The Old Red Sandstone of Britain and Ireland — a review

Kendall, Rhian

doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2017.05.002

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…(2000); Pyles (2008). Devonian basins from Kendall (2017). DG, Donegal Granite; DS, Dalradian Supergroup; FC, Flemish Cap; GH, Galway High; LH, Leinster High; SPH, South Porcupine High…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constraining recycled detritus in quartz‐rich sandstones: Insights from a multi‐proxy provenance study of the Mid‐Carboniferous, Clare Basin, western Ireland

Nauton‐Fourteu

Tyrrell

Morton³

et al. 2020

Basin Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Quartz‐rich sandstones can be produced through multiple sedimentary processes, potentially acting in combination, such as extensive sedimentary recycling or intense chemical weathering. Determining the provenance of such sedimentary rocks can be challenging due to low amounts of accessory minerals, the fact that the primary mineralogy may have been altered during transport, storage or burial and difficulties in the recognition of polycyclic components. This study uses zircon and apatite U‐Pb geochronology, apatite trace elements, zircon‐tourmaline‐rutile indices and petrographic observations to investigate the sedimentary history of mineralogically mature mid‐Carboniferous sandstones of the Tullig Cyclothem, Clare Basin, western Ireland. The provenance data show that the sandstones have been dominantly and ultimately sourced from three basement terranes: older Laurentian‐ associated rocks (ca. 900–2500 Ma) which lay to the north of the basin, peri‐Gondwanan terranes (ca. 500–700 Ma) to the south and igneous intrusive rocks associated with the Caledonian Orogenic Cycle (ca. 380–500 Ma). However, the multi‐proxy approach also helps constrain the sedimentary history and suggests that not all grain populations were derived directly from their original source. Grains with a Laurentian or a Caledonian affinity have likely been recycled through Devonian basins to the south. Grains with a peri‐Gondwanan affinity appear to be first cycle and are potentially derived from south/southwest of the basin. Taken as a whole, these data are consistent with input into the basin from the south and southwest, with the reworking of older sedimentary rocks, rather than intensive first‐cycle chemical weathering, likely explaining the compositional maturity of the sandstones. This study highlights the need for a multi‐proxy provenance approach to constrain sedimentary recycling, particularly in compositionally mature sandstones, as the use of zircon geochronology alone would have led to erroneous provenance interpretations. Zircon, together with U‐Pb geochronology from more labile phases such as apatite, can help distinguish first‐cycle versus polycyclic detritus.

show abstract

“…(2000); Pyles (2008). Devonian basins from Kendall (2017). DG, Donegal Granite; DS, Dalradian Supergroup; FC, Flemish Cap; GH, Galway High; LH, Leinster High; SPH, South Porcupine High…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constraining recycled detritus in quartz‐rich sandstones: Insights from a multi‐proxy provenance study of the Mid‐Carboniferous, Clare Basin, western Ireland

Nauton‐Fourteu

Tyrrell

Morton³

et al. 2020

Basin Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Old Red Sandstone successions are recognized throughout Britain in several basins and are broadly classified with respect to their location relative to the Caledonian Mountains (Kendall, 2017). Basins to the north, including the Orcadian and Midland Valley basins are considered internal or intermontane basins, with little or no access to the ocean.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caledonian foreland basin sedimentation: A new depositional model for the Upper Silurian‐Lower Devonian Lower Old Red Sandstone of the Midland Valley Basin, Scotland

McKellar

Hartley

2020

Basin Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reconstruction of the geological history of orogenic events can be challenging where basins have limited and/or fragmentary preservation. Here, we apply understanding gained from modern analogues to the sedimentological analysis of the succession of Upper Silurian to Lower Devonian Lower Old Red Sandstone (LORS), northern Midland Valley, Scotland, in order to reconstruct the foreland to the Caledonian orogeny. A new depositional model is presented which differs significantly from current understanding. Using facies analysis, grain size distribution and palaeocurrent data a large distributive fluvial system is reconstructed. Three lithofacies and nine sublithofacies are identified, forming fluvial channel and floodplain facies associations. The system was derived from an emerging mountain range in the Caledonian foreland undergoing constant tectonic rejuvenation to produce 9 km of coarse‐grained sediment, exhibiting an overall decrease in thickness towards the west and a large‐scale downstream reduction in grain size. Conglomerate sublithofacies dominate proximal areas in the east where amalgamated fluvial channel facies association is abundant, with a downstream increase in the dominance of floodplain facies. Additionally, observed grain size cyclicity is attributed to a pulsatory tectonic influence. The LORS records the time‐period between the late phases of the Caledonian Orogeny and the onset of post‐orogenic collapse in the mid‐Devonian and the presented model allows improved understanding of the north‐Atlantic Caledonian foreland.

show abstract

“…The Late Palaeozoic Midland Valley basin was filled by a variety of sediments deposited in differing environmental conditions 52 . During the Devonian the UK was landlocked within a semi-arid continental landmass that lead to the deposition of aeolian desert and fluvial sandstones collectively known as the Old Red Sandstone (ORS) facies 53 . The Upper Devonian part of the ORS facies in the Midland Valley comprises the Stratheden Group which comprises multiple formations across the Midland Valley, here simplified to the Glenvale and Knox Pulpit Formations.…”

Section: Geological History Of the Midland Valley And The Generation mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations – onshore play opportunities in the midland valley (Scotland, UK)

Heinemann

Booth

Haszeldine

et al. 2018

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

155

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hydrogen usage and storage may contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by decarbonising heating and transport and by offering significant energy storage to balance variable renewable energy supply. Underground storage of hydrogen is established in underground salt caverns, but these have restricted geographical locations within the UK and cannot deliver the required capacity. Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations has significant potential to deliver both the capacity and local positioning. This study investigates the potential for storage of hydrogen in porous subsurface media in Scotland. We introduce for the first time the concept of the hydrogen storage play. A geological combination including reservoir, seal and trap that provides the optimum hydrogen storage reservoir conditions that will be potential targets for future pilot, and commercial, hydrogen storage projects. We investigate three conceptual hydrogen storage plays in the Midland Valley of Scotland, an area chosen primarily because it contains the most extensive onshore sedimentary deposits in Scotland, with the added benefit of being close to potential consumers in the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The formations assessed are of Devonian and Carboniferous age. The Devonian storage play offers vast storage capacity but its validity is uncertain due to due to a lack of geological data. The two Carboniferous plays have less capacity but the abundant data produced by the hydrocarbon industry makes our suitability assessment of these plays relatively certain. We conclude that the Carboniferous age sedimentary deposits of the D'Arcy-Cousland Anticline and the Balgonie Anticline close to Edinburgh will make suitable hydrogen storage sites and are ideal for an early hydrogen storage research project.

show abstract

The Old Red Sandstone of Britain and Ireland — a review

Cited by 19 publications

References 57 publications

Constraining recycled detritus in quartz‐rich sandstones: Insights from a multi‐proxy provenance study of the Mid‐Carboniferous, Clare Basin, western Ireland

Constraining recycled detritus in quartz‐rich sandstones: Insights from a multi‐proxy provenance study of the Mid‐Carboniferous, Clare Basin, western Ireland

Caledonian foreland basin sedimentation: A new depositional model for the Upper Silurian‐Lower Devonian Lower Old Red Sandstone of the Midland Valley Basin, Scotland

Hydrogen storage in porous geological formations – onshore play opportunities in the midland valley (Scotland, UK)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About