Palynology report : the Hilton Borehole, Cumbria

Palynomorphs indicative of a Wuchiapingian, or possibly Changhsingian, (Late Permian, Lopingian) age have been recovered through a c.108m section comprising the highest beds currently assigned to the Penrith Sandstone, and the succeeding Eden Shales, from the Hilton Plant Beds to the Belah Dolomite, inclusive. The palynomorphs consist largely of miospores, principally bisaccate pollen; some monosaccate pollen and a few pteridophytic spores occur. Algal(?) remains occur, mainly in the Hilton Plant Beds and the Belah Dolomite.
Palynomorph assemblages similar to those from the Hilton Plant Beds have been recovered from samples from the highest part of the sequence currently assigned to the Penrith Sandstone Formation. The boundary of this formation with the overlying Eden Shales may have been placed too high in the borehole, or a passage may exist between these formations.
Poor recovery of palynomorphs through some 63m of beds between the Hilton Plant Beds and the top of Eden Shales unit (vi) may limit the usefulness of the Hilton Borehole record as a reference for the palynostratigraphy of the region.