geologic timescale, the oldest age or lowest stage in the Miocene. It spans the time between 23.03 Ma and 20.44 Ma (million years ago) during the Early Miocene. It was a dry, cooling period.^[5] The Aquitanian succeeds the Chattian (the youngest age of the Oligocene) and precedes the Burdigalian.

The Aquitanian Age overlaps with the Harrisonian, Agenian, Pareora, Landon, Otaian, and Waitakian Ages from various regional timescales.

^ Krijgsman, W.; Garcés, M.; Langereis, C. G.; Daams, R.; Van Dam, J.; Van Der Meulen, A. J.; Agustí, J.; Cabrera, L. (1996). "A new chronology for the middle to late Miocene continental record in Spain". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 142 (3–4): 367–380. Bibcode:1996E&PSL.142..367K. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(96)00109-4.
^ Retallack, G. J. (1997). "Neogene Expansion of the North American Prairie". PALAIOS. 12 (4): 380–390. doi:10.2307/3515337. JSTOR 3515337. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
^ "International Chronostratigraphic Chart" (PDF). International Commission on Stratigraphy. September 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
^ Steininger, Fritz F.; M. P. Aubry; W. A. Berggren; M. Biolzi; A. M. Borsetti; Julie E. Cartlidge; F. Cati; R. Corfield; R. Gelati; S. Iaccarino; C. Napoleone; F. Ottner; F. Rögl; R. Roetzel; S. Spezzaferri; F. Tateo; G. Villa; D. Zevenboom (1997). "The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Neogene" (PDF). Episodes. 20 (1): 23–28. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1997/v20i1/005.
^ Edward Petuch, Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences