SULPHUR

I made no mention of the atmosphere but rather the water and what was buried in it.

ps418

Well, you just said "highly reducing environment," so it wasn't clear just what environment you were referring to. Are you referring to oceanic anoxic events? If so, I'm not aware of any occurring during the Carboniferous, though there were major, global OAEs at both the end-Devonian and the end-Permian. As far as I know, these events are not related to formation of coal.

Patrick

SULPHUR

the growth of major vegetation was in this period. hence the name carboniferous

SULPHUR

I' ve just had a look at more information. You were right, the at mosphere was the closest to the present in the late carboniferous and the temperatures were extremely low However the coal deposits were formed in a reducing enviroment.

roxrkool

SULPHUR, I'm having a hard time following what exactly you're asking, but the reducing environment, with respect to coal formation, was a local condition (as in bogs/swamps, etc.) rather than a global one.

Hope you don't mind me butting in.