628 GEOLOGY. 



glomerate is wide -spread, and in some cases contains bowlders which 

 have been transported considerable distances. 



The Lower Permian strata of the Dyas phase are often red, as 

 suggested by their German name {Rothliegende). Strata of the same 

 age constitute at least a part of the "New Red Sandstone " of Great 

 Britain. As a matter of fact, however, while the colors of this forma- 

 tion are usually striking, other colors than red are often found. The 

 fact that the red color is characteristic of the same system in much 

 of America has been noted. 



In contrast with the Rothliegende, the Lower Permian of much of 

 southern Europe is of marine origin, and is generally conformable on 

 the Carboniferous. Non-marine Permian beds are, however, found as 

 far south as the Alps, and even into Italy. On account of its fossils 

 and its relations to the Carboniferous, the Lower Permian of southern 

 Europe has been thought to be older than the Rothliegende. 1 It is 

 widely distributed, occurring in the Alps, Italy, Sicily, the Pyrennees 

 and in the Balkans. 



The typical Permian phase of the system underlies the larger part 

 of Russia (in Europe), and appears at the surface over a large area 

 in the southeastern part of that country. It is generally conform- 

 able on the underlying Carboniferous. Its lower part is made up 

 largely of clastic beds bearing non-marine fossils. Some beds, how- 

 ever, contain the shells of marine species. The Lower Permian extends 

 to Nova Zemla on the north, and to the steppes of Kirghiz in Asiatic 

 Russia, on the east. 2 



The Upper Permian. — The Upper Permian of western and central 

 Europe (the Zechstein of Germany) is unlike the Lower in several 

 important respects. It contains much more limestone and dolomite, 

 but neither coal, igneous rock, nor, except at its very base, conglomer- 

 ate. Such characteristic marine fossils as cephalopods and corals 

 are generally absent, 3 and from the stunted aspect of the fossils, and 

 from the association of the dolomite with gypsum, salt, etc., it is 

 thought that the limestone and dolomite may be largely chemical 

 precipitates. Some parts of the Upper Permian are, however, of marine 



1 De Lapparent, Traite de G^ologie, p. 985. 



2 Kayser, op. cit., pp. 253-255. 



3 Idem, p. 226. 



