The Carboniferous period

Abstract

Summary It is estimated that the duration of Carboniferous time was 65 m.y., extending from 345 to 280 m.y. ago. Using age-determinations made on sediments, contemporaneous volcanic rocks, and intrusive rocks that have varying degrees ofstratigraphical control, a provisional Carboniferous time-scale is proposed. In terms of the standard European succession, to which most of the critical data pertains or can be related, it is as follows: