61
bedding planes, but the upper genetic unit has
no mud drapes and tends to be more
amalgamated compared to the lower unit.
The spatial arrangement of these distributary
channels can directly be observed from this
outcrop where the lower genetic unit shows
more lateral compartmentation of sandbodies
(occurrence of crevasse splay and channel
sands) than higher genetic units, and the upper
genetic unit tends to show vertical connection
between the sandbodies (amalgamated
sandbodies).
In general, the genetic units can be interpreted
as recording a progradational succession of
delta plain showing change in the depositional
environment from lower delta plain to upper
delta plain with fluvial influence becoming
more dominant in the higher genetic unit.
STOP 3. Delta-Front Facies;
Location: Latitude 00o 31' 35.10"S and
Longitude 117o 06' 18.90"E
Key Observation and stratigraphic attributes to
examine
- Nature of delta-front facies in the Loa
Kulu Fm
- Lateral facies changes and facies
succession in the Delta-front tract.
- High-resolution stratigraphy of delta-front
facies tract
- Spatial arrangement of distributary and
interdistributary mouth-bars.
Description
The delta front facies of the Loa Kulu
Formation in the Samarinda area exposed at
this outcrop are distributary mouth-bar
sandbodies and interdistributary bay mudstones
(Figure 8.4). The vertical succession shows
laminated mudstones to bioturbated sandstones,
then cross-stratified sandstones and massive
sandtones with some bioturbation
(Ophiomorpha, Chondrites, Skolithos, see
Figure 8.5).
At this stop, stacked distributary mouthbar
sandstones locally compose the upper delta
front. Distribuatry mouthbar sandbodies are 1.5
to 6 m thick, consisting of bar-front, bar-crest,
and bar-margin facies. Bar-front facies consist
of thinly interbedded sandstones and mudstones
containing abundant disseminated
carbonaceous material. Bar-crest facies sharply
overlie bar-front facies and consist of ripple
laminated sandstone and hummocky-cross
stratified sandstones for distal bar-crests, and
amalgamated unidirectional trough cross-
stratified sandstones showing seaward dipping
surfaces for proximal bar-crests. Bar-margin
facies also show surfaces recording
interfingering of interdistributary bay
mudstones and thin-bedded sandstones (1-5
cm). Numerous inclined and lenticular
mudstone interbeds form bounding elements
encasing mouthbar sandbodies. Distributary
mouthbar morphology varies from laterally and
vertically isolated biconvex and flat-based
convex-upward sandbodies, to amalgamated
and laterally continuous sheet sandstones.
Distributary mouthbars here are 1 to 6 meters
thick, 1 to 5 km wide, 0.5 to 5 km in length, and
they commonly have a triangular shape in plan
view.
Stratigraphically, the vertical outcrop section
shows three genetic units of delta front
succession and shows thickening upward from
lower to upper units (10 to 24 meters). The
lower unit shows interdistributary bay, distal
mouthbar and proximal mouthbar at the top
with an overall thickness of about 10 m. The
middle unit shows interdistributary bay, distal
mouthbar, proximal mouthbar, and is capped by
delta plain coal with an overall thickness of
about 14 meters. The upper unit is comprised of
interdistributary bay, distal mouthbar and
proximal mouthbar, with an overall thickness of
about 24 meters. The thickening upward of
these genetic units can be interpreted as
seaward stepping or a progradational
succession of delta front facies.
In order to evaluate the reservoir quality of a
single distributary-mouthbar sandbody, we can
directly examine the internal features where the
bar-crest shows better sorting, is less muddy
and with less baffles than bar-front or bar
margin facies. Based on this outcrop the
mouthbar sandbodies in the higher section will
be of better reservoir quality than those of the
lower unit. The overall observation from this
outcrop suggests that stratigraphic position can
control reservoir development of distributary
mouthbar facies where the higher genetic units
within a prograding delta front will have better
reservoir qualities.

DAY 2. DELTA-PLAIN – DELTA-FRONT
AND PRODELTA FACIES TRACTS;
STOP 4. Delta Plain - Delta Front - Prodelta
Facies;
Location : Latitude 00° 27' 58.20" S and
Longitude 117° 10' 30.90" E
Key observations and stratigraphic attributes to
examine
- Delta plain - delta-front - prodelta facies
and their succession
- High-resolution stratigraphy of deltaic
succession
- Reservoir preservation in the delta-front
facies tract
- Spatial arrangement of distributary and
interdistributary mouth-bars
Description
At this location, we will examine a complete
deltaic preservation from delta-plain to prodelta
facies thanks to the excavations for an
abandoned housing complex. Two measured
sections have been made of the inclined deltaic
strata (N 10°E/54°), and observations focus on
the change from prodelta mudstones, to
interdistributary bay, distributary channel,
mouthbar, delta plain coal, and caps of
fossilliferous/skeletal sandstone which
represent the transgressive ravinement surface
of a complete deltaic cycle. The preservation of
distributary channel sandstones through the
vertical section show change in thickness from
9 m to 5 m, and the mouthbar sandstones also
show thinning upward from 5 m to 1 m thick. It
is interesting to note that increasing diversity of
lithofacies (sedimentary structures) from the
lower section to the upper section may indicate
an increasing hydrodynamic regime, probably
associated with lowering of sediment supply to
the delta front, and higher accommodation. This
shows the different preservation of deltaic
deposits during a landward-stepping cycle
which occurred within the general progradation
of deltaic deposits in Kutai Basin.
STOP 5. Shelfal Marine Facies Tract;
Location : Latitude 00° 28' 10.74" S and
Longitude 117° 07' 13.44" E
64
Key observations and stratigraphic attributes to
examine
- Nature of Shelfal marine carbonate and
siliciclastic facies in the Loa Kulu Fm
- Shelfal marine lateral facies changes and
facies successions.
- Stratigraphic control on the shelfal marine
facies tract
Description
Two outcrops are close one to another at this
stop. The first is about 1 km from the main road
at a limestone quarry showing Lower Miocene
carbonate build-ups that developed during
pauses in progradation of deltaic deposits. The
second outcrop is about 200 m south of the
main road and shows siliciclastic and carbonate
alternations.
The first outcrop, at the Batuputih quarry,
shows a carbonate patch-reef approximately 40
m thick, containing platy, branching, and head
corals, molluscs (Gastropods and Brachiopods),
large-benthic foraminefera, and occasional crab
fossils.
At the second outcrop, shelfal marine facies
tracts consist of carbonate build-ups and shelfal
mudstones and sandstones. The vertical section
of this outcrop, showing three genetic units of
the shelfal marine facies tract is illustrated on
Figure 8.6. The first genetic unit starts with
interbedded laminated mudstones and ripple
laminated siltstones (2 to 5 cm) to very fine
sandstones that are underlain by carbonate
patch-reef facies (18.5 m thick) with platy and
branching corals, large-benthic foraminifera,
and molluscs. The second genetic unit is
composed of interbedded mudstones and ripple
laminated siltstones (2 to 5 cm), and sandstone
beds (30 to 80 cm thick) with small-scale
trough cross stratification (10-30 cm bedset)
and shows a sharp-based contact. Pebble
mudclasts occasionally are present near the
basal bedding plane. Mud drapes are commonly
present on the bedding planes of trough-cross
stratification, and hummocky-cross
stratification occurs near the top of the package
of sandstone beds. Ophiomorpha and
Thallassinoides burrows are present within the
massive and trough-cross stratified sandstones.
Poorly-bedded coralline algal limestones (4.5
m) lie above these sandstones. The third genetic
unit, underlain by + 20 meters of coralline algal

carbonate with poorly preserved-bedding
planes, consist of laminated mudstones,
progressively interbedded with ripple laminated
siltstones (2 to 5 cm).
The occurrence of carbonate build-ups within
the modern Mahakam delta is represented by
the patch-reefs growing away from the active
sediment discharge on the delta front (Figure
8.7.). The development of the fossil carbonate
reefs was controlled by a complex interplay of
factors, probably during landward stepping
phases, including climate, relative-sea level
changes, oceanographic factors, sediment and
nutrient input. This observation has
implications for the interactions between
clastics and carbonates in tropical marine
settings and shows that carbonate producers can
thrive in areas of high clastic input.
Preserved thickness of carbonate build-ups at
this location ranges from 5 to 40 m, and faunal
composition indicates their depositional
environment. Associations are dominated by
platy, branching, and head corals (Figure 8.8.)
successively up through the section. Poorly
preserved bedding planes can be found near the
top of the carbonate build-up with
concentrations of molluscs (Gastropods and
Brachiopods), large-benthic foraminifera, and
binding algae (Figure 8.9.). Crab fossils are
occasionally found within the lower and middle
section of patch-reef. These cycles represent
apparent shallowing of the depositional
environment, although subaerial exposure
surfaces have not been recognized. Partial and
multiple cycles may occur, especially where
siliclastics are interbedded with the carbonates.
There is considerable lateral facies variation
across the coral buildups and stratigraphic
thickness varies laterally within the buildups.
Reefs may coalesce or, when covered by
clastics, may form slight highs on which later
carbonate buildups form preferentially. The
occurrence of sandstone beds can be interpreted
as reworked sediments from delta-front that
were transported into shelf during lowering sea
level.
STOP 6. Slope Facies;
Location: Latitude 00° 28' 06.36" S and
Longitude 117° 06' 40.32" E
66
Key observations and stratigraphic attributes to
examine
- Nature of slope facies in the Loa Kulu Fm
- Lateral slope facies changes and facies
succession.
- Sedimentology and stratigraphy of slope
facies tract
Description
This outcrop lies near the core of the Separi
Anticline and has a structural dip of 55o to the
east-southeast (Figure 8.10.). This slope facies
represents the most distal position of deltaic
deposits, and shows deeper facies than
carbonate patch-reefs at the distal delta-front.
Several features of delta-front turbidites range
from debris flows to Bouma sequences can be
observed at this outcrop. The preservation of
the slope facies contains laminated to massive
mudstones, thickening and thinning upward
sandstone beds (2 to 50 cm) with sheet-like
sandbodies. The lateral distribution this facies
are varies from 10’s to 1000’s of meters in
width (Chambers et al, 1992). The vertical
succession starts with prodelta mudstones and
continues with thin-bedded sandstones (2 to 5
cm), sharp-based and scour-based sandstones
(15 to 50 cm). Imbricated mudclasts and
transported coal fragments can be found near
the basal sandstone beds (Figure 8.11.).
The interbedded mudstones and sandstones in
the lower part range from 1 m to 3 m in
thickness, and sandstone beds show a
thickening upward pattern (2 to 20 cm).
Internally, the sandstones show weak-plain
lamination, starved ripple and climbing-ripple
lamination (Figure 8.12.), flute casts and
groove marks are occasionally found at the
basal surface of bedding-planes. Most of these
features suggest aggrading and rapid
depositional processes. The middle part of the
section shows thicker sandstone beds (20 to 50
cm) with scour-based and imbricated mudclasts
(1 to 3 cm), and sparse coal fragments.
Disorganized conglomeratic sandstone, normal
graded to massive sandstones are found within
this section. In the upper section, with a general
decrease in sand-shale ratio, the sandstone beds
decrease in thickness (2-10 cm) and grain size
into very fine or fine sandstone with weak
plane-lamination to homogeneous structure.