constructing neogene palaeogeographical maps for · pdf fileconstructing neogene...

PALYNOVA

.

Constructing Neogene

palaeogeographical maps for the

Sunda region.

Robert J Morley1,2, Harsanti P Morley1 and Tony Swiecicki3

1,Palynova UK, 1 Mow Fen Road, Littleport, CB6 1PY UK 2,Dept of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University, London TW20 0EX UK 3Cerberus Consultants Ltd., Vancouver, Canada.

PALYNOVA

PALYNOVA

Constructing Neogene palaeogeographical maps for the Sunda

region.

1 Introduction

2 Sequence biostratigraphic approach

3 Calculation and comparison of circum Borneo sedimentation rates

4 Palaeogeographic map construction

5 Palaeogeographic maps

6 Summary

PALYNOVA

Hall 1998

De Bruyn et al 2014

PALYNOVA

ICS website 2015

Sp

hen

olith

us h

ete

rom

orp

hu

s

PALYNOVA

Gabus

Belut

Lama

Barat

Arang

Coaly Cau

Tien Cau

Fluvial Cau

Dua

Thong

Mang Cau

Nam Con Son

Bien Dong

Arang

Muda

Group A

Group B

Group D

Group M

Group L

Group K

Group J

Group I

Group H

Group F

Group E

Pilong

Pari

Pari

Trengganu

Penyu

FM 1FM 2A

FM 2B

FM 2C

FM 2D

FM 2E

FM 3

FM 0

Terumbu

Deep marineShallow marine carbsChalkShallow marine clasticstransitionalBrackish coalyBrackish lakeLacustrine/fluvial

Pari

VIII

VI

Vu

V lr

IV

IIISynrift

Postrift

Synrift

II

Postrift

MMUIII

Thong

Mang Cau

Group I

PariGroup H

Group F

Nannofossil - Sphenolithus heteromorphus NN5/NN4

NN5

NN4

0-

2-

4-

5-

8-

10-

12-

14-

16-

18-

20-

22-

24-

26-

28-

30-

32-

34-

36-

Pleist

Lt Plio

Ey Plio

Lt Mio

M Mio

Ey Mio

Lt Olig

Ey Olig

Lt Eoc

Sphenolithus heteromorphus

GOT Tho Chu Malay Penyu W Natuna Nam Con Son Sarawak

PALYNOVA

Constructing Neogene palaeogeographical maps for the Sunda

region.

1 Introduction





6 Summary

PALYNOVA

Proximal shelf

Medial shelfDistal shelf

Foraminiferal trends within a depositional cycle

MFS

Tst

Hst

Ts

Lith Gamma Forams

Lith Gamma Forams

Lith Gamma Forams

Benthonic forams

Planktonic forams

Cycle response in different facies

PALYNOVA

Medial shelf

Benthonic forams

Planktonic forams

Mangrove ferns

Backmangrove

Rhizophora mangroves

Wet climate

Seasonal climate

Foraminiferal and palynomorph trends within a cycle

Lith Gamma Forams Mangrove pollen Hinterland Pollen concentration/unit sediment

Abundance percent abundance percent specimens per gram

MFS

Tst

Hst

Ts

Cycle response in different facies

PALYNOVA

VIM* depositional cycles

*Vietnam Indonesia Malaysia

PALYNOVA

Mio-Pliocene palaeogeography, uplands and river systems of the

Sunda region based on mapping within a framework of VIM

depositional cycles.

1 Introduction





6 Summary

PALYNOVAWells evaluated

Kutai

Outboard SabahOutboard

Sarawak

PaternosterBarito

Tarakan

1 Yakzan et al 1996

2 Morley 2003

3 Krebs 2007

4 Morley and Morley 2010

5 Morley 2006

6 Cater 1981

PALYNOVA

Outboard Sarawak Outboard Sabah Kutai

MMU

Cycle VI

Cycle V upper

Cycle V IowerCycle V middle

Cycle IV

Cycle III

Cycle II

Oligocene

Miocene

Pliocene

Pleist

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 m

I I I I I I I I I I I

Average sedimentation per 100 ka

No data

No data

These values more realistic for Ey Mioc as

only proximal wells used for calculation

Magnetostrat from Samarinda

Hamilton 1979

Offshore Kutei

Outboard Sabah

Outboard

Sarawak

PaternosterBarito

Onshore Kutei

Mod M

aha

kam

Kutai

PALYNOVA

Outb. Sarawak Barito Paternoster C Java

MMU

Cycle VI

Cycle V upper

Cycle V IowerCycle V middle

Cycle IV

Cycle III

Cycle II

Oligocene

Miocene

Pliocene

Pleist

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 m

I I I I I I I I I I I

Average sedimentation per 100 ka

Outboard Sabah

Outboard

Sarawak

PaternosterBarito

From Lunt 2013

Kutai

Warukin

PALYNOVA




1 Introduction





6 Summary

PALYNOVA Wells evaluated

Base maps, tectonic maps of Hall 2000

A) Revised palaeogeography by T Swiecicki (this study)

B) Maps by Schoup et al 2012

C) Lunt 2013

B

C

A

1 Yakzan et al 1996

2 Morley 2003

3 Krebs 2007

4 Morley and Morley 2010

5 Morley 2006

6 Cater 1981

PALYNOVA4 Palaeogeographic map construction

- Use tectonic reconstructions of Hall 2002 as a base

Each sequence mapped, but then grouped if show similar trends

- Aim for ‘medial/modal’ reconstruction

- Maximum flood also mapped for Sunda Shelf

Legend

MountainsHigh

Moderate elevation

Volcanics

Deltas/fansMega- 80+ m/100ka

Super- 40-80m/100ka

‘Mahakam’ 20-40m/100ka

EnvironmentsFreshwater lake

Brackish lake

Subaerial

Carbonate

Shallow marine

Deep marine

Trench

~ equivalent to current Bengal fan

PALYNOVA

Last glacial cycle

25 ka scenario, 37% of

last 1 Ma12 ka scenario, 55% of

last 1 Ma

5ka ka scenario, 7% of

last 1 Ma

Main map (mode) Max flood


- Use tectonic reconstructions of Hall 2002 as a base

Each sequence mapped, but then grouped if show similar trends

- Aim for ‘medial/modal’ reconstruction

- Maximum flood also mapped for Sunda Shelf

PALYNOVA

Map 1 23.1 – 20.5 Ma

Map 2 20.5 – 17.0 Ma

Map 3 17.0 – 13.5 Ma

Map 4 13.5 – 10.5 Ma

Map 5 10.5 – 8.4 Ma

Map 6 8.4 – 7.2 Ma

Map 7 7.2 – 5.2 MaMap 8 5.2 – 3.6 Ma

Map 9 3.6 –1.95 Ma

Map 10 1.95 – .01 Ma

Horizons mapped


PALYNOVA




1 Introduction





6 Summary

PALYNOVA

Map 1, Early Miocene, 23.1 – 20.5 Ma (VIM32 and 34).

- Widespread transgression

across area

- Major (super) delta in Nam

Con Son

- Small deltas in C Sumatra and

E Kalimantan

- Uplands in Malay Penin, Con

Son Rise/ Natuna Arch,

indicated by record of common

Laurasian conifer pollen, also

Schwaner

- Main river systems

1 Proto Mahakam

2 Malay Peninsula rivers

3 Rivers draining into

Sunda Shelf inland seas

4 Sarawak – E Natuna

5 Proto- Chao Praya

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 2 Early Miocene, 20.5–17.0 Ma (VIM36 to 46)

- Major (super) prograding

deltas develop in Kutai (Proto

Mahakam), Nam Con Son and

offshore Sarawak

- Increased sedimentation in

Proto- Mahakam ties to

development of Sintang

Volcanics across C. Kalimantan

-Further denudation of uplands

in Malay Peninsula, Con Son

Rise/Natuna Arch, Schwaner

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 3 Early to Middle Miocene, 17.0–13.5 Ma, (VIM 52 to VIM58)

-Proto Mahakam becomes

‘mega’ delta, 4X size of present

Mahakam, especially after 15

Ma, (period of maximum

development of Proto

Mahakam) similar

sedimentation rates in Barito,

‘super’ deltas develop in Malay

Basin E Natuna and Tarakan

Corresponds to Meratus uplift

and uplift of more southerly

Central Kalimantan ranges, first

record of ‘upper montane’

pollen

- Reflects Sabah Orogeny’ of

Hutchinson 2003

-Dramatic reduction in

sedimentation offshore Sarawak

(following EMU) with deltas

much reduced (ties to cessation

of sea floor spreading in S

China Sea), inversion in W

Natuna/Malay Basin

- Establishment of ‘Malay Sea’

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 4 Middle to Late Miocene, 13.5–10.5 Ma (VIM59 to VIM62), = MMU

-Highest recorded

sedimentation in Proto

Mahakam, and high

sedimentation in Barito reflect

continued uplift of Meratus and

C Kalimantan Ranges

- First major deposition

offshore Sabah as deep water

fans and in Tarakan as deltaics

reflects initial uplift of more

northerly C Kalimantan ranges

-Increased sedimentation in E

Natuna

-However, deposition across

Sunda Shelf was minimal,

reflecting uplift associated with

MMU, esp in area of Dangerous

Grounds

- Uplift in Sunda Shelf region

indicated by return of Laurasian

conifer pollen

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

From Morley, Morley and Swiecicki 2015 (AAPG

Kota Kinabalu workshop)

Mahakam

‘mega’ delta

Sunda Shelf unconformities

PALYNOVA

Map 5 ‘early’ Late Miocene, 10.5 – 8.4 Ma, (VIM 63 to VIM66)

- Huge deep water fans offshore

Sabah, reflect continued uplift

of C Kalimantan/Crocker ranges

-This was the time of highest

sedimentation rates offshore

Sabah, but it is unlikely that the

Central Kalimantan/Crocker

Ranges were particularly high

based on palynological data.

Probably poorly consolidated

sediments were rapidly de-

roofed before main phase of

Kinabalu uplift

- Proto Mahakam continued to

drain much of region, but with

compression forming the

Samarinda Anticlinorium, the

river developed an antecedent

course

- Major river systems began to

develop across Sarawak and

Brunei

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 6 ‘mid’ Late Miocene, 8.4–7.2 Ma (VIM 72-74)

- Sedimentation rates in Proto

Mahakam remained very high

building out as a ‘mega’ delta

- High sedimentation continued

offshore Sarawak and

inversion/subsequent erosion

resulted in northward buildout

of the shelf edge

-This was a time of renewed

uplift of Central Borneo Ranges,

with emplacement of Kinabalu

Granite between 7 and 8 Ma.

-Increased altitude of C

Kalimantan Ranges indicated by

increased Ericaceae pollen

(from upper montane

vegetation) in circum Sabah

sediments

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 7 (Fig. 12), Late Miocene, 7.2 – 5.2 Ma, (VIM 72-78)

- Major reduction in

sedimentation from 4X modern

Mahakam to half. Coincides

with change from prograding

delta to aggradational/

retrogradational delta

- High/increased sedimentation/

progradation continues

offshore Sarawak

-The switch from high

sedimentation in Kutai/Tarakan

to high sedimentation offshore

Sarawak thought to reflect

major river capture by Sarawak

rivers. The Proto Mahakam

sediment load was thus

diverted to offshore Sarawak

away from the Kutai Basin. The

present Mahakam River thus

dates from this time

-First uplift of Sulawesi

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 8 Early Pliocene (5.2–3.4 Ma) (VIM 82-VIM 86)

- Major transgression at

beginning of Pliocene

- Major deltas continue to build

out offshore Sarawak/Brunei and

in Tarakan

-Increased sedimentation

offshore Sulawesi suggests

further uplift of Sulawesi

- Mahakam River may have been

further captured by Barito

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 9 Late Pliocene (3.4–1.95 Ma) (VIM 91-VIM 93)

-Sarawak deltas continue to

prograde

- Further uplift of Kinabalu

indicated by molecular studies,

coupled with first records of

montane Dacrycarpus pollen in

circum Sabah sediments.

-Continued uplift of Sulawesi

-Major progradation of Proto

Chao Praya across Nam Con

Son Basin

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

PALYNOVA

Map 10 Pleistocene, 1.95–0.01 Ma (VIM 94-100)

- Amplitude of glacio-eustatic

sea level change so great that

during lowstands most of the

continental shelf was exposed

- Uplift of Java and also

Sumatra, montane pollen in

Java, W Sarawak

- Further numerous phases of

river capture across the region

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Ag

e (

Ma)

Lowstand

scenario mapped

PALYNOVA




1 Introduction





6 Summary

PALYNOVA

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

?

Mera

tus

Schw

aner

Kin

ab

alu

1

Map

no

SUMMARY 1

1 In Early Miocene, upland areas established during the

Palaeogene eroded and a weakly radial river system

was established, moderate sized deltas build out

around the Sunda region.

2) The Sabah Orogeny resulted in uplift of the Central

Kalimantan Ranges and Meratus. With inversion across

much of the the Sunda Shelf, most sediment transport

was directed into the Proto-Mahakam catchment

resulting in a centripetal drainage pattern, and the

formation of a massive Middle Miocene ‘mega’ delta,

four times larger than the present day Mahakam.

Deposition elsewhere was greatly reduced.

3) At the time of rifting and continued inversion across the

Sunda Shelf, local erosion but minimal deposition by

major rivers resulted in the MMU. This was the time of

greatest development of the Proto Mahakam.

4) During the early part of the Late Miocene, major river

systems developed across Sarawak, and during this

time it is thought that one or more of these captured the

main tributaries of the Proto-Mahakam, diverting the

bulk of the sediment eroded from the Central Ranges

away from Kutai and into Sarawak deltas.

- MMU/ Mahakam

mega delta

Radial-

Centripetal-

Dra

inag

e p

att

ern

Main events

- Sabah Orogeny

- Mahakam capture

- Kin’blu granite

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Deranged-

Circum Borneo uplift

Natu

na A

rch

/W S

wk

Sh

wan

er/

Mera

tus

Cro

cke

r R

an

ges/K

in’b

lu

Subalpine woodland

Montane forest

Lowland forest

Seasonally cool/dry temperate

with common Laurasian conifers

Volcanoes

Ag

e (

Ma)

VIM

Seq.

PALYNOVA

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

?

Mera

tus

Schw

aner

Kin

ab

alu

1

- Sabah Orogeny

- MMU/ Mahakam

mega delta

- Mahakam capture

Map

no

Radial-

Centripetal-

Deranged-

SUMMARY 2

5) With uplift of the Barisan, Java and Sulawesi and the

final phase of uplift of Kinabalu, coupled with increased

amplitude sea level changes of the Quaternary, river

systems were further disrupted resulting in the present

deranged drainage pattern

6) Many of the above suggestions can be further tested by

provenance studies – e.g. Zircon.

7) Sequence biostratigraphy has a critical role to play in

unraveling the geological development of the Southeast

Asian region, and it is hoped that this study will

encourage the generation of high quality datasets to

further help to clarify the remarkable story unfolding of

the geological and biological development of

Southeast Asia.

Dra

inag

e p

att

ern

Main events

- Kin’blu granite

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Natu

na A

rch

/W S

wk

Sh

wan

er/

Mera

tus

Cro

cke

r R

an

ges/K

in’b

lu


Subalpine woodland

Montane forest

Lowland forest



Volcanoes

Ag

e (

Ma)

VIM

Seq.

PALYNOVA

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

?

Mera

tus

Schw

aner

Kin

ab

alu

1

- Sabah Orogeny

- MMU/ Mahakam

mega delta

- Mahakam capture

Subalpine woodland

Montane forest

Lowland forest



Volcanoes

Map

no

Radial-

Centripetal-

Deranged-

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to SEAPEX for inviting me to give this talk

The conclusions reached here have been possible through

working together with a large number of companies and

individuals across the whole SE Asian region, all of

whom are acknowledged here

Dra

inag

e p

att

ern

Main events

- Kin’blu granite

0-

-

5-

10-

15-

20-

Natu

na A

rch

/W S

wk

Sh

wan

er/

Mera

tus

Cro

cke

r R

an

ges/K

in’b

lu


VIM

Seq.

PALYNOVA

END

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