Middle Ecca Series

geology

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June 30, 2026

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The Middle Ecca Series is a geological subdivision within the Karoo System in Africa. This system spans from the Carboniferous to the Late Triassic periods, approximately 359 to 200 million years ago. The Karoo System is characterized by nonmarine sediments, including shales and siltstones, and is notable for its coal seams and the fossilized remains of therapsid reptiles, which are ancestral to mammals. The Ecca Series, specifically, is part of the early Permian period within this system. The term "Series" in geology refers to a subdivision of a geologic system, representing rocks deposited during a specific time interval.12

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Africa
The Paleozoic Era
…[300 metres] of shales), the Middle Ecca (some 1,650 feet [500 metres] of sandstone, seams of coal, and fossilized plants), and the Upper Ecca (about 650 feet [200 metres] of shales again).
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…[300 metres] of shales), the Middle Ecca (some 1,650 feet [500 metres] of sandstone, seams of coal, and fossilized plants), and the Upper Ecca (about 650 feet [200 metres] of shales again).
Read More