Middle Triassic
| Middle Triassic | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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A map of Earth as it appeared 240 million years ago during the Middle Triassic Epoch, Ladinian Age | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Etymology | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name formality | Formal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | Not formally defined | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower boundary definition candidates |
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| Lower boundary GSSP candidate section(s) |
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| Upper boundary definition | FAD of the Ammonite Daxatina canadensis | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upper boundary GSSP | Prati di Stuores, Dolomites, Italy 46°31′37″N 11°55′49″E / 46.5269°N 11.9303°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upper GSSP ratified | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epochs of the Triassic period or the middle of three series in which the Triassic system is divided in chronostratigraphy. The Middle Triassic spans the time between 246.7 Ma and 237 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Early Triassic Epoch and followed by the Late Triassic Epoch. The Middle Triassic is divided into the Anisian and Ladinian ages or stages.
Formerly the middle series in the Triassic was also known as Muschelkalk. This name is now only used for a specific unit of rock strata with approximately Middle Triassic age, found in western Europe.