CHAPTER X 

 THE MISSISSIPPIAN (LOWER CARBONIFEROUS) PERIOD 



Origin of Name, Subdivisions, etc. 



Formerly the Carboniferous period included all of what, in 

 America at least, we now call the Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, 

 and Permian periods. 1 In Europe the term Carboniferous is still 

 employed, though the Permian has been separated from it. The 

 name " Carboniferous" was given about one hundred years ago 

 because it was supposed that workable coal beds were almost, if 

 not wholly, confined to that system. Although workable coal beds 

 are known to occur in most later systems, nevertheless what was 

 long known as Carboniferous, particularly that portion now called 

 Pennsylvanian, does contain the world's greatest coal deposits. 

 The name " Mississippian " was given because of important out- 

 crops of its formations in the eastern Mississippi Basin, especially 

 along the river. 



Some idea of the system in three well-known regions may be 

 gained from the following table: 





Mississippi River States 



Pennsylvania 



Maryland 





4. Chester or Kaskaskia 









series (Limestones, 









sandstones and shales) . 





3. Mauch Chunk 





3. St. Louis series 



2. Mauch Chunk 



(Shales). 



Mississippian 



(Limestones). 



(Shales) 





System 



2. Osage or Augusta series 





2. Greenbrier 





(Limestones and shales) . 





(Limestone). 





1. Kinderhook or Chouteau 



1. Pocono 



1. Pocono 





series (Limestones, 



(Sandstone) . 



(Sandstone). 





shales, and sandstones) . 







1 In its geologic folios the U. S. G. S. still uses the term Carboniferous. 



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