New palynological data from the Leinster Lower Palaeozoic massif, southeastern Ireland

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn southeastern Ireland, the tectonic evolution of the northwestern Avalonian margin is rather poorly understood and only partially constrained. This is because the stratigraphy comprises in the main unfossiliferous turbidites. Nevertheless, some authors have attempted to define ‘terranes’ and ‘tracts’ in the region, aided by several significant Caledonoid-trending structural breaks that can be determined in the field. Palynological work was carried out in the early 1970s and established a range of ages from approximately mid Cambrian to late Silurian, although much of the succession proved barren. In the current study, the Lower Palaeozoic sequences W of the Leinster Granite and in the Slievenamon Inlier to the S have been palynologically re-investigated. Previous work proposed an unbroken succession from lower Ordovician Ribband Group turbidites and volcanics younging westwards conformably into upper Silurian Kilcullen Group sediments. The new study clearly shows that the Ordovician palynomorphs in the older part of the Kilcullen Group are reworked. In fact, there exists a major stratigraphical break between the Ribband Group dated as early Ordovician, Arenig, and the Kilcullen Group which is entirely Silurian, late Llandovery to early Wenlock in age. This major break has a minimum strike length of 150 km and is most likely much longer, extending some hundreds of kilometres SW to Dingle and possibly equating with a similar discontinuity in the Isle of Man to the NE. This break would thus appear to be a major feature within the succession of the northwestern Avalonian margin.