A palynological study of the glacigenic sediments of the Aberdeen/Buchan area

The thirteen samples produced variably productive organic residues and palynofloras. Typically, the samples include relatively low numbers of Carboniferous spores, abundant Mid-Late Jurassic miospores, moderate to low levels of Late Jurassic, principally Kimmeridgian, dinoflagellate cysts, extremely low levels of Early Cretaceous palynomorphs, variable levels of Cretaceous/Palaeogene-Neogene dinoflagellate cysts and some Quaternary pollen and spores. The bulk of the Carboniferous spores are most likely to have been derived from Westphalian strata. The vast majority of Jurassic dinoflagellate cysts are indicative of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation and typically each productive sample contains both early and late Kimmeridgian marker species. The Carboniferous, Jurassic and Cretaceous palynomorphs are probably derived from the Moray Firth Basin. Sample 4 from the Bellscamphie Railway Cutting Excavations yielded a highly unusual palynoflora, which is dominated by spores of Lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian-Viséan) aspect. Sample 10 from Camp Fauld, south-west of Peterhead, included definite Westphalian spore taxa. Sample 9 from Bearnie, Buchan produced low numbers of Callovian/Oxfordian dinoflagellate cysts. The presence of late Hauterivian-early Barremian markers in sample 8 at the Moss of Cruden excavations, south-west of Peterhead was not confirmed. Sample 7 from the Teuchan Clay Pit, north-east of Hatton produced an assemblage wholly comprising Quaternary pollen and spores. No derived Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous or Palaeogene/Neogene palynomorphs were observed. The dominance of spore taxa with minor herbaceous pollen indicates a damp, upland region with a moorland/heathland vegetation; this is probably the local pollen component.