Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian ‘Lower Old Red Sandstone’ deposits of Arran, Scotland

Abstract

ABSTRACTDispersed spore assemblages have been recovered from the Am Binnein Sandstones from the upper part of the ‘Lower Old Red Sandstone’ sequence on the island of Arran, Scotland. The spore assemblages belong with theEmphanisporites annulatus–Camarozonotriletes sextantii(AS) Spore Assemblage Biozone (SAB), indicating an Early Devonian, Emsian (but not earliest Emsian or latest Emsian) age. This is the first reliable age constraint for the ‘Lower Old Red Sandstone’ of Arran, and enables correlation with the more extensive sequence developed on the mainland in the Midland Valley of Scotland. The Am Binnein Sandstones are confirmed as correlatives of the Strathmore Group.