666 GEOLOGY 



Other Continents 1 



In other parts of the world the Permian is widely developed. 

 In countries about the Indian Ocean, including South Asia, Aus- 

 tralia, and South Africa, there is usually a less distinct break be- 

 tween the Carboniferous and Triassic systems than in Europe, and 

 locally at least, the Permian seems to bridge the interval. 



Permian glacial formations. The most remarkable fact about 

 the Permian system outside of North America and Europe is that 

 it includes formations of glacial origin, and that these occur down 

 to and even slightly within the tropics. Such formations are 

 found in Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America, all the con- 

 tinents which have large areas in low latitudes. 



In Australia the Permian formations of glacial drift (locally 

 nine or ten of them) are interbedded with marine formations, the 

 aggregate thickness of the whole being not less than 2,000 feet. 

 Not less than 30 or 40 beds of coal are included in the system. The 

 recurrence of the bowlder beds points to the repeated recurrence 

 of glacial conditions, and the great thickness both of clastic beds 

 and of the included coal point to the great duration of the period 

 through which the several glacial epochs were distributed. 



Counting Tasmania, where glacial deposits are also found, the 

 glaciation of Australia had a known range of nearly 22 in latitude, 

 and about 35 in longitude, though it is perhaps not probable that 

 all the area within these limits was glaciated. The glacial phe- 

 nomena are known chiefly at low levels, descending in some places 

 nearly to the sea. Not only is the altitude of the region low now, 

 but it was probably low during glaciation, as shown by the relation 

 of the glacial deposits to the marine beds. Whatever the difficulties 

 in the way of its explanation, the fact of a long period during 

 which glacial conditions recurred many times, must be accepted. 



The marine beds associated with the glacial deposit- >eem to 

 match approximately those of the Carboniferous period elsewhere. 

 but the plants of the associated coal have the general fades of the 

 Triassic flora. Permian fish remains are found above all t ho. bowlder 



Q. J. O. S., Vol. UI. ls<H>, p. 289; Am. Geol., Vol. XIII, 1SV. |> ._"'''; 

 and Scot. Geog. Mag., Vol. XVII, 1901, p. 57. 



