Continental and coastal plain deposits of the uppermost Old Red Sandstone complex of Southern Ireland

Abstract

A description is given of an Old Red Sandstone sequence of Upper Devonian age occurring along the south coast of Ireland. This sequence shows a gradual transition from continental deposits to overlying tidal marine sediments via a transition zone. The most characteristic changes occurring upward in the transition-zone between the underlying continental (interior alluvial plain) deposits and the marine tidal sediments are: 1) The increasing mineralogical maturity of the sandstones. 2) The appearance of "heterolithic beds". 3) The increasing frequency of occurrence of thick fluviatile sandstones. 4) The change in rock colours from reddish via greenish to greyish hues.