Palynological evidence for Mesozoic karst at Piltown, Co. Kilkenny

Exploration drilling by Pasminco Australia Ltd. in 1993 at Piltown near Carrick-on-Suir, encountered brown, yellow and fawn clays of the Piltown Clay Formation (new name) lying on and in Carboniferous limestone. Palynological analysis of these clays indicates that they are late Jurassic to early Cretaceous in age. The palynomorphs are well preserved but not abundant. They consist mostly of terrestrially derived spores and pollen grains, though the rare occurrence of dinoflagellate cysts indicates a weak marine influence in some of the sediments. The presence of these Mesozoic sediments within karstified limestone implies an active karst system before and/or during late Jurassic-early Cretaceous times in south County Kilkenny.