Tullig Point Tullig Fm


Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Basal portion of the cliff represents the Gull Island Formation composed of fault bounded slumps of sands, silts and muds of basin slope deposits. In the upper portion of cliff are the ryhthmically bedded siltstones of a delta front that accumulated above wave base, representing the lower portion of the Tullig Formation (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). This cliff forms approximately 50m of section. These sediments are Upper Carboniferous or Namurian in age. The central sandy portion of the cliff represents the cross-bedded Tullig Formation sands, and silts. The channeling and sorting of the quartz rich character of the sands on delta front reflect waves impinging on the delta front sands that filled distributary channels and/or proximal bar sands (Andy Pulham personal communication and Martinsen et al., 2008). The upper portion of cliff is composed of sand stringers and shales of a marine bay within wave base. The lower portion of the cliff represents silts, shales and some thin sands the accumulated in water that deepens down section to below wave base. A delta mouth gulley lies just below the central sandstone unit. This cliff represents approximately 50m of section. These sediments are Upper Carboniferous or Namurian in age. To the left the central sandy portion of the cliff represents the cross-bedded Tullig Formation sands, and silts. The channeling and sorting of the quartz rich character of the sands on delta front reflect waves impinging on the delta front sands that filled distributary channels and/or proximal bar sands (Andy Pulham personal communication and Martinsen et al., 2008). The upper portion of cliff is composed of sand stringers and shales of a marine bay within wave base. The lower portion of the cliff represents silts, shales and some thin sands the accumulated in water that deepens down section to below wave base. A delta mouth gulley lies just below the central sandstone unit. To the right are rythmic alternations of silts and mud of distal delta plumes that shallow up to a climbing ripple facies probably within wave base. This cliff represents approximately 50m of section of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian sediments. To the left the central sandy portion of the cliff represents the cross-bedded Tullig Formation sands, and silts. The channeling and sorting of the quartz rich character of the sands on delta front reflect waves impinging on the delta front sands that filled distributary channels and/or proximal bar sands (Andy Pulham personal communication and Martinsen et al., 2008). The upper portion of cliff is composed of sand stringers and shales of a marine bay within wave base. The lower portion of the cliff represents silts, shales and some thin sands the accumulated in water that deepens down section to below wave base. A delta mouth gulley lies just below the central sandstone unit. To the right are rythmic alternations of silts and mud of distal delta plumes that shallow up to a climbing ripple facies probably within wave base. This cliff represents approximately 50m of section of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian sediments. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with some sands. Depositional facies are interpreted to be distal delta plumes that shallow up to a climbing ripple facies probably within wave base (Andy Pulham personal communication and Martinsen et al., 2008). This cliff represents approximately 50m of section of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian sediments. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above these the gallery images show the section shallows up to a climbing ripple facies probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Alternations of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Above this exposure the gallery images capture a section that shallows up to climbing ripples probably within wave base. Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud with few sands. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be distal delta plumes. Note graded character of rhythmic couplets suggesting downslope transport and gravity settling. Bedding plane of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud. Note faint burrowing and test of fossils to left of scale. Bedding plane of Tullig Formation rythmic of silts and mud. Note faint burrowing and test of fossils to left of scale. Climbing ripples are exposed on bedding plane. Depositional facies are interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Climbing ripples exposed on bedding planes. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Climbing ripples exposed on bedding planes. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Climbing ripples exposed on bedding plane. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be more proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Climbing ripples exposed on bedding plane. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be more proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Climbing ripples exposed on bedding plane. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be more proximal prodelta with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age. Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with bed of cross-bedded sand at top of photo probably sourced from a downlope gulley. Note the erosion at the lower left and probable gulley fill by silts and muds. Climbing ripples are common in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some cross-bedded sands. Climbing ripples are common in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Note the erosion at the lower left and probable gulley fill by silts and muds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with some sands. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). The lower sandy portion of the cliff represents the cross-bedded Tullig Formation sands, and silts. The channeling and sorting of the quartz rich character of the sands on delta front reflect waves impinging on the delta front sands that filled distributary channels and/or proximal bar sands (Andy Pulham personal commuication and Martinsen et al., 2008) . The upper portion of cliff is composed of sand stringers and shales of a marine bay within wave base. These sediments are Upper Carboniferous or Namurian in age. Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with bed of cross-bedded sand at top of photo probably sourced from a downlope gulley. Climbing ripples are common in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud. Climbing ripples in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with a slumped bed of sand in middle of photo probably sourced from a downlope gulley. Climbing ripples are common in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Upper Carboniferous or Namurian aged Tullig Formation silts and mud interbedded with a slumped bed of sand in middle of photo probably sourced from a downlope gulley. The sand rich unit below the slump is probably also a gulley sand. Climbing ripples are common in rythmic silts and mud interbeds. Depositional setting interpreted to be a delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008). Climbing ripples exposed on bedding plane. Depositional facies interpreted (Andy Pulham personal comunication & Martinsen et al., 2008) to be delta front with the climbing ripple facies formed within wave base. These Tullig Formation rythmic silts and mud with some sands are of Upper Carboniferous or Namurian age.


Tullig Point
These outcrops of Upper Carboniferous (Namurian) sediments form the Atlantic shore as the cliffs of Tullig Point in Co Clare. These cliffs are around 45-50 m. high and expose the seaward edge of a deltaic system represented by the Tullig Formation Cyclothems. The cliffs also expose the relationship of Tullig Formation Cyclothems with the underlying the slope system of the Gull Island Formation and reinforce the interpretation that the Tullig Sandstones in these cliffs accumulated in a shelf-edge position of this deltaic system. The sediments of the section are composed of mixed deltaic sands and offshore silty shales interbedded with condensed sections containing Goniatite faunas.  The marine character of these outcrops can be traced into the mixed marine and fluvial sediments exposed at Trusklieve.

Descriptions of these outcrops are based on the 2008 SEPM Field Guide (Martinsen et al., 2008), and also the explanations of the accumulation of these sediments given by Andy Pulham when he led this field trip to this locality and the rocks exposed at Trusklieve.

Photos by Christopher Kendall.

Sections from Tullig Point and Trusklieve enable the comparison of the lateral contrast in the parasequences in the delta front/ prograding lowstand wedge, the inception of storm wave base in the prograding delta front from the underlying slope system and the sharp-based unit at 110m that is interpreted as a forced regression involving distributary mouth bar facies.

Key points Any Pulham made are:
  • The cliffs expose a gradational lithostratigraphic contact between the top of the Gull Island Formation slope system and the delta front of the Tullig Cyclothem delta system.
  • Depositional shallowing is suggested by major, composite slump sheet in the lower part of delta front.
  • The slump sheet is interpreted to have been triggered by a relative fall in sea level, defining a 'distally seen' sequence boundary.
  • An interpretation of a delta front setting is supported by laminar character of the siltstone-dominated section and the evidence of storm wave base in the basin-fill succession (low amplitude, vertically climbing wave ripples).
  • The contrast in facies character of the delta front between here and Trusklieve is interpreted in terms of Tullig Point being a lateral site with respect to the distributary mouths while the sediments of the Trusklieve outcrops accumulated in a more axial site, possibly controlled by growth faults.
  • A sharp-based sandstone unit at the top of the delta front is interpreted as a proximal, axial mouth bar facies potentially associated with a forced regression.

Useful References
Brennand, R. P., 1965, The Upper Carboniferous (Namurian) stratigraphy north-east of Castle island, County Kerry, Ireland: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, v. 64, sect. B, p. 41-63.

Collinson, J.D., Martinsen, O. Bakken, B. and Kloster, A. (1991), Early fill of the western Irish Namurian Basin: a complex relationship between turbidites and deltas. basin Research, 3, 223-242.

Gill, W. D., and Kuenen, P. H. 1958, Syndepositional sliding and slumping in the West Clare Namurian Basin, Ireland. Geol. Surv. Irel., Spec. Pub. 4, 1-121.

Lien, T., R. G. Walker, and O. J. Martinsen, 2003, Turbidites in the Upper Carboniferous Ross Formation, western Ireland: reconstruction of a channel and spillover system: Sedimentology, v. 50, p. 113-148.

Martinsen, O.J. (1989), Styles of soft sediment deformation on a Namurian (Carboniferous) delta slope, western Ireland Namurian Basin, Ireland. In Whatley, M.K.G. & Pickering, K.T. (eds) Deltas: sites and traps for fossil fuels, Geological Society Special Publication, 41, 167-177.

Martinsen, O.J. & Bakken, B. (1990), Extensional and compressional zones in slumps and slides in the Namurian of County Clare, Ireland. Journal of the Geological Society, 147, 153-164.

Martinsen, O. J., T. Lien, and R. G. Walker, 2000, Upper Carboniferous deep water sediments, western Ireland: analogues for passive margin turbidite plays, in P. Weimer, R. M. Slatt, J. Coleman, N. C. Rossen, H. Nelson, A. H. Bouma, M. J. Styzen, and D. T. Lawrence, eds., Deep-water reservoirs of the world, Gulf Coast Section-SEPM Special Publication, p. 533-555.

Martinsen, O. J., and J. D. Collinson, 2002, The Western Irish Namurian Basin reassessed—a discussion: basin Research, v. 14, p. 523-542.

Martinsen, O. J., T. Lien, R. G. Walker, and J. D. Collinson, 2003, Facies and sequential organization of a mudstone-dominated slope and basin floor succession: the Gull Island Formation, Shannon Basin, western Ireland: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 20, p. 789-807

Martinsen O., Sullivan M., Pulham A., Haughton P., Harper H., and Elliot T., 2008, Outcrops Revitalized; Tool, Techniques and Applications Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland June 22-27, 2008 Field Guide SEPM Research Conference pp 53

Pulham, A.J. (1987), Depositional and syn-sedimentary deformation processes in Namurian deltaic sequences of west County Clare, Ireland. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Wales, Swansea.

Pulham, A.J. (1989), Controls on internal structure and architecture of sandstone bodies within Upper carboniferous fluvial-dominated deltas, County Clare, western Ireland. In Whatley, M.K.G. & Pickering, K.T. (eds) Deltas: sites and traps for fossil fuels, Geological Society Special Publication, 41, 179-203.

Ramsbottom, W. H. C., M. Calver, R. M. C. Eagar, F. Hodson, D. W. Holliday, C. J. Stubblefield, and R. B. Wilson, 1978, A correlation of Silesian Rocks in the British Isles: Special Report of the Geological Society of London, no. 10, 81 p.

Rider, M.H. (1969), Sedimentological studies in the West Clare Namurian Basin, Ireland and the Mississippi Delta. Unpublished PhD thesis, Imperial College London.

Rider, M.H. (1974), The Namurian of West County Clare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 74B, 125-142.

Rider, M.H. (1978), Growth faults in the Carboniferous of western Ireland. Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 62, 2191-2213.
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