Carboniferous

noun

Penultimate period of the Palaeozoic Era, preceded by the Devonian and followed by the Permian. It began about 362.5 million years ago and ended about 290 million years ago. In Europe the lower part of the system is termed the Dinantian. It is divided into two series and is characterized by marine limestones with a rich coral-brachiopod fauna. In contrast the upper part, the Silesian, which is subdivided into three series, is noted for the deposition of terrestrial and freshwater sediments. The vast forests of the Upper Carboniferous gave rise to the rich coal measures of south Wales, England, Scotland, and many other areas worldwide. N. American geologists subdivide the Carboniferous System into two sub-systems. Of these the lower (362.5 to 322.8 million years ago) is named the Mississippian and is the equivalent of the Dinantian sub-System plus the lower part of the Silesian sub-System. The upper sub-system, the Pennsylvanian (322.8 to 290 million years ago), is the equivalent of most of the Silesian.