Palynology of carboniferous strata from the ballycastle area, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland

Abstract

Miospore assemblages are examined of strata located just above the basal lavas to the Upper Coal Group of possible Arnsbergian (Namurian, E₂) age. Macrofossil evidence and earlier palynological evidence for the ages of these strata is sparse yet the present studies suggest that the oldest sediments belong to the Posidonia zone of the Visean series and thus confirm the earlier recognition of the Main Coal horizon as the possible boundary between the Visean and Namurian series (Wilson and Robbie, 1966). The Upper Coal Group spore assemblages are more consistent with a Pendleian (E₁) age than with the hitherto postulated Arnsbergian (E₂) age, although they have certain similarities with spore assemblages in coals from the lowest part of the Upper Limestone Group (E₂) in Fife.