Palaeobiogeographic implications of Middle Permian brachiopods from Johore (Peninsular Malaysia)

Abstract

A new Middle Permian locality in northern Johore, Peninsular Malaysia, yields a small-sized, but compositionally unique, brachiopod fauna consisting of eight species: Pseudoleptodus sp., Caricula cf. salebrosa Grant, Neochonetes (Nongtaia) aff. arabicus (Hudson & Sudbury), Karavankina sp., Transennatia cf. insculpta (Grant), Hustedia sp., Orthothetina sp., and martiniid indet. The first four genera are new records for Malaysia; in particular, the rare taxa Pseudoleptodus and Caricula characterize the fauna. The brachiopods occur together with the ammonoid Agathiceras sp., the nautiloid Foordiceras? sp., bivalves, and crinoid stems. The locality belongs to the East Malaya terrane of the Cathaysian biotic region, but some affinities to species of the Sibumasu province are recognized. The Malaysian forms of Pseudoleptodus, Caricula and Transennatia are similar to those of the Ratburi Limestone (southern Thailand). A Roadian–early Wordian age is interpreted for the Johore fauna. The similarity of brachiopods reported here with those from the Ratburi Limestone suggests that there was species interchange or one-way migration between shallow waters of East Malaya and Sibumasu across the main Palaeo-Tethys. The Tethyan seaway between the two terranes must have been narrower than previously interpreted by some authors to allow such faunal traffic during the Roadian–Wordian time period.

Records of the oceanic propagator closure at the southern splay of the Palaeo‐Tethys

“…This is supported by the sizes of synÀ/post-collisional granitic bodies, which gradually become smaller towards the southern region. Similar Middle Permian faunal affinities reported in Sibumasu (south Thailand) and Indochina (east Peninsular Malaysia)(Aung, 1994;Aung & Shuib, 2013;Sone et al, 2003) (Figure18, Permian time) suggest the migration of marine organisms between the two blocks, which would support a narrow Palaeo-Tethys branch(Sone et al, 2003). The back-arc basin was well developed in Thailand, but its trace diminished towards the southern region (Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia), indicating that the basin is narrowing southward.The collision of the Sibumasu and Indochina blocks occurred in the Late Triassic, most likely during Carnian-Norian time.…”

“…The volcanic and pyroclastic rocks are locally intercalated with limestone and succeeded by marine shale–sandstone sequences. Brachiopods from the Ratburi Limestone (Sone, Metcalfe, & Leman, 2003), a trilobite from the Thitsipin Limestone (Aung, 1994), and rugose corals (Aung & Shuib, 2013), have some affinities to Middle Permian fossils reported in the east Peninsular Malaysia of the Indochina block. This observation supports the hypothesis of a narrow Palaeo‐Tethys branch, which probably allowed marine organisms to migrate between the two blocks during the Middle Permian (Sone et al, 2003).…”

Middle Permian Radiolarians from the siliceous mudstone block near Pos Blau, Ulu Kelantan and their significance

“…The tuffaceous mudstone was reported from Jengka (Basir et al, 1995), Bukit Kukus (Basir et al, 2005, Bukit Yoi (Basir, 2008) and Pos Blau (Spiller & Metcalfe, 1995;Spiller, 2002). Middle Permian tuffaceous material was also recorded from Northern Johor (Sone et al, 2003) and Bera, south Pahang (Sone & Leman, 2005). This suggests that tuffaceous material was quite widespread in the Middle Permian of Peninsular Malaysia.…”

Zircon U-Pb ages of the Benom Complex: Implications for a Late Triassic uplift event in Central Peninsular Malaysia

“…The subsequent calc-alkaline magmatism (Gunung Benom granite) is centered at 207 Ma, and may result from continuous mantle upwelling, or eventually the melting of both crustal (metaphyllite and metagreywacke) and mantle material (metabasalt) (Figure 6B). Aw, 1990;(d) Jones et al, 1966;(e) Nuraiteng, 2009;(f) Hada, 1966;(g) Igo et al, 1966; Leman, 1994; Ichikawa & Yin, 1966;(j) Tamura, 1968; Leman et al, 1999;(l) Fontaine & Ibrahim Amnan, 1994; Metcalfe, 1992b, (n) Metcalfe & Azhar Hussin, 1995;(o) Abdul Hadi & Nuraiteng, 1994;(p) Jasmi, 1992;(q) Fontaine et al, 1994;(r) Nuraiteng & Abdul Hadi, 1995;(s) Leman, 1995;(t) Richardson, 1939;(u) Yancey, 1972; Metcalfe, 1990;(w) Metcalfe, 2016, (x) Metcalfe, 1993(y) Fontaine et al, 1988;(z) Idris & Hashim, 1988; Metcalfe et al, 1982;(ab) Metcalfe & Chakrabroty, 1994;(ac) Leman & Sone, 2001;(ad) Basir Jasin et al, 1995;(ae) Leman et al, 2000;(af) (ag) Leman & Sone, 2002;(ah) Metcalfe et al, 1985;(ai) Sone et al, 2003;…”