Sains Malaysiana 50(2)(2021): 301-313

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5002-03

A Deep Marine Origin for the Tajau Sandstone Member of the Kudat Formation, Kudat Peninsula, Sabah: Evidence from Facies Analysis and Ichnology

(Asalan Laut Dalam bagi Ahli Batu Pasir Tajau dalam Formasi Kudat, Semenanjung Kudat, Sabah: Bukti daripada Analisis Fasies dan Iknologi)

HAFZAN EVA MANSOR^1,2*, MEOR HAKIF AMIR HASSAN¹ & JUNAIDI ASIS³

¹Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

²Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

³Geology Programme, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Received: 19 March 2020/Accepted: 2 August 2020

ABSTRACT

There have been many disagreements regarding the depositional environment of the Oligocene Tajau Sandstone Member of the Kudat Formation, Northern Sabah. We present here, the first detailed sedimentary facies analysis for the Tajau Sandstone Member, exposed on the Kudat Peninsula. The identified facies are interpreted as the deposits of subaqueous sediment density flows, which are common processes in deep marine depositional settings. These include debrites, hyperconcentrated density flow deposits, and turbidites. Several of the turbidite facies display evidence for hydraulic jumps, which are also common processes in deepwater settings and probably indicate changes in slope topography or loss of flow confinement. Trace fossils characteristic of the Nereites ichnofacies are also diagnostic of a deep marine depositional environment. Facies previously identified by previous workers as hummocky cross-stratification in the Tajau Sandstone Member, which was used to support a shallow marine interpretation, is better interpreted as supercritical antidunes developed in high density turbidites, based on the coarse-grained texture, spaced layering and association with other subaqeuoues density flow deposits.

Keywords: Deep water facies; Tajau Sandstone Member; Kudat Formation

ABSTRAK

Terdapat banyak perselisihan pandangan mengenai persekitaran pengenapan ahli Batu Pasir Tajau, Formasi Kudat, di utara Sabah, yang berumur Oligosen. Di sini, kami membentangkan analisis fasies sedimen terperinci yang pertama untuk Ahli Batu Pasir Tajau, yang tersingkap di Semenanjung Kudat. Fasies yang dikenal pasti ditafsirkan sebagai enapan aliran ketumpatan sedimen bawah air, yang merupakan proses yang biasa berlaku dalam persekitaran laut dalam. Ini termasuk enapan debrit, aliran tumpat hiperkepadatan dan turbidit. Beberapa fasies turbidit menunjukkan bukti berlakunya proses lonjakan hidraulik yang merupakan proses yang biasa berlaku di sekitaran laut dalam dan mungkin menandakan perubahan topografi cerun atau kehilangan kekangan aliran. Kehadiran fosil surih daripada iknofasiesNereites juga adalah penentu untuk persekitaran laut dalam. Fasies dalam Ahli Batu Pasir Tajau yang sebelum ini dikenal pasti oleh penyelidik terdahulu sebagai perlapisan silang membusut dan digunakan untuk menyokong tafsiran pemendapan di sekitaran marin cetek, lebih sesuai ditafsirkan sebagai antigumuk supergenting yang terbentuk dalam turbidit berketumpatan tinggi. Ini berdasarkan teksturnya yang berbutir kasar, kehadiran pelapisan berjarak dan asosiasinya dengan enapan aliran ketumpatan bawah air yang lain.

Kata kunci: Ahli Batu Pasir Tajau; fasies laut dalam; Formasi Kudat

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*Corresponding author; email: hafzan.eva@umk.edu.my