Tertiary

Tertiary (/ˈtɜːr.ʃə.ri, ˈtɜːr.ʃiˌɛr.i/ TUR-shə-ree, TUR-shee-err-ee)[1] is an obsolete term for the geologic period from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago. The period began with the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, at the start of the Cenozoic Era, and extended to the beginning of the Quaternary glaciation at the end of the Pliocene Epoch. The time span covered by the Tertiary has no exact equivalent in the current geologic time system, but it is essentially the merged Paleogene and Neogene periods, which are informally called the Early Tertiary and the Late Tertiary, respectively. The Antarctic landmass became an icy island continent during the Tertiary period.

Tertiary

66.0 – 2.6 Ma

PreꞒ

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Chronology

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Mesozoic

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Quaternary

Paleogene

Neogene

An approximate timescale of the Cenozoic.
Axis scale: millions of years ago.

Etymology

Name formality

Informal

Usage information

Celestial body

Earth

Regional usage

Regional(?)

Time scale(s) used

ICS Time Scale (formerly)

Formerly used by

ICS

Definition

Chronological unit

Period

Stratigraphic unit

System

Time span formality

Informal

Lower boundary definition

K-Pg extinction event

Lower boundary GSSP

None

Lower GSSP ratified

N/A

Upper boundary definition

Beginning of the Quaternary glaciation

Upper boundary GSSP

None

Upper GSSP ratified

N/A

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