Sains Malaysiana 42(5)(2013): 561–570

Aptian to Turonian Radiolarians from Chert Blocks in the Kuamut Melange,

Sabah, Malaysia

(Aptian hingga Turonian Radiolaria daripada Blok Rijang dalam Melange Kuamut, Sabah, Malaysia)

Basir Jasin

Geology Program, School of Environment and Natural Resource Sciences

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Junaidi Asis*

Geology Program, School of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Received: 26 May 2011/Accepted: 14 November 2012

ABSTRACT

The Kuamut Melange is located in the Kunak district, southeast Sabah. The mélange consists of clasts and blocks of broken Paleogene formations, and dismembered ophiolite blocks embedded in shale matrix. Fourteen samples were collected from sections S1 and S2 of the Kuamut Melange. A total of 45 species of radiolarians have been identified and only 36 selected species are used for age determination. Three assemblages (I-III) were identified. Assemblage I consists of Dictyomitra excellence, Crucella bossoensis, Hiscocapsa asseni, Hexapyramis precedis, Thanarla brouweri, Acanthocircus levis, Obeliscoites vinassai, Stichomitra communis, Staurosphaeretta longispina, Xitus spicularius, Triactoma cellulosa, and Dactyliosphaera maxima. This assemblage is marked by the occurrence of Crucella gavalai indicative of Aptian to Albian in age. Assemblage II was characterized by zonal maker Xitus mclaughlini. Other species in this assemblage are Xitus spinosus, Stichomitra tosaensis, Dictyomitra gracilis, Dictyomitra montisserei, Pseudodictyomitra pseudomacrocephala, Pessagnobrachia fabianii, Crucella messinae, Tuguriella pagoda, Dictyomitra obesa, Triactoma paronai, Rhopalosyringium euganeum, Acanthocircus venetus, Acaeniotyle rebelis, Dictyomitra formosa, Pseudodictyomitra tiara and Patellula helios. This assemblage ranges from Albian to Cenomanian. Assemblages III is represented by zonal maker Crucella cachensis and others species in this assemblage are Hemicryptocapsa polyhedra, Eostichomitra bonum, Pseudotheocampe tina, Ultranapora cretacea and Alievium superbum. Assemblage III is Turonian in age. The radiolarian assemblages suggest that the age of chert blocks ranges from Aptian to Turonian, Cretaceous. The cherts were originally deposited on an oceanic crust of a marginal basin during Cretaceous and were tectonically deformed to form melange in Miocene time.

Keywords: Aptian; Kuamut; Melange; radiolarians; Turonian

ABSTRAK

Melange Kuamut terletak di daerah Kunak, tenggara Sabah. Melange Kuamut terdiri daripada klasta dan blok batuan sedimen formasi Paleogen yang terpecah dan blok ofiolit yang terpisah, yang tertanam dalam matriks syal. Empat belas sampel diambil daripada singkapan S1 dan S2 dalam Melange Kuamut. Sebanyak 45 spesies telah dikenal pasti dan hanya 36 spesies pilihan digunakan untuk penentuan usia. Tiga himpunan (I-III) telah dikenal pasti. Himpunan I terdiri daripada Dictyomitra excellence, Crucella bossoensis, Hiscocapsa asseni, Hexapyramis precedis, Thanarla brouweri, Acanthocircus levis, Obeliscoites vinassai, Stichomitra communis, Staurosphaeretta longispina, Xitus spicularius, Triactoma cellulosa dan Dactyliosphaera maxima. Himpunan ini ditandai oleh kehadiran Crucella gavalai yang menunjukkan usia Aptian hingga Albian. Himpunan II dicirikan oleh penanda zon Xitus mclaughlini. Spesies lain dalam himpunan ini adalah Xitus spinosus, Stichomitra tosaensis, Dictyomitra gracilis, Dictyomitra montisserei, Pseudodictyomitra pseudomacrocephala, Pessagnobrachia fabianii, Crucella messinae, Tuguriella pagoda, Dictyomitra obesa, Triactoma paronai, Rhopalosyringium euganeum, Acanthocircus venetus, Acaeniotyle rebelis, Dictyomitra formosa, Pseudodictyomitra tiara dan Patelulla helios yang menunjukkan usia Albian hingga Cenomanian. Himpunan III diwakili oleh penanda zon Crucella cachensis dan spesies lain dalam himpunan ini ialah Hemicryptocapsa polyhedra, Eostichomitra bonum, Pseudotheocampe tina, Ultranapora cretacea dan Alievium superbum. Himpunan III ini berusia Turonian. Himpunan radiolarian ini membuktikan bahawa usia rijang ialah Aptian hingga Turonian, Kapur. Rijang diendapkan di kerak lautan iaitu di lembangan pingiran semasa Aptian-Turonian, seterusnya mengalami defomasi tektonik yang membentuk melange pada usia Miosen.

Kata kunci: Aptian; Kuamut; Melange; radiolaria; Turonian

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*Corresponding author; email: junaidiasis@gmail.com