Triassic period

G. biloba L. is a member of the Ginkgoaceae family, a gymnosperm that has survived unchanged from the Triassic period. In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds (nuts) of G. biloba were used as an antitussive, expectorant, and antiasthmatic, and in bladder infection (20). In China, the leaves of G. biloba were also used for the treatment of asthma and cardiovascular disorders (21). Today, standardized concentrated extracts prepared from the leaves of G. biloba are used for the treatment of peripheral circulatory insufficiency, cerebrovascular disorders, geriatric complaints, and for Alzheimer dementia. For a more extensive treatment, readers are referred to the many authoritative reviews available, e.g.. Refs. (22-27). 

Triassic Period The first period of the Mesozoic Era between 225 and 185 million years ago. Pangaea began to breakup during this time. The ancestors of dinosaurs were present, as were early mammals and mammal-like reptiles. 

Birds evolved from a group of reptiles known as the dinosaurs (order Dinosauria), which first appeared during the late Triassic period (which ended about 210 million years ago). The earliest bird known in the fossil record is Archaeopteryx, from the mid-Jurassic period about 160 million years ago. These extremely early birds had many typical avian characteristics, such as feathers and a homy beak, and were very likely warm-blooded, but they also had reptilian features, such as teeth. In fact, modem birds and dinosaurs still have many characteristics in common, and some biologists and paleontologists believe that birds should be viewed, and classified, as living dinosaurs. ... 

Samples of silicified Triassic Period gymnosperms from Antarctica have been reported with evidence of a white pocket rot (24). The decayed silicified... 

In the Alps, another type of carbonate rock is rather abundant rocks containing large amounts of dolomite, i.e. CaMg(C03)2 (Mandia, 1991 Kiindig, 1997). It is often accompanied by Ca-sulfate (gypsum and anhydrite), rock salt (NaCl), Ca-fluoride and various sulfide-type minerals rich in Fe, Zn, Pb and As (Escher, 1933 Hein and Schneider, 1983 Schmidt and Amstutz, 1983 Schroll, 1983, Knill, 1996). These rocks belong to the Triassic period and correspond to marine sediments formed in a warm laguna some 230 million years ago (Amstutz and Fontbote, 1985). 

This important group of clays of the Triassic Period (Table 9), extends across the country from Sidmouth (Devon) to the mouth of the Tees, and is utilized for brick-making around Birmingham, Mapperley (Nottinghamshire) and in Leicester. Their use is often limited because of contamination with rocksalt and gypsum (CaS04.2H20). 

Mammals evolved from carnivorous reptiles in the Triassic period about 225 million years ago. There are two subclasses the primitive egg-laying Prototheria (mono-tremes) and the Theria, which includes all... 

Fig. 10.13 The Beacon rocks in the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Alexandra ranges form high peaks in the central Transantarctic Mountains between the Nimrod and Beardmore glaciers. These rocks were deposited during the Devonian, Permian, and Triassic periods but the extent of the Devonian Alexandra Formation of the Taylor Group is limited as shown (Adapted from Barrett et al. 1986)...

The major areas of coal distribution are principally in the Northern Hanisphere with the exception of Australia, the southern continents are relatively deficient in coal deposits. This relatively uneven distribution is the result of the deposition and maturation of the plant at different times in the geological past in predominantly tropical latitudes, and the subseqnent drift of the continents to their present-day positions. The oldest coals of any economic significance date from the Middle Carboniferous Period— the earliest geological strata in which coal has been identified are of Devonian age bnt they are generally of little economic significance. With the exception of parts of the Triassic Period, major coal deposits have been forming somewhere in the world throughout the last 320 million years. Sedimentary sequences of the last 2-3 million years do not contain coal— there has been insufficient time for them to develop from plant debris. 

Disparity and Sample Size for Each Region Through the Triassic Period ... 

The end of the Cretaceous period is marked by a major extinction event. Though not as great as the extinction event at the end of the end of the Triassic period, as many as fifty percent of the Earth s species became extinct. Nevertheless it caused the demise of the dinosaurs and was the end of the age of reptiles. Why this event occurred is contentious but there may have been an asteroid impact which created the Chicxulub crater off the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. The pterosams, many marine reptiles, some groups of foraminifera and ammonites also became extinct. 

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