458 DIVISION OF THE PERMIAN GROUP. Ch. XXIIL] 



CHAPTER XXIIL 



PERMIAN OR MAGNESIAN LIMESTONE GROUP. 



Fossils of Magnesian Limestone and Lower New Red distinct from the Triassic — 

 Term " Permian " — English and German equivalents — Marine shells and corals 

 of English Magnesian Limestone — Palseoniscus and other fish of the marl-slate — 

 Zechstein and Rothliegendes of Thuringia — Permian Flora — Its generic affinity 

 to the Carboniferous — Psaronites or tree-ferns. 



When the use of the term " Poildlitic " was explained in the last 

 chapter, I stated, that in some parts of England it is scarcely possible 

 to separate the red marls and sandstones so called (originally named 

 " the New Red ") into two distinct geological systems. Nevertheless, 

 the progress of investigation, and a careful comparison of English 

 rocks between the lias and the coal with those occupying a similar 

 geological position in Germany and Russia, have enabled geologists 

 to divide the Poikilitic formation; and have even shown that the 

 lowermost of the two divisions is more closely connected, by its fossil 

 remains, with the carboniferous group than with the trias. If, there- 

 fore, we are to draw a line between the secondary and primary fossilif- 

 erous strata, as between the tertiary and secondary, it must run through 

 the middle of what was once called the " New Red," or Poikilitic group. 

 The inferior half of this group will rank as Primary or Palaeozoic, while 

 its upper member will form the base of the Secondary or Mesozoic 

 series. For the lower, or Magnesian Limestone division of English 

 geologists, Sir R. Murchison proposed, in 1841, the name of Permian, 

 from Perm, a Russian government where these strata are more exten- 

 sively developed than elsewhere, occupying an area twice the size of 

 France, and containing an abundant and varied suite of fossils. 



Professor King, in his valuable monograph * of the Permian fossils 

 of England, has given a table of the following six members of the 

 Permian system of the north of England, with what he conceives to 

 be the corresponding formations in Thuringia : 



North of England. Thuringia. 



1. Crystalline or concretionary, and 1. Stinkstein. 



non-crystalline limestone. 



2. Brecciated and pseudo-brecciated 2. Rauchwacke. 



limestone. 



3. Fossiliferqus limestone. 3. Dolomite, or Upper Zechstein. 



4. Compact limestone. 4. Zechstein, or Lower Zechstein. 



5. Marl-slate. 5. Mergel-schiefer, or Kupferschiefer. 



6. Inferior sandstones of various 6. Rothliegendes. 



colors. 



* Palaeontographical Society, 1850, London. 



