1. Late Paleozoic Geology

2. Includes Devonian, Carboniferous, & PermianIncludes Devonian, Carboniferous, & Permian

3. Late Paleozoic Introduction Formation of supercontinent - PangaeaFormation of supercontinent - Pangaea Continental collisions – mountain buildingContinental collisions – mountain building – Surrounded by global ocean - Panthalassa Fluctuating sea levelFluctuating sea level Various climatic conditions – arid & semiarid climatesVarious climatic conditions – arid & semiarid climates – Due to major continental ice sheets – advance/retreat – Sedimentary rocks: coal, evaporites, & tillites

4. Late Paleozoic Paleogeography World View Late DevonianLate Devonian – Baltica meets Laurentia; Iapetus closes  Caledonian Orogeny – Laurasia meets Gondwana  Acadian Orogeny – Collision of island arc – western margin  Antler Orogeny

5. Late Paleozoic Paleogeography World View Carboniferous (known for coal deposits)Carboniferous (known for coal deposits) – Continents coming together  Gondwana collides with Laurasia  Siberia meets Kazakhstania – Quachita Mountains

6. Late Paleozoic Paleogeography World View Late PermianLate Permian – Assembly of Pangaea complete  Surrounded by one large ocean - Panthalassa  Bounded by mountains  Rainshadow – arid climate

7. Late Paleozoic Major events of North AmericaMajor events of North America –Kaskaskia Sequence –Absaroka Sequence Cordilleran Appalachian Craton Late Paleozoic Early Paleozoic –Major Orogenies  Antler (Corilleran)  Acadian, Quachitan, Alleghenian (Appalachian)

8. Paleozoic – Early Devonian North America Paleogeography – Major unconformity – Canadian reefs – Black shales Kaskaskia SequenceKaskaskia Sequence – Clean SS (Oriskany); some carbonates  Between Tippecanoe and Kaskaskia  Source from eroding Appalachian  Barrier reef restricts flow - evaporites  Mtn source – Acadian Orogeny

9. Paleozoic – Upper Miss-Lower Jur North America Paleogeography Absaroka SequenceAbsaroka Sequence – Unconformity  Miss–Perm boundary – Cyclothems  Nonmarine-coal-Marine  Transgression-Regression – Ancestral Rockies  Gondwana collided with Laurasia – Evaporite & Reef Deposition  Basins within ancestral Rockies

10. Absaroka Sequence Typical Coal-Bearing Cyclothem Represent transgression & regression sequencesRepresent transgression & regression sequences Separated by erosional surfaceSeparated by erosional surface Represents ideal conditions – not all beds are representedRepresents ideal conditions – not all beds are represented

11. Coal Development Large lowland next to seaLarge lowland next to sea – Slight rise in sea level  flood; slight drop  exposure Results in alternating marine & nonmarine environmentResults in alternating marine & nonmarine environment Modern examples: Mississippi Delta, Florida EvergladesModern examples: Mississippi Delta, Florida Everglades

12. Ancestral Rockies Southwest N. America Collision of Gondwana and LaurasiaCollision of Gondwana and Laurasia Fault-bounded uplifted blocksFault-bounded uplifted blocks Exposure and erosion of pre-Є basementExposure and erosion of pre-Є basement – Coarse, red arkosic sand & conglomerate

13. Ancestral Rockies Evaporite & Reef Deposits Occurred in various basins bordering ancestral RockiesOccurred in various basins bordering ancestral Rockies Barrier reef restricted flowBarrier reef restricted flow Evaporites (central basin); reefs (perimeter)Evaporites (central basin); reefs (perimeter) Capitan Limestone, Guadalupe Mtns Permian Reef Reconstruction

14. Late Paleozoic Orogenies Cordilleran Mobile BeltCordilleran Mobile Belt Quachita Mobile BeltQuachita Mobile Belt Appalachian Mobile BeltAppalachian Mobile Belt – Antler Orogeny – Caledonian Orogeny – Acadian Orogeny – The Old Red Sandstones – Alleghenian Orogeny – Quachitan Orogeny