PERMIAN. 



487 



or faunal succession. The distinction of Pennsylvanian and Permian has been 

 diflficult and is apparently artificial. 



Prosser ^'^^^ discusses the correlation of the Wreford and higher formations as 

 Permian — that is, the equivalent of the Russian Permian — cites the opinions of 

 many geologists on both sides of the question, and considers favorably the distinc- 

 tion of the Permian as a system equal in rank to Carboniferous or Triassic. Beede ^^ 

 and David White ^"^ regard the series as Permian. Girty "^^ accepts the Permian 

 age of the Kansas and Texas beds but largely on the paleobotanic evidence adduced 

 by White. 



The Cimarron "series" is not discussed by Prosser, as it is a typical red-bed 

 formation and does not contain marine fossils. Cragin "^^ gave the following 

 concise description in defining it : 



With the WeUington formation ends the Big Blue, lower, or limestone-bearing series of the 

 Permian. Succeeding it without break, but possibly with a gradually introduced angular 

 unconformity, are the Harper sandstones and higher prevailingly red formations that comprise 

 the remainder of the Kansas Permian and constitute the Qmarron series, which, for Kansas, is 

 nearly the same as the "red beds." 



So far as known, the series is destitute of any trace of organic remains. 



In Oklahoma the shale and limestone strata of the Kansas Permian give place 

 to red beds, the shales becoming red and sandy and the limestones red shales or 

 sandstones. The division into many small formations is lost and a different sequence 

 is recognized. Gould ^''^ has made the following comparison of the divisions of the 

 Oklahoma Permian with those proposed by Cragin for Kansas : 



Relations of classifications of Permian rocks. 



The several formations are described by Gould ^^^^ as follows : 



The Enid formation consists chiefly of brick-red clay shales with some interbedded ledges 

 of red and whitish sandstone. It occurs in two general areas, which may be distinguished on 

 lithologica] grounds as follows: An eastern area, in which there are a few inconspicuous ledges 



