Quaternary
= Quaternary
{c}
The <Quaternary> is the current geological period, beginning 2.58 million years ago. It contains the <Pleistocene> and <Holocene> epochs. Repeated major glacial cycles make its marine and continental records important for studying climate variability.<International Chronostratigraphic Chart by International Commission on Stratigraphy (2026-06)>[Cenozoic and Mesozoic columns; numerical ages in Ma]{ref}