The Probert Encyclopaedia of Rocks & Minerals

TRIASSIC

In geology, the Triassic (named after the Trias) was the ninth geological period, 170,000,000 years ago, following the Carboniferous and preceding the Jurassic periods. The rocks are the oldest of the Mesozoic formations and, once known as the New Red Sandstone are now divided into three series: the Keuper, Muschelkalk and Bunter. The rocks of the Triassic period are chiefly red or mottled sandstones or shales and limestones, and red marls, and often reach great thickness.

The rocks of the period are widespread, though in America they grade insensibly into the Jurassic and are often designated Jura-Trias. In the Midlands of England and in Scotland and Ireland, Triassic rocks cover large areas, those at Northwich, Middlewich, Droitwich etc being important sources of rock salt. Triassic rocks cover practically all of Germany and large areas in Europe, north and south America, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

During the Triassic period cycads, conifers and gigantic equisetums flourished, amphibian labyrinthodonts were common, and ichthyosaurs, dinosaurs, crocodiles and plesiosaurs among reptiles were numerous.
Research Triassic