MULTIPLE DEFORMATIONAL

STRUCTURES AS A UNIQUE GEOSITE

TANJUNG BALAU CASE STUDY
Tajul Anuar Jamaluddin
Geology Programme
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Bangi Selangor, Malaysia

WORKSHOP ON GEOSITE CHARACTERISATION, 28-31 March 2016, Kampar Perak

OBJECTIVES
To introduce diversity of geological
structures to the laymen, nature lovers and
amature geologists, by presenting various
examples of geological structures found in
Tg Balau.
To discuss the scientific/intrinsic and
aesthetic (beauty, ideal, uniqueness,
recreational) values and other special
additional values to be found on these
structures.
To share some examples of unique multiple
deformational structures with high scientific
values in Tg Balau, which deserve special
attentions and justified them to be
preserved as a valuable natural heritage.
 INTRODUCTION
Geological Structures
Any geometrical shape that formed in the
rocks, either in the form of lines, planes or
a combination of both, is known as
geological structures.
Geological structures are formed due to the
response of rocks to the stress generated
by the earths crustal movements.

The effects of compressional & tensional stress on silly

putty. A) Compressing silly putty results in shortening
either by folding or flattening, B) Pulling (tensional stress)
silly putty causes stretching or extension; if pulled
(strained) too fast, or chilled, the silly putty will break
after first stretching.
 WHERE GEOLOGICAL STUCTURES ARE
FOUND?
could be anywhere on the
earth surface.
However in tropical terrain
they are mainly found at..
Along the rocky coast lines,
Upstream river banks
Road/highway cuts
Quarry face, tunnels, mining area
Or natural rock outcrops, either
fresh (unweathered) or highly
weathered rock exposures (e.g.
natural rock cliffs)
 WHY GEOLOGICAL
STRUCTURES ARE SO
Structural Geologists - To study the deformation
IMPORTANT?
and structural styles, and eventually to establish the
tectonic history & evolution of the earths crust in a
given area/region.
Petroleum Geologists to find where the
petroleum/gas reservoirs are.. and where to drill the
production wells.
Economic geologists to search for economic
minerals and ores reserve.
Engineering Geologists to identify structural
discontinuities and zone of weakness in order to
facilitate economic and safe designs.
Public?? Interesting and nice looking rock,
unique, beautiful, educational values, etc..
 DIVERSITY OF GEOLOGICAL
STRUCTURES
Attributed to 4 main factors:
a) Genetics or origin
b) Scale/Size micro, macro, meso, mega.
c) Quality of exposures fresh or weathered, 2D All these
or 3D, degree of visibility.
can be
d) Geological Heritage values
found in the
Intrinsic Values :
High or Special Scientific Interest Tg. Balau
Educational Values area, SE
Natural historical values
Aesthetic/ Extrinsic values beauty, unique, special, eye-
Johor.
catching, amazing, etc..
Recreational values mountains, streams, rapids, waterfalls,
sandy beaches, cove and cape, etc..
Cultural values - extraordinary form of rocks, caves, ex-mine,
and various mountains which have a strong relationship with
their believe, faith, history (archaeology), and places of worship.
 TANJUNG BALAU AN INTRODUCTION
Located in Southeastern Johor; District of Kota
Tinggi
Nearest Town Bandar Penawar, Desaru (A
popular tourist destination)
Well known as a traditional fishermen village,
which has been substantially converted and
upgraded by KEJORA (SE Johor Development
Authority) into a new emerging tourist
destination.
Main attraction beautiful sandy beaches;
scenic cape and cove, attractive and pleasant
environment, Muzium Tg Balau (traditional
fishermen museum) & Tg Balau Geological
Galery, Challet, Fishermens Jetty, a 3-star
Hotel and most recently a Board Walk along
part of the coast.
 Sedili Kechil

Nearby area with high

scientific/geologic
interests:
Tg. Gemoh
Tg Siang,
Tg Lompat
Tg
Tg. Gemoh Siang,
Sedili Kechil
Sedili Besar
Batu Layar Tg Lompat
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS IN TG
BALAU
MUZIUM NELAYAN TG BALAU
 Latest development in Tg
Balau..
Cocrete boardwalk around
the headland of Tg balau.
 GEOLOGY OF TG BALAU
A monotonous sequence of rhythmically bedded thick
unfossiliferous carbonaceous slates and phyllites
interbedded with metaquartzites refrred to as the
Mersing Beds (Suntharalingam 1981) probably of
Permo-Carboniferous age
The rock outcrops are found along the headlands and
along the abrasion platform in between the headlands
and in the abrasion platforms.
The strata are entirely deformed and folded ; trending
steeply to sub-vertical , and strikes northwesterly,
parallel to the general trend of Peninsular Malaysia.
The rocks are generally well-foliated, variously folded
and sheared, giving rise to a wide spectrum of
geological structures.
these strata are overlain Unconformably by
subhorizontal semi-consolidated Quaternary sediment
(Anizan Ishak, 2093) made up of shelly coarse
sandstone about 0.5 to 1.5m meters thick
Figure 2.3: Another rock outcrops found along the headlands and within the abrasion
platform in between the headlands where bedding generally strike NNW. Loc. Tg.
Siang .
Figure 2.2: A monotonous sequence of rhythmically bedded thick unfossiliferous
carbonaceous slates and phyllites interbedded with metaquartzites, referred as the
Mersing Beds.
(Rajah 2.2: Jujukan batuan yang seragam yang terdiri daripada perulangan selang-lapis batuan
sabak berkarbon, filit dan kuarzit. Batuan ini dirujuk sebagai Formasi Mersing dan umumnya tidak
mengandungi fosil.)
Figure 2.5: Although folded and deformed they are generally seem straight and
upright parallel to the general geological structures of the region.
(Rajah 2.5: Walaupun terlipat dan tercangga hebat, batuan di sini umumnya kelihatan lurus dan
mencancang selari dengan jurus struktur geologi rantau ini. )
Figure 2.6 A beach outcrop showing the unconformity between the
lower metasedimentary layers with the upper Quaternary beach
deposit layers. The unconformity is an erosional surface prior to the
deposition of the upper layers. Loc Tg. Balau
Figure 2.7: Outcrop of semi-consolidated Quaternary sediment. Loc.
Tg. Balau.
 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY OF TG
BALAU
A tremendous variety of deformational
structures ranging from millimeter-wide
cataclasically and ductilely deformed stringers
within shear zones to megascopic-scale folds.
The Pumpelleys rule (small structures are a
key to and mimic the styles and orientations of
larger structures of the same generation within
a particular area is clearly evident here.
The structural patterns shown bear many
similarities with other orogenic belts of the
world such as the Caledonian Orogenic belt in
Britain and in North America, the Cordillera and
the Appalachian belts.

 PRIMARY STRUCTURES
Although they are folded and
deformed, but bedding is
well preserved.
The bedding exhibits various
sedimentary structures such
as graded bedding, cross-
laminations, and ripple
marks that have been used
to determine the way up of
the rock sequence.

 PRIMARY STRUCTURES
At Tg. Siang a 10-25cm thick layer of
debris flow/olistrosrome deposit (Figure
3.1.5 & 3.1.6) was found. The clasts are
poorly sorted angular rock fragments
together with disrupted layers/boudins
showing clavey protrusions and isoclinal
folds in shale matrix suggestive of wet
sediment submarine slumping. The
presence of angular rock fragments
together with disrupted layers/boudins
showing clavey protrusions/injections
(Figure 3.1.7) is suggestive of the
sediment had undergone synsedimentary
deformation prior to stratal disruption and
slumping.
 Slump folds - syn-sedimentary folds due to PRIMARY STRUCTURES
either slumping of sedimentary material during
deposition before it is lithified or soft sediment
deformations.
Slump folds are found at Tg. Siang, within within
a certain horizons bounded by relatively
undeformed strata.
A criteria to distinguish a slump fold from a
tectonic fold are the chaotic appearances with
extreme thickening of the hinge and stretching
of the limbs suggestive of wet sediment
deformation.
Another example of tight slump folds exhibiting extreme thickening
of the hinges and thinning of limbs and variable axial traces
suggesting soft sediment deformation. Loc. Tg. Siang
 SLUMP FOLDS
The presence of detached isoclinal to tight fold
hinges associated with stretched limbs associated
with a set of axial plane cleavage is suggesting of
soft sediment tectonic deformation. Loc. Tg. Siang.

An example of soft sediment deformation

cleavage structures. Here isoclinal folds with
extreme thickening of hinges and thinning of
limbs are associated with cleavages. Note the
folds are associated with axial planar to
transected cleavages and the limb are cut by
near bedding parallel cleavages. Loc. Tg.
 SECONDARY @ TECTONIC
STRUCTURES
BOX 1: FOLD GEOMETRY & FOLD CLASSIFICATION

A wide variety of planar and linear

structures:
Folds open, tight, to isoclinal and
refolded folds, cylindrical ro non-
cylindrical folds, cleavage-transected Shape and geometry of folds
folds. Source:
http://geologylearn.blogspot.my/2015/08/geo
Foliations metric-description-of-folds.html
Fold classification
Cleavage Source:
http://geologylearn.blogspot.my/2015/08/geo
Crenulation cleavage metric-description-of-folds.html

Lineations:
CBI Lineations
Slickensides
Rod & mullions
 TECTONIC FOLDS

An example of an asymmetric anticline

 DISHARMONIC FOLDS

A thinly bedded quartzite folded into an antiformal

and synformal fold pair. Note that the folds are of
smaller size than those in thicker bedded
quartzites.

 Steep to sub-vertically plunging folds.

Upright isoclinal folds

Steeply plunging folds. Loc.: Tg. Lo

 REFOLDED FOLD

Figure 3.2.19: A refolded fold which formed a

doubly plunging anticlines.

 INTERLIMB ANGLE
Isoclinal fold with axial planar
cleavage and folded quartz
veins.

An inclined, tight and asymmetric fold

A closed fold.

ASYMMETRICAL FOLDS
 PARASITIC FOLDS

Small-scale parasitic folds. Loc. Tg. Lompat

 FOLIATIONS/CLEAVAGES
At least 2 sets of cleavage: S1 and S2
evidence for at least 2 phase of deformation.
S1: Slaty cleavage; fracture cleavage
S2: Crenulation cleavage; Extensional
Crenulation Cleavage

S1
Cleavag
e

Bedding-parallel slaty cleavage. Note the

cleavages are parallel to sub-parallel to
bedding.
 CLEAVAGES VS EARLY (SLUMP)
FOLDS

Cleavages tend to cut across earlier slumps folds Loc. Tg. Siang
 S1 FRACTURE CLEAVAGE

An open fold cut by fracture cleavages showing

convergent fanning with the fold.

A well developed fracture cleavage showing

convergent fanning. Note the presence of cleavage
 S2- CRENULATION CLEAVAGE

Microfolding of an early S1 fabric giving

rise to a crenulation cleavage

A well developed crenulation cleavage.

DESCRETE S2 CRENULATION CLEAVAGE
 LINEATIONS

Mullion & rods along the hinge of an open

fold
 LINEATIONS

A set of bedding-cleavage intersection

lineation L1 (Tg. Balau)

Two sets of bedding-cleavage intersection lineation L2

 LINEATIONS

small scale rippling of a foliation gives rise to a linear

Bedding cleavage structure. Loc. Tg. Balau
intersection lineation which
parallel to the fold hinge
 HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC GEOLOGICAL
STRUCTURES
Characteristics:
Rarely found
Remarkable geometrical shape
Good accessibility, exposure & visibility
Contribute to the advancement of
structural geology & tectonics
Mind boggling, amazing and
stimulating new thinking.
Significance to the understanding of
local and/or regional geology
High educational (teaching & learning)
and research values.
 EXAMPLE #1: DOUBLY
PLUNGING REFOLDED FOLD
CHARACTERISTIC YES NO
Rarely found
Remarkable geometrical shape
Good accessibility, exposure &
visibility

Contribute to the advancement

of structural geology &
tectonics
Mind boggling, amazing and
stimulating new thinking.

Significance to the
understanding of local /regional
geology
High educational (teaching &
learning) and research values.
EXAMPLE #2: EXTENSIONAL,
DISCRETE CRENULATION
CLEAVGE
Very rare; firstly reported from Tg Balau
Unique & classic
Highly significance; evidence for
transpressive deformation (compression +
progressive shear).
Good visibility, easily accessible, well-
preserved outcrop.
Very high scientific value
Record of multiple deformation and dextral
transpressiv deformation for eastern
Johore and the entire Eastern Belt of
Malaysia Peninsula.
EXAMPLE #3: HOOK-TYPE
REFOLDED FOLDS
Good quality outcrop, good
visualization, easily accessible,
Amazing and stimulating thinking,
highly suitable for education/teaching.
Clear, undisputable evidence for
multiple deformation and tectonic
history of the area and the region.
 EXAMPLE #4:
ROOTLESS REFOLDED
FOLDS
Very rarely found
Good quality outcrop, good
visualization, easily accessible,
Amazing and stimulating thinking,
highly suitable for
education/teaching.
Clear, undisputable evidence for
multiple deformation and tectonic
history of the area and the region,
however their origin might be
disputable either primary (slump
fold) or secondary (tectonic).
CLEAVAGE & FOLD RELATIONSHIPS
 CLEAVAGE & FOLD
RELATIONSHIP

Cleavage-bedding intersection lineation parallel to fold axis

this is common phenomena.
 CLEAVAGE-TRANSECTED
FOLDS

Clockwise-transection

Clockwise-transection Anticlockwise-transection
Cleavage-transected fold
Cleavage-bedding intersection (CBI) lineation transecting the
fold axis.
If due to folding of older CBI Lineation..then it is normal &
common (e.g. L1 and S1 of F1 is folded by F2).
But if the contemporaneous L1 is transecting F1, or L2 is
transeting F2, then it requires special explanation..
 CLEAVAGE-TRANSECTED FOLD
Transected folds (synonymously: cleavage-transected
fold or cleavage-transection) are folds in which the
broadly contemporaneous cleavage cuts across the axial
plane.
Cleavage-transected fold has been a widely discussed and
debated in late 1980s until mid 1990s.
The popular theory was that a clockwise transected fold is
resulted from sinistral-transpressive deformation, and
Cleavage-transected fold, a) a diagram and b)
anticlockwise transected fold is resulted from dextral-
stereogram showing (axial transection) and d
(profile transection) angles. deformation.
Study by Tajul A. Jamaluddin (1997) however proved
otherwise clockwise transection due to dextral
transpression.
And surprisingly, clockwise-transected folds have been
found in quite a significant number in Tg Balau outcrops, in
which they are closely associated with dextral
shear/transpressive zones (Tajul Anuar Jamaluddin &
Mustaffa Kamal Shuib 1999).
EXAMPLE #5: CLEAVAGE-
TRANSECTED FOLDS

Clock-wise cleavage transected fold in Tg Balau.

 CLOCK-WISE CLEAVAGE TRANSECTED FOLDS
Box 5: The differences between a cleavage-
transected fold and the axial planar cleavages of
Tg. Balau
 CLOCK-WISE CLEAVAGE
TRANSECTED FOLDS

A sigmoidal S-shaped priclinal fold with cleavage intersection lineation transecting the
fold axis in a clockwise direction.
CLOCK-WISE CLEAVAGE TRANSECTED FOLDS

Z-assymetrical folds show profile transection, where the S2 cleavage cut

across the axial plane of F2 folds in clockwise direction.

The Z-assymetrical folds signify dextral shear.

CLOCK-WISE CLEAVAGE TRANSECTED
FOLDS

Profile transection (clockwise) in

z-asymmetrical fold, in dextral
shear zone.
 CLOCK-WISE TRANSECTED
PERICLINAL FOLD

F2 non-cylindrical, doubly plunging periclinal fold with clockwise

cleavage transection in Tg Balau.

Priclinal folds with lineation cutting across

the hinges, giving rise to cleavage-
transected Loc. Tg Balau.
 RIGHT-STEPPING, EN-ECHELON, CLOCK-WISE
TRANSECTED PERCLINAL FOLDS OF TG. BALAU

Conclusive evidence for clockwise transected folds are due to dextral transpressive deformation.
Right-stepping en-echelon folds/pericline could only be produced by dextral shear/transpression.
This structural assemblage was only found and ever reported in Tg Balau.
Very significant findings; a new knowledge in structural geology & tectonics
 OTHER INTERESTING & UNIQUE
MULTIPLE DEFORMATIONAL
STRUCTURES OF TG. BALAU

 FOLDED BOUDINAGE

Very rarely found

Significant evidence for multiple deformation
extensional deformation, followed by compressional
SIGMOIDAL SHAPE
BOUDINAGES
Text-book quality structural
features
Unique and very rarely found
Important evidence/indicator
for dextral shear component.
Critical to the understanding
and interpretation of
structural evolution & history
of the area and region.
TRANSPOSITIONAL FABRICS
SHEAR ZONES
 SUMMARY
The geological structures of Tg Balau are undoubtedly excellent and
if outstanding scientific and natural heritage values because:
Highly significance and vitally important to the understanding and
interpretation of the structural geology & tectonic history of the area
and the region.
Significant impacts and contribution to the advancement of structural
geology & tectonics
High educational (teaching & learning) and research values; mind
boggling, amazing and stimulating new thinking.
High quality exposure, conspicuous and good visibility, 2D & 3D
geometrical shapes; remarkable inter-structural relationships; e.g. fold-
cleavage-lineation; fold-cleavage-shears, etc.
Diversity of structures (variety of structures in the same area)
Strategic geographic location and good accessibility; blended well with
the panoramic beach/coastal landscape and the existing tourists
attractions.
 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Tg. Balau area (including Tg. Siang & Tg Lompat)
should be conserved, preserved and gazetted as a
Unique Geosite of special scientific interests.
The uniqueness of the geology of this site should be
integrated into the tourists attraction package of
Tg Balau. This could only be done by extensive and
aggressive awareness and continuos geologic-
oriented educational campaign to the public and
the stake-holders.
More promotional efforts to be done such as
publishing books, leaflets, magazines, and
short/educational documentary in the social media,
radio & tv.