UPPER CARBONIFEROUS OF IOWA 
279 
8. Limestone, yellow . , 
7. Limestone, shaly . . . 
6. Limestone, blue . . . , 
5. Coal, shaly; Nyman 
4. Shale, arenaceous . 
3, Limestone, gray 
2. Shale, calcareous . . . 
1. Limestone, brown . . 
1 
3 
1 % 
1/4 
24 
11/2 
11/2 
Total 861^ 
This outcrop includes in its higher members the latest strata 
found in the Carboniferous in the states of Iowa and Missouri. 
The Tarkio limestone includes one to three, and the McKis- 
sicks Grove shale comprises all the section above this limestone. 
The different outcrops, sections of which have been given, are 
the best and most extensive known and show a nearly complete 
succession of strata from the Plattsmouth limestones to the up- 
permost of the Carboniferous east of the Missouri river. 
PALEONTOLOGY. 
Nearly all the fossils listed were obtained at the mine dumps 
at Coin and New Market, and at different outcrops on Tarkio 
creek in Page county, Iowa. The under shale of the Nodaway 
coal is included, its fauna being in fact part of that of the Nod- 
away coal. In the mines this shale is excavated to a depth 
of about two feet in constructing the entries. The coal is under- 
lain directly by a gray shale, no under clay being present. All 
material excavated in sinking shafts and mining operations is 
promiscuously dumped and it is impossible to discriminate 
closely between horizons. An attempt is made to give the fauna 
and flora of the roof and under shales of the Nodaway coal. 
It is a matter of regret that the cap rock of the Nodaway coal 
cannot be included, but this is not practicable as' this limestone 
is very seldom seen in outcrop and is inaccessible in the mines. 
Paleontologic studies of other formations in southwestern Iowa 
are in progress and the result of such investigation will be given 
in a future paper. As a whole the characteristic of the fauna 
is the predominance of the Molluscoida, while the Pelecypoda 
are biit meagerly represented. The limestone and the calcareous 
shales are usually prolific in fossils, but the blue shales and the 
sandstones are well nigh barren. While by far the greater part 
of the different species range throughout the whole series of 
strata there is a certain expression of the fauna that enables a 
close approximation to be made of the different horizons. 
