Miocene larger benthic foraminifera from the Kalumpang formation in Tawau, Sabah

Miocene larger benthic foraminifera have been discovered from a limestone unit of the Kalumpang Formation. The limestone is exposed at the Teck Guan Quarry, Tawau, southeast Sabah. The Kalumpang Formation consists predominantly of interbedded mudstone and sandstone (graywacke), conglomerate, limestone, marl, chert and volcanic rocks. Five limestone samples have been collected and processed for petrographic analysis and identification of larger benthic foraminifera. The limestone is classified as packstone and mudstone. A total of seventeen species of larger benthic foraminifera have been identified. The foraminifera are divided into two assemblages namely Assemblage I and Assemblage II. Assemblage I is characterized by the presence of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) parva, Operculina sp. and Lepidocyclina (Eulepidina) formosa. This assemblage is an indicative of Aquitanian to Burdigalian in age (Early Miocene). Assembalge II comprises of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) sumatrensis, Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) angulosa, Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) ferreroi Lepidocyclina sp., Miogypsina sp., Katacycloclypeus annulatus, Katacyloclypeus martini, Cycloclypeus carpenteri, Cycloclypeus indopacificus, Cycloclypeus sp., Flosculinella bontangensis, Operculina complanata, Amphistegina bowdenensis and Amphistegina sp. This assemblage is an indicative of Langhian to Serravallian age (Middle Miocene). The foraminiferal assemblages suggest that the depositional environment was a warm tropical shallow-marine at the fore-reef shelf zone

Stratigrafi Di Barat Daya Sabah (The Stratigraphy of Southwest Sabah)

This study is aimed to study the stratigraphy in southwest Sabah. The study area consists of Temburong Formation, Crocker Formation, Meligan Formation and Liang Formation. Through the study, the Temburong Formation was found to be underlying the Crocker Formation in terms of stratigraphic sequence position which has been considered otherwise. This means that the position of stratigraphic sequence of Temburong Formation which was previously considered to be above the Crocker Formation is now being interpreted below the Crocker Formation. Facies analysis, facies association studies, cross-sectional studies, litostratigraphic studies, and correlation of litostratigraphic units in the study area helped to interpret the stratigraphy and update the position of stratigraphy for the Paleogene sequences. The Temburong Formation and Crocker Formation are both dated as Upper Eocene to Lower Miocene while the Meligan Formation is Middle Miocene to Upper Miocene and Liang Formation is Pliocene

The quality assessment of heavy metals in marine sediments from Usukan coastal beach, Kota Belud, Sabah

A total of fifty-three (53) sediment samples were collected from Usukan coastal beach to study the potential of pollution due to heavy metals in the marine ecosystem. The sediment samples were collected along the coastal beach using a core sampler. The ICP-OES analysis was used to identify the concentration of heavy metals in the marine sediment samples. The results of pH analysis showed the increase of pH from 5.69 to 8.48 from inland into the sea. The lowest moisture content was 4.99%, whereas the highest was 48.75%. The organic matter ranges from 0.30 to 6.73%. The sediment texture varies from sandy, sandy loam, and sandy clay loam texture. The decreasing rank ing order of heavy metals concentration is Fe (4476-29829 ppm) followed by Al (5803-8524 ppm) and Mn (103-504 ppm), which are still within the background values and standard limits. The assessment of Fe, Al and Mn contamination in sediment samples was performed by comparing with the allowable range of average background values and the standard limits from Sediment Quality Guideline (SQG) in marine sediment. In conclusion, the results of quality assessment using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), modified degree of contamination (mCd), and pollution load index (PLI) showed that the sediment from Usukan beach has a very low contamination level that causes only mild pollution

Oligocene-Early Miocene Planktonic Foraminifera from the Temburong Formation, Klias Peninsula, Sabah, Malaysia

Oligocene-Early Miocene sedimentary rocks of the Temburong Formation exposed at the Klias Peninsula. The sediments samples consist of well-preserved planktonic foraminifera that’s useful for age detemination of sedimentary formation. The objective of this study is to classify the taxonomy and biostratigraphy of planktic foraminifera in the Temburong Formation at study area. A total of nine shale samples from eight localities (Te01 to Te08) were collected along the Kuala Penyu-Menumbok road, Klias Peninsula. All samples were processes based on standard micropaleontological method. Twenty-eight species of planktic foraminifera were successfully recovered from the samples. The planktonic foraminifera are Cassidulina sp., Cassigerinella chipaloensis, Catapsydrax dissimilis, Dentogloboquadrina altispira altispira, Globigerina binaiensis, Globigerina ciperoensis, Globigerina praebulloides, Globigerina praevenezuelana, Globigerina selli, Globigerina sp., Globigerina tapuriensis, Globigerina woodi, Globigerinoides altiapertura, Globigerinoides primordius, Globigerinoides triloba triloba, Globigerinoides trilobus bullatus, Globoquadrina baroemoenensis, Globoquadrina dehiscens, Globoquadrina praedehiscens, Globoquadrina sp., Globoquadrina venezuelana, Globorotalia mayeri, Globorotalia obesa, Globorotalia opima nana, Globorotalia opima opima Bolli, Globorotalia sp. and Globorotalia siakanensis Leroy. The foraminifera assemblage can be divided into three zones, P21/N2 Globigerina angulisuturalis/Globorotalia opima opima Zone, Globigerinoides primordius/Globigerina kugleri Zone N4 and Globoquadrina dehiscens/Globoquadrina praedehiscens Zone N5. Its concluded that the shale unit of the Temburong Formation from the Klias Peninsula was interpreted as a distal part of deep-sea fan deposited during the Upper Oligocene to Early Miocene (Chattian to Aquitanian)

Wave and Tide Influence in Neogene Paralic Hydrocarbon Potential Reservoirs in Sabah

Evaluating mixed-energy clastic paralic system requires detailed facies analysis, whichdetermined tide and wave regimes efficacy. This approach is applied to paralic successions in Neogene Sabah basin, utilizing well preserved outcrop data, guarded paleoenvironmental modeling. Series of field excursions revealed that the tidally-wave generated deposits formed significantly thick successions in the central region of Sabah interpreted as paralic depositional system. The overall sedimentary units consist of upwardcoarsening successions interpreted as prograding storm wave-, tidal-influenced deposits, indicating greater variability of coastal processes. Shoreline paleoenvironmental modelling suggests that a large-scale stratigraphic change from relatively tide-dominated to wave influenced facies successions reflects the development of wide embayments with early suppressed energy, the Tanjong Formation and the lower part of the Sandakan formation. These unitsare graded into mainly thick sequence of swaley-hummocky sandstones that erosionally overlain by subordinate tidallywave-dominated successions of planar cross beds. The overlying subset rock units are exposed in Sandakan Peninsula and Meliau basin display a change towards greater storm-wave energy and the development of storm-flood parasequences. Stratigraphic units of paralic systemin Sabah that possibly host potential hydrocarbon reservoirs are shaped by a wide range of depositional processes that reflect the distribution of sediment, the characteristics of the receptacle basin and the dynamics of depositional systems. This formed thick Neogene paralic sequence; with abundant evidences of fair-weather condition signatures in the thick flaser sandstone interbeds indicate significant tidal influence to depict probable hydrocarbon reservoir potential

Lower Miocene Planktic Foraminifera From The Temburong Formation In Menumbok, Klias Peninsula, Sabah

Lower Miocene sedimentary rocks of the Temburong Formation exposed at Kg. Assam, Menumbok, Klias Peninsula were examined for planktic foraminifera analysis. Four shale samples were collected and processes were done based on the standard micropaleontological method. This assemblage allows two local biozones to be recognized, namely the Globigerinoides primordius Zone (N4 zone) and the second assemblage belongs to the Globoquadrina dehiscens-Globoquadrina praedehiscens Zone (N5 zone). This study also indicates that the shale unit of the Temburong Formation from Kg. Assam was deposited in a distal part of a deep-sea fan environment during upper Oligocene‒lower Miocene (upper Chattian‒Aquitanian)

Lower Miocene, Larger Benthic Foraminifera Fauna And Depositional Environment Of Limestone Fasies From Batu Luang, Klias Peninsula, Sabah

A limestone unit is exposed in Batu Luang exhibited well preserved larger benthic foraminifera. This limestone is in-situ and no sign of transported block due to its clear interbed with the argillaceous sediment in the sequence of the measured section. The argillaceous sediment in the surrounding area was mapped by previous researcher as a turbidite sedimentary sequence of the Setap Shale Formation. The aims of this study are to determine the age of the larger benthic foraminifera and the paleoenvironment of the limestone. Three samples of limestone were collected and thirty thin sections samples were prepared and analysed. A total of eleven species of larger benthic foraminifera were identified. One assemblage of larger benthic foraminifera can be recognised, namely Lepidocyclina (N.) verbeeki assemblage. This foraminifera assemblage is an indicative of Te5 or early Lower Miocene (Aquitanian) age. Two microfacies were characterised namely; 1) Coral-coralline algae boundstone microfacies (MF1) representing the reef flat environment and 2) Foraminifera packstone microfacies (MF2) which was related to the shallow open marine carbonate environment. The microfacies analysis and the outcrops observation show that the limestone unit at Batu Luang was a small reef deposited in shallow marine of carbonate environment. The limestone of Batu Luang could be the remnant bioherm that was developed during Te5 or early Lower Miocene (Aquitanian), associated with shoreline environment which negate the previous study

STRATIGRAPHY OF PALEOGENE SEQUENCES IN WESTON – SIPITANG, SABAH

This study is aimed to renew the stratigraphy in Weston - Sipitang especially for Temburong Formation and Crocker Formation which are known as the Paleogene sequences. The interfingering relationship between Temburong Formation and Crocker Formation shows that the Temburong Formation is older than the Crocker Formation in terms of stratigraphic sequences which had been the opposite. Facies analysis, facies association studies and the correlation of lithostratigraphic units in the study area and earlier studies helped to interpret stratigraphy and renew the position of stratigraphic for the Paleogene sequences. Temburong Formation and Crocker Formation are dated as Upper Eocene to Lower Miocene age

FACIES AND SANDSTONE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KUDAT FORMATION, SABAH, MALAYSIA

The Kudat Formation, formed the major rock unit of Kudat Peninsula in the northern tip of Borneo Island, is made up of interbedded sandstone and mudstone with fossiliferous limestone lenses. Lithostratigraphically, it is divided into Tajau Member and Sikuati Member. The Tajau Member differs from the Sikuati Member by the thicker coarsening upward sequence and the presence of limestone lenses. Field mapping and petrographic analysis were utilized to study the facies and sandstone characteristics. The formation as a potential reservoir is largely dependent on the original sandstone composition, which was influenced by deposition in a shallow marine setting and local sourcing activity. The succession of the sequence is composed of a major shoreface deposits during the late Early Miocene. The measured sections are predominantly composed of interbedded sandstone and mudstone usually show sedimentary structures which are indicative of wave and tidal processes, such as swaley, hummocky, trough and planar cross stratifications. The sequence grades up-section into facies packages of increasing tidal energy and terminate with the deposition within the upper regime shoreline settings. The selected Tajau sandstones in this study are texturally and mineralogically mature quartz arenites with good sorting. However, the presence of unstable lithic grains and feldspars during diagenetic processes contributed to the reduction of porosity, giving irregular porosity, due to deformation by compaction, and susceptibility to chemical alteration of labile minerals. Reservoir quality was also influenced by the subsequent diagenesis of the sandstones, which was driven by increase overburden pressure and could be culminated by increase temperature during the proceeding depth. Lithic fragments, feldspars and authigenic cements were altered to form diagenetic mineral suites, which tend to occlude porosity; however, dissolution and chemical reactions of some of these grains also enhanced secondary porosity development. Most observed porosity in the sandstone sequence is secondary, developed from dissolution of both carbonate cement and unstable framework grains. Mean porosity suggested a weak decreasing trend with depth of burial. However, detailed examination of several localities revealed that porosity development was strongly influenced by local factors. Thus, sandstones of the Kudat Formation are generally fair reservoir characteristics, due to the presence of unstable framework grains, early carbonate cementation and authigenic/diagenetic mineral suites

Geotourism potential of South Klias Peninsula, Sabah

The study area located at the Klias Peninsula consists of the Temburong Formation, Crocker Formation, Setap Shale Formation and Belait Formation. This research focus on the sedimentology of study area and to proposed geosites for geotourism potential. The sedimentology study is based on field data and the facies analysis. Geosite was evaluated to see the uniqueness based on the geological heritage value and the aesthetic value. Based on the facies analysis, the Temburong Formation was dominated by the outer lobe and basin plain facies association are interpret as outer fan and the Crocker Formation was dominantly by the channelized lobe and non-channelized lobe which is interpret as middle fan of deep marine turbidite system. The setap shale Formation consists of heterolitic sediment with some limestone lense interprate as shallow marine environment. Foraminifera analysis from the Temburong, Crocker and Setap Shale in study area consist of planktonic foraminifera range from Late Oligocene to mid Early Miocene for the Temburong Formation, late Early Miocene for the Crocker Fromation and Tea for the Setap Shale Formation which is slightly difference from the previous work. Three geosite have been identified for the geotourism potential in study area namely, Geosite 1 – Batu Luang unconformity of Setap Shale and Belait Formation, Geosite 2 – Batu Linting Hill of Crocker Formation and Geosite 3 – Tanjung Lambidan of Temburong Formation