# Norian

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Second age of the late Triassic

Norian 227.3 – 205.7 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N A map of Earth as it appeared 220 million years ago Chronology −255 — – −250 — – −245 — – −240 — – −235 — – −230 — – −225 — – −220 — – −215 — – −210 — – −205 — – −200 — Pz Mesozoic P Triassic J LP ET Middle Late E J Changhsing. Induan Olenekian Anisian Ladinian Carnian Norian Rhaetian Hettangian ← Triassic–Jurassic extinction event ← Scleractinian corals & calcified sponges[1] ← Carnian pluvial episode ← Manicouagan impact ← Coals return[2] ← Full recovery of woody trees[3] ← Smithian–Spathian boundary event[4] ← Permian-Triassic extinction event Subdivision of the Triassic according to the ICS, as of 2024.[5] Vertical axis scale: Millions of years ago Etymology Name formality Formal 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 Not formally defined[6] Lower boundary definition candidates Base of Stikinoceras kerri ammonoid zone and near FAD of Metapolygnathus echinatus within the M. communisti Conodont zones[6] Lower boundary GSSP candidate section(s) Black Bear Ridge, British Columbia, Canada[6] Pizzo Mondello, Sicily, Italy[6] Upper boundary definition Not formally defined[6] Upper boundary definition candidates FAD of the Conodont Misikella posthernsteini Near FAD of the Ammonite genus Cochloceras[6] Near FAD of the Conodont Epigondolella mosheri[6] Near FAD of the Radiolarian Proparvicingula moniliformis[6] Upper boundary GSSP candidate section(s) Steinbergkogel, Austria[6] Pignola-Abriola, Italy[7] Turkey[6] British Columbia, Canada[6]

The **Norian** is a division of the [Triassic](/source/Triassic) [Period](/source/Geological_period). It has the rank of an [age](/source/Age_(geology)) ([geochronology](/source/Geochronology)) or [stage](/source/Stage_(stratigraphy)) ([chronostratigraphy](/source/Chronostratigraphy)). It lasted from 227.3 to 205.7 [million years ago](/source/Mya_(unit)). It was preceded by the [Carnian](/source/Carnian) and succeeded by the [Rhaetian](/source/Rhaetian).[8]

## Stratigraphic definitions

Cast of a tridactyl footprint of a theropod dinosaur from the Norian of the [Czech Republic](/source/Czech_Republic)

The Norian was named after the [Noric Alps](/source/Noric_Alps) in [Austria](/source/Austria). The stage was introduced into scientific literature by Austrian geologist [Edmund Mojsisovics von Mojsvar](/source/Johann_August_Georg_Edmund_Mojsisovics_von_Mojsvar) in 1869.

The Norian Stage begins at the base of the [ammonite](/source/Ammonite) [biozones](/source/Biozone) of *[Klamathites macrolobatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Klamathites&action=edit&redlink=1)* and *[Stikinoceras kerri](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stikinoceras&action=edit&redlink=1)*, and at the base of the [conodont](/source/Conodont) biozones of *[Metapolygnathus communisti](/source/Metapolygnathus)* and *[Metapolygnathus primitius](/source/Metapolygnathus)*. A global reference profile for the base (a [GSSP](/source/GSSP)) had in 2009 not yet been appointed.

The top of the Norian (the base of the Rhaetian) is at the first appearance of ammonite species *[Cochloceras amoenum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cochloceras&action=edit&redlink=1)*. The base of the Rheatian is also close to the first appearance of conodont species *[Misikella spp.](/source/Misikella)* and *[Epigondolella mosheri](/source/Epigondolella)* and the [radiolarid](/source/Radiolaria) species *[Proparvicingula moniliformis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proparvicingula&action=edit&redlink=1)*.

In the [Tethys domain](/source/Tethys_Ocean), the Norian Stage contains six ammonite biozones:

- zone of *[Halorites macer](/source/Halorites)*

- zone of *[Himavatites hogarti](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Himavatites&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- zone of *[Cyrtopleurites bicrenatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyrtopleurites&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- zone of *[Juvavites magnus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juvavites&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- zone of *[Malayites paulckei](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malayites&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- zone of *[Guembelites jandianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guembelites&action=edit&redlink=1)*

### Subages

The Norian is divided into three global subages or substages:

- **Lacian** (lower Norian)

- **Alaunian** (middle Norian)

- **Sevatian** (upper Norian)

Many older studies considered the Rhaetian to be the uppermost substage of the Norian, though it has subsequently been raised to its own stage.

The [Revueltian](/source/Revueltian) [land-vertebrate faunachron](/source/Triassic_land_vertebrate_faunachrons) (LVF) corresponds to part of the Norian (215–207 Ma), and it is probable that the [Otischalkian](/source/Otischalkian) and [Adamanian](/source/Adamanian) LVFs (227–215 Ma) are also early-middle Norian in age.[9]

## Notable formations

- [Calcare di Zorzino](/source/Calcare_di_Zorzino) (Italy)

- [Caturrita Formation](/source/Caturrita_Formation) ([Rio Grande do Sul](/source/Rio_Grande_do_Sul), Brazil)

- [Chinle Formation](/source/Chinle_Formation) (Arizona and New Mexico, USA)

- [Cow Branch Formation](/source/Cow_Branch_Formation) (North Carolina and Virginia, USA)

- [Dockum Group](/source/Dockum_Group) (Carnian – Norian) (Texas and New Mexico, USA)

- [Dolomia di Forni](/source/Dolomia_di_Forni) (Italy)

- [Ischigualasto Formation](/source/Ischigualasto_Formation) (Carnian – Norian) (Argentina)

- [Los Colorados Formation](/source/Los_Colorados_Formation) (Argentina)

- [Stubensandstein](/source/Stubensandstein) (Germany)

- [Trossingen Formation](/source/Trossingen_Formation) (Norian – Rhaetian) (Switzerland and Germany)

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Payne, Johnathan L.; Lehrmann, Daniel J.; Wei, Jiayong; Orchard, Michael J.; [Schrag, Daniel P.](/source/Daniel_P._Schrag); [Knoll, Andrew H.](/source/Andrew_H._Knoll) (July 23, 2004). ["Large Perturbations of the Carbon Cycle During Recovery from the End-Permian Extinction"](http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/305/5683/506). *Science*. **305** (5683): 506–509. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004Sci...305..506P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004Sci...305..506P). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1126/science.1097023](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1097023). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15273391](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15273391). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [35498132](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:35498132).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Retallack, Gregory J.](/source/Gregory_Retallack); [Veevers, John J.](/source/John_Veevers); Morante, Ric (February 1996). ["Global coal gap between Permian–Triassic extinctions and middle Triassic recovery of peat forming plants"](http://bulletin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/108/2/195). *[Geological Society of America Bulletin](/source/Geological_Society_of_America_Bulletin)*. **108** (2): 195–207. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1996GSAB..108..195R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1996GSAB..108..195R). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1130/0016-7606(1996)108<0195:GCGBPT>2.3.CO;2](https://doi.org/10.1130%2F0016-7606%281996%29108%3C0195%3AGCGBPT%3E2.3.CO%3B2). Retrieved September 29, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [McElwain, Jennifer C.](/source/Jennifer_McElwain); Punyasena, Surangi W. (October 2007). ["Mass extinction events and the plant fossil record"](https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/abstract/S0169-5347(07)00256-X). *Trends in Ecology & Evolution*. **22** (10): 548–557. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.tree.2007.09.003](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tree.2007.09.003). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [17919771](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17919771). Retrieved October 4, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Widmann, Philipp; Bucher, Hugo; Leu, Marc; Vennemann, Torsten; Bagherpour, Borhan; Schneebeli-Hermann, Elke; Goudemand, Nicolas; Schaltegger, Urs (2020). ["Dynamics of the Largest Carbon Isotope Excursion During the Early Triassic Biotic Recovery"](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffeart.2020.00196). *Frontiers in Earth Science*. **8** (196): 196. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020FrEaS...8..196W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020FrEaS...8..196W). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3389/feart.2020.00196](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffeart.2020.00196).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ICS_2024/12_5-0)** ["International Chronostratigraphic Chart"](https://stratigraphy.org/ICSchart/ChronostratChart2024-12.pdf) (PDF). *[International Commission on Stratigraphy](/source/International_Commission_on_Stratigraphy)*. December 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-GSSP_Web_6-10) ["Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point"](https://stratigraphy.org/gssps/). International Commission of Stratigraphy. Retrieved 23 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Rigo, Manuel; Bertinelli, Angela; Concheri, Giuseppe; Gattolin, Giovanni; Godfrey, Linda; Katz, Miriam E.; Maron, Matteo; Mietto, Paolo; Muttoni, Giovanni; Sprovieri, Mario; Stellin, Fabio; Mariachiara, Zaffani (2016). ["The Pignola-Abriola section (southern Apennines, Italy): a new GSSP candidate for the base of the Rhaetian Stage"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281461104). *Lethaia*. **49** (3): 287–306. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2016Letha..49..287R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016Letha..49..287R). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/let.12145](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Flet.12145). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[11577/3157425](https://hdl.handle.net/11577%2F3157425). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1502-3931](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1502-3931).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TimeScale_8-0)** ["ICS - Chart/Time Scale"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250101170925/https://stratigraphy.org/ICSchart/ChronostratChart2024-12.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://stratigraphy.org/ICSchart/ChronostratChart2024-12.pdf) (PDF) on 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-01-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:8_9-0)** Martz, J. W.; Parker, W. G. (2017-01-01), Zeigler, Kate E.; Parker, William G. (eds.), ["Revised Formulation of the Late Triassic Land Vertebrate "Faunachrons" of Western North America: Recommendations for Codifying Nascent Systems of Vertebrate Biochronology"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128032435000029), *Terrestrial Depositional Systems*, Elsevier, pp. 39–125, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-803243-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-803243-5), retrieved 2022-08-28{{[citation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation)}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_work_parameter_with_ISBN))

### Literature

- Brack, P.; Rieber, H.; Nicora, A. & Mundil, R.; **2005**: *The Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Ladinian Stage (Middle Triassic) at Bagolino (Southern Alps, Northern Italy) and its implications for the Triassic time scale*, Episodes **28(4)**, pp. 233–244.

- Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.; **2004**: *A Geologic Time Scale 2004*, [Cambridge University Press](/source/Cambridge_University_Press).

- [Kielan-Jaworowska, Z.](/source/Zofia_Kielan-Jaworowska); Cifelli, R. L.; Luo, Zhe-Xi; **2004**: *Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs*, [Columbia University Press](/source/Columbia_University_Press).

- Martz, J.W.; **2008**: *Lithostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, and vertebrate biostratigraphy of the Dockum Group (Upper Triassic), of southern Garza County, West Texas*, Doctoral Dissertation, Texas Tech.

## External links

- [GeoWhen Database - Norian](http://www.stratigraphy.org/bak/geowhen/stages/Norian.html)

- [Upper Triassic timescale](http://stratigraphy.science.purdue.edu/charts/Timeslices/7_Upper_Trias.pdf), at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS

- Norges Network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy: *Stratigraphic charts for the Triassic*, [\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20060518100851/http://norges.uio.no/timescale/Late_Triassic.pdf) and [\[2\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20051109154300/http://norges.uio.no/timescale/Fig16.1_Tri_colA.pdf)

v t e Triassic Period Lower/Early Triassic Middle Triassic Upper/Late Triassic Induan Olenekian Anisian Ladinian Carnian Norian Rhaetian

v t e Geological history of Earth Cenozoic Era (present–66.0 Ma) Quaternary (present–2.58 Ma) Holocene (present–11.7 ka) Pleistocene (11.7 ka–2.58 Ma) Neogene (2.58–23.0 Ma) Pliocene (2.59–5.33 Ma) Miocene (5.33–23.0 Ma) Paleogene (23.0–66.0 Ma) Oligocene (23.0–33.9 Ma) Eocene (33.9–56.0 Ma) Paleocene (56.0–66.0 Ma) Mesozoic Era (66.0–252 Ma) Cretaceous (66.0–145 Ma) Late (66.0–100 Ma) Early (100–145 Ma) Jurassic (145–201 Ma) Late (145–164 Ma) Middle (164–174 Ma) Early (174–201 Ma) Triassic (201–252 Ma) Late (201–237 Ma) Middle (237–247 Ma) Early (247–252 Ma) Paleozoic Era (252–539 Ma) Permian (252–299 Ma) Lopingian (252–260 Ma) Guadalupian (260–272 Ma) Cisuralian (272–299 Ma) Carboniferous (299–359 Ma) Pennsylvanian (299–323 Ma) Mississippian (323–359 Ma) Devonian (359–419 Ma) Late (359–383 Ma) Middle (383–393 Ma) Early (393–419 Ma) Silurian (419–444 Ma) Pridoli (419–423 Ma) Ludlow (423–427 Ma) Wenlock (427–433 Ma) Llandovery (433–444 Ma) Ordovician (444–485 Ma) Late (444–458 Ma) Middle (458–470 Ma) Early (470–485 Ma) Cambrian (485–539 Ma) Furongian (485–497 Ma) Miaolingian (497–509 Ma) Series 2 (509–521 Ma) Terreneuvian (521–539 Ma) Proterozoic Eon (539 Ma–2.5 Ga) Neoproterozoic (539 Ma–1 Ga) Ediacaran (539–635 Ma) Cryogenian (635–720 Ma) Tonian (720 Ma–1 Ga) Mesoproterozoic (1–1.6 Ga) Stenian (1–1.2 Ga) Ectasian (1.2–1.4 Ga) Calymmian (1.4–1.6 Ga) Paleoproterozoic (1.6–2.5 Ga) Statherian (1.6–1.8 Ga) Orosirian (1.8–2.05 Ga) Rhyacian (2.05–2.3 Ga) Siderian (2.3–2.5 Ga) Archean Eon (2.5–4 Ga) Neoarchean (2.5–2.8 Ga) Mesoarchean (2.8–3.2 Ga) Paleoarchean (3.2–3.6 Ga) Eoarchean (3.6–4 Ga) Hadean Eon (4–4.6 Ga) ka = kiloannum (thousand years ago); Ma = megaannum (million years ago); Ga = gigaannum (billion years ago). See also: Geologic time scale • Geology portal • World portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Norian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norian) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norian?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.