THE PERMIAN PERIOD 663 



had been receiving deposits during that period was exposed to 

 erosion at its close. Subsequently, through further changes, 

 much of the same surface was again brought into a position for 

 renewed deposition, partly from fresh and partly from salt waters. 

 The Permian system is on the whole much more distinct from the 

 Carboniferous, than the Permian of the eastern part of North 

 America is from the Pennsylvanian. 



The Permian of Europe has two somewhat different phases 

 known as the Dyas and the Permian respectively. The former 

 name had its origin in the twofold division of the system, character- 

 istic of western Europe, and the latter came from a province of 

 Russia where the formation is well developed. Except in Russia, 

 its extent at the surface is not great. 



The Dyas Phase 



Lower Permian. Where the Dyas phase of the formation is 

 developed, as generally in western and central Europe, the Lower 

 Permian (Rothliegende) consists of a series of fragmental beds made 

 up of shale, sandstone, conglomerate and breccia, and a large 

 amount of igneous rock, in the form of lava-sheets, dikes, and 

 pyroclastic material. 



The character of the formations and of their fossils is such as 

 to show that much of the sediment was accumulated in inland seas, 

 and in salt and fresh lakes. Gypsum, salt, and a meager fauna of 

 dwarfed and stunted species, some of which are marine, are among 

 the distinctive marks of the series. But the sea sometimes had 

 access to the inland areas of sedimentation, as some of the fossils 

 show. The shallow-water or subaerial origin of much of the 

 Permian is shown by the sun-cracks, rain-pittings, ripple-marks, 

 tracks of terrestrial and amphibious animals, etc. In keeping with 

 the conditions of its origin the Rothliegende in various parts of 

 Europe contains coal. 



Especial interest attaches to the conglomerates and breccia 

 of the system because of their likeness to glacial drift. 1 This like- 



1 Ramsay, Q. J. G. S., 1855; and Geikie, op. cit., p. 1064. There seems 

 to be some question as to whether these formations should be referred to the 

 Carboniferous or the Permian. 



