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
2 Sequence biostratigraphic approach
3 Calculation and comparison of circum Borneo sedimentation rates
4 Palaeogeographic map construction
5 Palaeogeographic maps
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
2 Sequence biostratigraphic approach
3 Calculation and comparison of circum Borneo sedimentation rates
4 Palaeogeographic map construction
5 Palaeogeographic maps
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
Mio-Pliocene palaeogeography, uplands and river systems of the
Sunda region based on mapping within a framework of VIM
depositional cycles.
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 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
4 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
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
4 Palaeogeographic map construction
PALYNOVA
Mio-Pliocene palaeogeography, uplands and river systems of the
Sunda region based on mapping within a framework of VIM
depositional cycles.
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
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
Mio-Pliocene palaeogeography, uplands and river systems of the
Sunda region based on mapping within a framework of VIM
depositional cycles.
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
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
Circum Borneo uplift
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
Subalpine woodland
Montane forest
Lowland forest
Seasonally cool/dry temperate
with common Laurasian conifers
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
Circum Borneo uplift
VIM
Seq.
PALYNOVA
END