The Permian Midcontinent Seaway, often shortened to "Midcontinent," and the Kansas Pemian refer to a sustained, repeating embayment environment during the late Pennsylvanian to early Permian and to the extensive geological record and resources that developed from that environment.
This Pennsylvanian-Permian record most fully exposed in Kansas was the first reported outcrop of Permian sediments within the history of geology in the United States.
The Pennsylvanian-Permian sequences first studied here expressed abundant hydrocarbon resources; resulting in coal extraction in southwest Kansas and major hydrocarbon plays in the High Plains, such as the Denver Basin, and Permian Basin.
Early study
In 1524, Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont lead the first incidentally scientific exploration into the territory. His guides were from the horseless Kansa tribe1 (who had not yet settled the Kansas River they crossed on the way). The destination was the general area of the Little Arkansas River, thus transecting the entire Pennsylvanian-Permian series in the northeast corner of the future state.
The Permian Midcontinent Seaway, often shortened to "Midcontinent," and the Kansas Pemian refer to a sustained, repeating embayment environment during the late Pennsylvanian to early Permian and to the extensive geological record and resources that developed from that environment.
This Pennsylvanian-Permian record most fully exposed in Kansas was the first reported outcrop of Permian sediments within the history of geology in the United States.
The Pennsylvanian-Permian sequences first studied here expressed abundant hydrocarbon resources; resulting in coal extraction in southwest Kansas and major hydrocarbon plays in the High Plains, such as the Denver Basin, and Permian Basin.
Early study
In 1524, Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont lead the first incidentally scientific exploration into the territory. His guides were from the horseless Kansa tribe1 (who had not yet settled the Kansas River they crossed on the way). The destination was the general area of the Little Arkansas River, thus transecting the entire Pennsylvanian-Permian series in the northeast corner of the future state.