Early Jurassic
| Early/Lower Jurassic | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A map of Earth as it appeared 190 million years ago during the Early Jurassic Epoch, Pliensbachian Age | |||||||||
| Chronology | |||||||||
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| Etymology | |||||||||
| Chronostratigraphic name | Lower Jurassic | ||||||||
| Geochronological name | Early Jurassic | ||||||||
| Name formality | Formal | ||||||||
| Usage information | |||||||||
| Celestial body | Earth | ||||||||
| Regional usage | Global (ICS) | ||||||||
| Time scale(s) used | ICS Time Scale | ||||||||
| Definition | |||||||||
| Chronological unit | Epoch | ||||||||
| Stratigraphic unit | Series | ||||||||
| Time span formality | Formal | ||||||||
| Lower boundary definition | FAD of the Ammonite Psiloceras spelae tirolicum. | ||||||||
| Lower boundary GSSP | Kuhjoch section, Karwendel mountains, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria 47°29′02″N 11°31′50″E / 47.4839°N 11.5306°E | ||||||||
| Lower GSSP ratified | 2010 | ||||||||
| Upper boundary definition | FAD of the Ammonites Leioceras opalinum and Leioceras lineatum | ||||||||
| Upper boundary GSSP | Fuentelsaz, Spain 41°10′15″N 1°50′00″W / 41.1708°N 1.8333°W | ||||||||
| Upper GSSP ratified | 2000 | ||||||||
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The Early Jurassic Epoch (in chronostratigraphy corresponding to the Lower Jurassic Series) is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic Period. The Early Jurassic starts immediately after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event, 201.3 Ma (million years ago), and ends at the start of the Middle Jurassic 174.7 ±0.8 Ma.
Certain rocks of marine origin of this age in Europe are called "Lias" and that name was used for the period, as well, in 19th-century geology. In southern Germany rocks of this age are called Black Jurassic.