Sains Malaysiana 42(8)(2013): 1091–1100

Facies Analysis of the Uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation, Perlis: A Wave-and Storm-influenced Coastal Depositional System

(Analisis Fasies Turutan Teratas Formasi Kubang Pasu di Perlis: Penafsirannya Sebagai Satu Sistem Pengenapan Pesisir Pantai Kuno yang Dipengaruhi Proses Ombak dan Ribut)

Meor Hakif Amir Hassan*, Yeow Boon Sim & Lee Chai Peng

Geology Department, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abdul Hadi Abdul Rahman

Department of Geoscience, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar

31750 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia

Received: 16 April 2012 /Accepted: 7 December 2012

ABSTRACT

A detailed sedimentological study and facies analysis of the Permian age, uppermost succession of the Kubang Pasu Formation in Perlis was conducted in order to reconstruct the palaeo-depositional environment. Four stratigraphic sections of the uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation were logged at Bukit Chondong and Bukit Tungku Lembu, Perlis. The sections were divided into facies based on lithology and sedimentary structures. Large scale patterns in the form of facies associations and facies successions were also identified. The uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation can be divided into several coarsening upward facies successions. Each facies succession grades upward from an offshore facies association (FA1) composed of bioturbated mudstone and minor thin sandstone, into a distal lower shoreface facies association (FA 2) composed primarily of mudstone interbedded with hummocky cross-stratified sandstone (HCS) and finally a proximal lower shoreface facies association (FA 3) composed of amalgamated hummocky cross-stratified sandstone beds. The facies succession is interpreted as representing a wave- and storm-influenced coastal depositional environment. The gradual transition from siliciclastics to carbonates is probably related to post rift thermal subsidence and tectonic quiescence due to separation of Sibumasu from Gondwana during the Permian.

Keywords: Kubang Pasu Formation; Perlis; Permian; shoreface

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian sedimentologi terperinci dan analisis fasies telah dijalankan ke atas turutan teratas Formasi Kubang Pasu berumur Permian, yang tersingkap di Perlis. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menafsirkan sekitaran pengenapan kuno unit stratigrafi ini. Empat singkapan stratigrafi turutan teratas Formasi Kubang Pasu di Bukit Chondong dan Bukit Tungku Lembu, Perlis, telah dilog. Turutan-turutan ini telah dibahagikan kepada unit-unit fasies berdasarkan litologi dan struktur sedimen. Tren-tren berskala besar (kumpulan fasies dan jujukan fasies juga telah dikenal pasti). Turutan teratas Formasi Kubang Pasu terdiri daripada beberapa jujukan fasies yang mengasar ke atas. Setiap turutan fasies menunjukkan penggredan ke atas daripada kumpulan fasies luar pesisir (FA 1) yang terdiri daripada batu lumpur dan sedikit perlapisan batu pasir yang nipis, ke kumpulan fasies muka pesisir bawah distal (FA 2) yang terdiri daripada batu lumpur yang bersaling-lapis dengan perlapisan batu pasir berstruktur lapis silang membusut (HCS) dan akhirnya ke kumpulan fasies muka pesisir bawah proksimal (FA 3) yang hanya terdiri daripada batu pasir berstruktur lapis silang membusut (HCS). Jujukan fasies ini ditafsirkan sebagai mewakili satu persekitaran enapan pesisir pantai yang dipengaruhi arus ombak dan ribut. Perubahan beransur-ansur daripada pengenapan klastik kepada karbonat yang ditunjukkan oleh turutan teratas Formasi Kubang Pasu mungkin adalah akibat kesan amblesan termal semasa fasa pasca rekahan dan ketiadaan aktiviti tektonik akibat pemisahan Sibumasu dari benua Gondwana pada zaman Permian.

Kata kunci: Formasi Kubang Pasu; muka pesisir; Perlis; Permian

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*Corresponding author; email: meorhakif@um.edu.my