590 ' ~ GEOLOGY. ; . 



of the Lena, in some of the mountains of Siberia, in western and north- 

 western China, at Vladivostock, in eastern Japan, in Kiangsi in southern 

 China, 1 and in Sumatra. The non-marine phase is found in Heraclea 

 in Asia Minor, and on the east side of the Middle Urals, where it con- 

 tains salt and gypsum, and in various parts of China, 



In China, 2 three general divisions of the Carboniferous have been 

 recognized. The lowest corresponds, in a general way at least, with 

 the lower division of the Carboniferous limestone of Europe (Mississip- 

 pian of America); the second is the coal-bearing division, containing 

 much bituminous and anthracite coal; while the third is marine, 

 consisting of the usual phases of sedimentary rocks, and seeming to 

 correspond with the Upper Carboniferous limestone of Russia and 

 southern Europe, and with part of the Carboniferous limestone of 

 western North America. The Carboniferous of some parts of China, 

 especially in the province of Shansi, is said to contain coal-beds which 

 surpass any found elsewhere in the whole world. In the province cf 

 Shansi there is said to be a coal-field, 35,000 square kilometers in extent, 

 where the horizontal beds of anthracite reach a thickness of 10 meters. 

 In the southwestern part of China there are also great beds of bitu- 

 minous coal. 3 The Carboniferous system is also present in India. 4 



Africa. 5 — The Carboniferous formations of northern Africa corre- 

 spond in a general way with those of southern Europe. They are 

 generally of marine origin, so far as now known, and without coal. 

 In southeastern Africa, a single Carboniferous coal basin has been 

 reported near Tete in Zambesi. 6 Upper Carboniferous rocks are also 

 reported from parts of Sahara and Egypt. 



Australia and New Zealand. — The Carboniferous (Permo-Carbon- 

 iferous) system is well developed in eastern Australia and in Queens- 

 land. Here, as already noted, the Lower Carboniferous consists of 

 marine sedimentary beds, often much disturbed and metamorphosed, 

 and associated with igneous rock. Above the Lower Carboniferous 

 lies the Upper or Permo-Carboniferous system, which contains coal, 



1 Kayser, Formationskunde, p. 203. 



2 Richthofen, China. 



3 Kayser, Formationskunde, p. 205. Citing Richthofen, China, Vol. II, p. 473. 



4 Oldham, Geology of India, 2d ed., 1893. 



5 Kayser and Geikie, op. cit. 



6 Kayser, Geologische Formationskunde, p. 207. 



