Stephanian (stage)

The Stephanian is a stage in the regional stratigraphy of northwest Europe with an age between roughly 304 and 299 Ma (million years ago). It is a subdivision of the Carboniferous system or period and the regional Silesian series. The uppermost units of the Coal Measures of England and Wales are probably of Stephanian age, though the larger part of this formation is referred to the earlier Westphalian. The stage derives its name from the city of Saint-Étienne for its coal mining basin in eastern central France (which itself derives from associations with Saint Stephen) where strata of this age occur.[1]

System Series
(NW Europe)		 Stage
(NW Europe)		 Series
(ICS)		 Stage
(ICS)		 Age
(Ma)
Permian younger
Carboniferous Silesian Stephanian Pennsylvanian Gzhelian 298.9–303.7
Westphalian Kasimovian 303.7–307.0
Moscovian 307.0–315.2
Bashkirian 315.2–323.2
Namurian
Mississippian Serpukhovian 323.2–330.9
Dinantian Visean Visean 330.9–346.7
Tournaisian Tournaisian 346.7–358.9
Devonian older
Subdivisions of the Carboniferous system in Europe compared with the official ICS-stages (as of 2018)

In the official geologic timescale of the ICS, the Stephanian is placed within the Pennsylvanian epoch (318-299 Ma).[2]

The (regionally defined) Stephanian stage corresponds to the (internationally used) Gzhelian. References appear in scientific literature to a Stephanian epoch or Stephanian series reflecting the stage's earlier status.

References
  1. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/GCRDB/v11chap1.pdf
  2. F M Gradstein, J G Ogg, A G Smith et al 2004, ‘A Geologic Time Scale 2004’.
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