The close association between the Gua Musang formation, Telong formation, Aring Formation, and Nilam marble reflect the lateral facies changes among these formations. Poorly delineated boundaries between each formation calls for a reassessment on the genetic and stratigraphic correlation of these formations. The newly proposed Gua Musang Group is defined as argillite-carbonate-volcanic deposited within the same Gua Musang platform during Permo-Triassic period, which includes all four formations under study. High resolution stratigraphy is needed for each formation for better stratigraphic correlation between the various lithostratigraphic units of the Gua Musang Group and other chronologically related rock formations in the region.The new division of formations within this Group is proposed based on lithologies and stratigraphic correlation that could provide better understanding on the geology of northern section of Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia.
The search for the critical Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB) in Malaysia focuses on limestone hills in the Lipis district since the 1990s. The recent paleontological findings at Gua Panjang hill in Merapoh, Pahang state, has constrained the presence of PTB to be between 6.50 m to 9.00 m from the base of the logged section at the eastern cliff. Late Permian foraminifera such as Colaniella sp., Ichtyofrondina sp., and Palaeotextularia sp. were observed 6.50 m from the base of the logged section, where the microfacies is characterized as bioclastic grainstone deposited within a shallow open shelf environment during Late Permian. Located 2.50 m above the Late Permian horizon is a highly dolomitized horizon with the presence of earliest Triassic conodonts such as Hindeodus parvus and Isarcicella staeschi. Between the height of 6.50 m and 9.00 m, analyses on δ 13 C and δ 18 O of the whole rock composition have shown slight decrease in both isotopes to 1.18‰ (VPDB) and 18.23‰ (SMOW), respectively. However, a negative carbon isotope excursion, which is the signature in most PTB sections worldwide, was not observed in the Gua Panjang limestone section potentially due to the large-spaced sampling. Therefore, a high precision research on the 10.00 m logged section at the eastern cliff of the Gua Panjang hill is crucial to identify the precise position of the first PTB in Malaysia.
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