Carboniferous Period

Abstract

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Keywords: xxx

Introduction

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Stratigraphy

Type Section/Sections

The Carboniferous was proposed in 1822 by William Coneybeare and William Phillips. The type section in central England is defined by lithologically distinctive, coal-bearing strata, but is also recognisable by distinctive fossils.

The Carboniferous is divided into Lower and Upper units; in the United States these are recognised as the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Periods, respectively. The Mississippian was erected by Alexander Winchell in 1870, based on a type section in the Mississippi Valley, and the Pennsylvanian by Henry S. Williams in 1891, based on a type section in Pennsylvania. Generally the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian are falling into disuse now, as American stratigraphers adopt the equivalent international units.

Lower Boundary

Upper Boundary

Chronology

Paleogeography

Major Tectonic Events

Land and Sea

Climate

Paleontology

General Characteristics

Lagerstätten

Major Evolutionary Events

Major Taxa

References