Editing Triassic (section)

==Etymology==
The Triassic was named in 1834 by [[Friedrich August von Alberti]], after a succession of three distinct rock layers (Greek {{wikt-lang|grc-Latn|τριάς|triás}} meaning 'triad') that are widespread in southern [[Germany]]: the lower [[Buntsandstein]] (colourful [[sandstone]]'')'', the middle [[Muschelkalk]] (shell-bearing [[limestone]]) and the upper [[Keuper]] (coloured [[clay]]).<ref>Friedrich von Alberti, ''Beitrag zu einer Monographie des bunten Sandsteins, Muschelkalks und Keupers, und die Verbindung dieser Gebilde zu einer Formation'' [Contribution to a monograph on the colored sandstone, shell limestone and mudstone, and the joining of these structures into one formation] (Stuttgart and Tübingen, (Germany):  J. G. Cotta, 1834).  Alberti coined the term "Trias" on  [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Ie27AAAAIAAJ/page/n347 <!-- pg=324 --> page 324] :<br />"… bunter Sandstein, Muschelkalk und Keuper das Resultat einer Periode, ihre Versteinerungen, um mich der Worte E. de Beaumont's zu bedeinen, die Thermometer einer geologischen Epoche seyen, … also die bis jezt beobachtete Trennung dieser Gebilde in 3 Formationen nicht angemessen, und es mehr dem Begriffe Formation entsprechend sey, sie zu einer Formation, welche ich vorläufig ''Trias'' nennen will, zu verbinden."<br />( … colored sandstone, shell limestone, and mudstone are the result of a period; their fossils are, to avail myself of the words of E. de Beaumont, the thermometer of a geologic epoch; … thus the separation of these structures into 3 formations, which has been maintained until now, isn't appropriate, and it is more consistent with the concept of "formation" to join them into one formation, which for now I will name "trias".)</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="190px">
File:Stadtroda Sandstein.jpg|[[Early Triassic]] sandstone (Buntsandstein) near [[Stadtroda]], Germany
File:Obere Schaumkalkbank am Altenberg bei Dörzbach 280308.jpg|[[Middle Triassic]] Muschelkalk (shell-bearing limestone) near [[Dörzbach]], Germany
File:Kirnbergaufschluss.JPG|[[Late Triassic]] [[Steigerwald Formation]] and overlying [[Hassberge Formation]] in [[Schönbuch]], Germany
</gallery>