Che Aziz Ali

Lower permian radiolaria from the Pos Blau area, Ulu Kelantan, Malaysia

Abstract Twenty two species of Radiolaria were identified from a 30 mthick chert sequence exposed at a roadcut near Pos Blau, Ulu Kelantan. The radiolarian assemblage represents the top part of the Pseudoalbaillella lomentaria Zone, upper Wolfcampian which is equivalent to the Sakmarian, Lower Permian. These radiolarian faunas contain elements present in both Southern Urals and Japanese faunas.

Late Triassic Radiolaria from the Kodiang Limestone, northwest Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract Two different cherty packstone-wackestone facies are exposed at an abandoned limestone quarry at Bukit Kodiang, Kedah. Chert occurs as discontinuous layers and nodules in the cherty packstone-wackestone. The thickness of individual chert layers varies from 2 to 10 cm. The facies exhibit slump folds. Eighteen species of Radiolaria were identified—Capnuchosphaera triassica De Wever, Triassocampe sulovensis Kozur and Mock, Tetraporobrachia asymmetrica Kozur and Mostler, Xenorum flexum Blome, Canoptum laxum Blome, Palaeosaturnalis triassicus Kozur and Mostler, Canoptum cf. farawayensis Blome, Pseudostylosphaera cf. spinulosa Nakaseko and Nishimura, Hagiastrum cf. augustum Pessagno, Perispongidium sp., Capnuchosphaera sp., Sarla sp., Kahlerosphaera sp., Canoptum sp., Latium sp., Paronaella sp., Sontonaella sp., and Spongostylus sp. The assemblage indicates that the age of the chert bearing strata ranges from late Carnian to middle Norian, Late Traissic.

Sustainable Geological Heritage Development Approach in Sarawak Delta, Sarawak, Malaysia

The Sarawak Delta is located in the Kuching and Bau Districts and comprises the Bako, Santubong, Sarawak River Delta, Serapi and the Bau areas. The area is proposed as the Sarawak Delta Geopark. The delta plain has become a foundation accommodating continuous development where integration between various communities, cultures and the environment takes place. Various geological formations along with several significant geoheritage sites have been identified within and surrounding the proposed Sarawak Delta Geopark area. Despite the important roles of geology in many aspects of development, there are neither proper linkages between geology and sustainable development nor its sustainability used. Through the geoheritage concept which involves proper identification, characterisation, assessment and rank of significant geoheritage sites based on its scientific, aesthetic, cultural and recreational heritage value, now the area is proposed to be partially geoconserved for geotourism purposes. The aim of this paper is to establish further understanding of the relationship between the field of geology and sustainable development through geoheritage development of the proposed Sarawak Delta Geopark. Geoparks are a relatively new form of sustainable development which embraces geoconservation, geotourism and education. Geoparks provide a sound approach for sustainable development in the Sarawak Delta since it can enhance conservation of resources whilst at the same time promoting socio-economic benefits for the local communities.

Geological heritage assessment for sustainable development of Lenggong Valley

The quantitative methodology for assessment of geosite can be used for the sustainable management and conservation of geological heritage of an area. The main aim of this paper is to develop the methodology for identification, characterization and evaluation of every geosite based on the quantitative assessment. This early stage of evaluation discussed on criteria that cover all value sets and its potential of used. Value sets take into account the scientific value, cultural value, ecological value, aesthetic value and economic value, respectively. The total scores based on quantitative analysis will be used to determine the ranking of the geosite. Following the description of the proposed method, the paper presents the assessment results of thirteen selected geosite in the Archaeological Heritage of Lenggong Valley.

Microfacies and diagenesis of Gua Bama limestone, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Gua Bama limestone hill in Lipis District, Pahang State is a well-known site for the hunt of Malaysian Permo-Triassic Boundary. This paper details the microfacies and diagenesis of limestone succession at Gua Bama outcrop as an early effort to constrain the desired Permo-Triassic Boundary. Six microfacies have been identified: mudstone, peloidal wackestone, bioclastic wackestone, radiolarian wackestone, intraclastic packstone, and peloidal packstone. The appearance of highly diverse benthic fauna in fragmented forms and the dominance of mudstone-wackestone microfacies prove that carbonates of Gua Bama were deposited in low-energy shallow marine environment. Gua Bama have been subjected to multiple diagenetic processes, namely cementation, compaction, neomorphism, and micritization. Based on diagenetic textures observed, it can be interpreted that Gua Bama limestone had undergone diagenesis within marine water phreatic zone and deep burial realms.

Delta zoning based on sediment dispersal in Pahang River Delta

Rapid deposition and suspended sediment dispersal off the Pahang River mouth has been examined by collecting 57 samples around Pahang River Delta. The results show that Pahang River Delta can be divided into four zones which are distributary mouth bar, delta front, pro-delta and platform or shelf. Grain size analysis can be used in order to determine zones of deltaic deposition. Most rapid deposition and deposition of the coarsest material takes place in a short distance from the river mouth, a sand body commonly referred to a distributary mouth bar. The average percentage of sand, silt and clay of this zone are 77 %, 17 % and 4 %, respectively. Seaward of this region, percentage of sand diminished rapidly where a zone of inter-fingering sands, silt and clay are commonly found. This zone is commonly referred as delta front deposits where the average percentage of sand, silt and clay for this zone are 47 %, 46 % and 6 %, respectively. Beyond the delta fronts, only fine silt and clay remain in suspension an...

Dolomites petrography and geochemistry of the Chuping Formation, Malaysia

Detailed petrographic and geochemical studies had been done to 89 samples from the Chuping Formation collected at Bukit Tengku Lembu area. The aim of this paper is to document the nature of dolomitization and its petrographical characteristics. Two types of dolomites have been recognized; stratified dolomites and non-stratified dolomites. Non-stratified dolomites can be further divided into complete-replacing dolomites, individual-scattered dolomites and selective-replacing dolomites. The geochemical data from X-ray Fluorescence analysis detected low concentrations of trace elements which includes Al, Fe, K, Mn, Na, P, Si, Sr and Ti, with a high Ca/Mg ratio ranging from1.681 mol to as high as 106.942 mol. This big fluctuation in values indicates a variation of fluids that are involved in the diagenetic processes. Individual-scattered dolomites have perfect rhombus shape with no evidence of being affected by compaction and pressure indicating a shallow burial setting. Meanwhile presence of perfect saddle dolomites with replacive nature and no signs of being affected by compaction, also suggested late burial settings, in which compaction ceased. High Ca/Mg ratios may also suggest some dedolomitization effects.