This subperiod is part of theCarboniferous period. |
Mississippian |
Pennsylvanian |
The Mississippian is a geologic (sub)Period lasting from roughly 360 million years before the present to 325 million years before the present.
As with most older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the start and end are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end of the period are uncertain by a few million years. In North America where the interval is primarily marine limestones, it is treated as a full fledged Geologic Period between the Devonian and the Pennsylvanian. In Europe, the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian are one more or less continuous sequence of lowland continental deposits and are lumped together as the Carboniferous Period.
Refer to the Carboniferous Period article for information on faunal stages, climate, etc.