From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
System Series Stage Age (Ma)
Quaternary Pleistocene Gelasian younger
Neogene Pliocene Piacenzian 2.588–3.600
Zanclean 3.600–5.332
Miocene Messinian 5.332–7.246
Tortonian 7.246–11.608
Serravallian 11.608–13.65
Langhian 13.65–15.97
Burdigalian 15.97–20.43
Aquitanian 20.43–23.03
Paleogene Oligocene Chattian older
Subdivision of the Neogene Period
according to the IUGS, as of July 2009.

The Burdigalian is, in the geologic timescale, an age or stage in the early Miocene. It spans the time between 20.43 ± 0.05 Ma and 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). Preceded by the Aquitanian, the Burdigalian was the first and longest warming period of the Miocene[1] and is succeeded by the Langhian.

Stratigraphic definition[edit]

The name Burdigalian comes from Burdigala, the Latin name for the city of Bordeaux, France. The Burdigalian stage was introduced in scientific literature by Charles Depéret in 1892.

The base of the Burdigalian is at the first appearance of foram species Globigerinoides altiaperturus and the top of magnetic chronozone C6An. An official GSSP for the Burdigalian had not yet been assigned in 2009.

The top of the Burdigalian (the base of the Langhian) is defined by the first appearance of foram species Praeorbulina glomerosa and is also coeval with the top of magnetic chronozone C5Cn.1n.


Famous Burdigalian palaeontologic localities include the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen in Germany and the Dominican amber deposits of Hispaniola.



  1. ^ Edward Petuch, Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences.[1]


  • Depéret, C.; 1892: Note sur la classification et le parallélisme du Système miocène, Bulletin de la Societé Géologique de France 3(20), p. CXLV-CLVI. (French)

External links[edit]

Neogene Period
Miocene Pliocene
Aquitanian |Burdigalian
Langhian | Serravallian
Tortonian | Messinian
Zanclean | Piacenzian