Foraminifera, calcareous algae and rugose corals in Brigantian (late Viséan) limestones in NE Ireland

Abstract

SUMMARY Upper Visean rocks in the Kingscourt, Armagh and Cookstown areas of NE Ireland are dated using foraminifera, calcareous algae and rugose corals, and new positions are proposed for the Asbian/Brigantian and early/late Brigantian boundaries. Of particular interest are assemblages of foraminifera and calcareous algae from the Poulmore Scarp section (Kingscourt), which is now recognized as the only section in Ireland to be composed of platform carbonates of latest Brigantian age. This late Brigantian section is correlated with the interval from the Three Yard Limestone to the Great Limestone in northern England.