ASBOG Practice Exam

Which epochs further divide the Carboniferous period?

1. Pennsylvanian and Mississippian

2. Jurassic and Cretaceous

3. Cenozoic and Mesozoic

4. Eocene and Oligocene

The correct answer is: Pennsylvanian and Mississippian

The Carboniferous period is divided into two significant epochs: the Pennsylvanian and the Mississippian. This division is critical for understanding the geological and climatic developments that characterized the Carboniferous, which lasted from about 359 to 299 million years ago. During the Mississippian epoch (approximately 359 to 323 million years ago), the seas were widespread, and the climate was generally warm and humid. This epoch was marked by the deposition of marine limestones and the development of extensive limestone platforms, indicating the prevalence of shallow seas. The Pennsylvanian epoch (approximately 323 to 299 million years ago), on the other hand, is characterized by the formation of large coal deposits, reflecting significant terrestrial ecosystems and fluctuating sea levels. The presence of lush wetlands during this time led to the accumulation of organic material, which eventually transformed into coal. Understanding these epochs is crucial for geologists as they offer insight into the environmental conditions that favored the evolution of diverse flora and fauna, particularly the vast forests of lycopods, ferns, and other plants that dominated the landscape during the Carboniferous. Other choices involve periods or epochs that do not relate directly to the Carboniferous. The Jurassic and