GEOSEA V Proceedings Vol. I! , Geol. Soc. Malaysia, BulleTin 20, August 1986; pp. 79 1-801

Quaternary stratigraphy .and prospects for placer tin deposits

in. the Kuantan area, Pahang

T. S UNTHARA LI NGAM 1 AND GHAN I AMBAK2

1Geologicaf Survey of Malaysia, P.O. Box 1015 , Ipoh, Perak. 2State Economic Development Corporation, Petroleum & Mining Division, Wisma Maju ,

Kuala Terengganu , Terengganu.

Abstract: The Quaternary deposits in the Kuantan area are described . The deposits are divided into four lithostrat igraphic uni ts : the continental Simpang Formation (equivalen t to 'the Old Alluvium of the Kinta Valley, Pleistocene age), Kempadang Formation (a Pleistocene marine unit) , G ula Formation (a Holocene marine unit) and the continental Beruas Formation (eq ui va lent to the Young Alluvium of the Kinta Valley).

The thickness of the unconsolida ted deposits va ries from a few metres in the wes t to more tha n 120 metres towards the east. Cassiterite occurs in significa nt concentrat ions in the Simpang a nd Kempadang Formations. Trace or minor amounts of cassiterite are found . in the G ula and Beruas Fo rmations.

Scout drill holes show that cass iterite va lues ranging from 0.079 kg per cu m to 0.40 kg per cu m (0 .1 0 to 0.55 kat is per cubic. yard) occur at depths of 15 m to 30 m below the surface in Pay a Derhaka , Kampong Belukar, Kampong Permatang Badak and Kampong Anak Ayer areas . A deep borehole at Kampong Penor in the south gave sectional va lues rangi ng from 0.3 kg pe r cum (0.29 kati s per cubic yard) to 0.4 kg per c u m (0 .05 kati s per cubic ya rd) between depths of I 18.9 m to 122m. The best prospects fo r pl acer tin lies between latitudes 3° 45'N to 3° 49'N and longi tude 103 ° 15'E to the coastline, and this pan of the Kuantan area appea rs to be the southern limi t of the Pandan placer tin deposit.

INTRODUCTION

Nearly 90 percent of the tin produced from Peninsular Malaysia comes from placer deposits of Quaternary age. Of these, the bulk of the tin is obtained from the alluvial mines found along the western part of the country.

Less than ten percent of the land area in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is underlain by Quaternary deposi ts. On the East Coast tin is mined mainly in the states of Pahang, Terengganu and Johore. In order to have a better knowledge and understanding of the east coast placer deposits , a systematic study was carried out in the Kuantan area (Figure I) by the Geological Survey of Malaysia. Besides stratigraphy, this paper gives an account of the source, distribution and prospects for placer tin in the Kuantan area.

GEOMORPHOLOGY

Geomorphologically the area is lowlying, gently undulating and covered by inland freshwater swamps. A zone of beach (sand) ridges also run parallel to the

792

s·

T. S UNTHARALINGAM AN D GHANI AMBAK

100°

REFERENCE Bound9ries :

State .. .. ..... ln,ernotlona l ... +·+·+ :+ Rivers

101°

100" E. of · Greenwich to';"

0

( \(

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA 0

·~

..i \

1.00 Km

.Kuala ("'\ Torengg~nu -s.

PAHA ' NG

~ I

Fig. I. Map showing the location of the area of investigation.

7

4

0

3

.. 2

coastline. Sungai Kuantan including its tributaries (Sungai Belat and Sungai Soi) and Sungai Penor drain over the area to flow into the South China Sea (Figure 2).

The area appears to be a wasteland for it supports hardly any agriculture and has a dispersed habitation .

PLACER TIN DEPOSITS I TH E· K UANTAN AREA 793

LEGE N D

">® Seismic traverse A - A' Q)_,s2"'ji-...._ @ , wilh stations Q) ®a® s,' s,....,A ·

A $z and shot po ints S1-S2

Mile I

Swa mp

Rood

River

0 3 ICilomrtres

0 I M il es

LAU T CH I NA SELATA N 3

•

40

Fig. 2. Map showing the location of the seismic surveys in the Kuanta n area, Pahang.

794 T. SUNTHARALI GAM AND GHANI AMBAi<

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION

Geophysical Survey

A refraction seismic survey was carried out over the area by the Geophysical Section of the Department. Investigation were conducted at selected seismic stations along the two East-We t traverses i.e. Kampong Bahru to Kampung Sungai Dua and Kampong Ubai to Kampong Cherok PaJoh (Figure 2). The survey was conducted using the 12 channel ABEM Trio Seismograph with explosives as the energy source (Ho, 1982).

The seismic survey shows that in the north (Kampong Bahru to Kampong Sungai Traverse) the bedrock is irregular in relief and its depth varies from 39.6 m- 152 in

·(130- 500 feet). Along the southern traverse bedrock was not detected down to a depth of 152 m (500 feet) from the surface. In general the depth to bedrock increases eastwards and southwards.

Drilling

IRitially shallow holes were drilled using the Guts· and Edelman hand augers and the van der Staay suction-corer. Banka drilling was then carried out in selected areas. A total of30 scout holes (Figure 3) were drilled using the hand-operated Bangka drill and the semi-mechanized Banka. The deepest borehole was unbuttomed at about 130 metres ( 425 feet) from the surface in the Kampong Pen or area. The details of the results of the investigation are given elsewhere (Ghani, manuscript).

STRATIGRAPHY

Four stratigraphic units have been delineated on the basis of lithology, heavy mineral content; age and to a lesser extent on palaeo-environment. These units are similar to those on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Taiping-Lumut Area) and therefore the formal names used in the west coast are retained for these units: They are the continental Simpang Formation (mainly fluviatile deposits probably of Pleistocene age and equivalent to the Older Alluvium of Walker, 1955), the Kempadang Formation (an older marine formation probably of Pleistocene age), Gula Formation (a Holocene marine unit) and the continental Beruas Formation (mainly fluviatile and lacustrine deposits of Holocene age and equivalent to the Young Alluvium of Walker, 1955). These units are described briefly, and the Quaternary geology of the area is shown in Figure 4.

Simpang Formation

This unit consists of clay, silt, sand, gravel and peat deposited in a terrestrial environment before the most recent major low sea-level stand. The formation is divided into two members i.e. the Lower sand member which consists of sand and gravel and the Upper clay member which is mainly of clay. The thickness of the formation "varies from a few metres to more than 100m in the southeast.

Kempadang Form.ation

Clay, silt and sand deposited in a marine environment before the most recent major low sea-level stand.

PLACER TIN DEPOSITS h THE K UA TA AREA

s.soi

•o'

LEGEND

20 •-· .. Locotlon of b? r eholes

-- . . Line of cross - section

103• 15' Eust of Greoenwic:t •.

Metres 1000 0 3 Kil omctru

Mile I 0 2 Mllu

V>

"' ' l> -I

795

Fig . 3 Map showing the location of the boreholes and lines of cross-section , Kuantan area, Pahang.

796

. s.sol

3.

•o·

103• 15' East of Greenwich.

T. SUNTHARALINGAM AND GHANI AMBAK

'...:..:.

Met r•• 1000 0

Milo I 1'2 0

PART OF SHEET 8 3

L E G E: N D

BERUAS FORMATION

Pengkc lcn Member

Undlfferenticted

GULA FORMATI ON m Mel eng Gelugor Member

~~ ~ ~~ Port Weld Member

SIMPANG FORMATION

~ Bedrock

LA U T CHINA

SELATAN

. 3

•o·

KBMI Qg) 0 - 68-84.

3 l(llorr.etr~s

2 Miles

Fig. 4. Quaternary Geology Map of the Kuantan Area, Pahang.

WEST

l<g. Baharu

TA

TR PENGI<ALAN

MEMBER

TR

TA

TA

TR

BHIB

C::l

Col

CSIC·I

., Fo tt II' Fe C•l

Col

lool Gravel :: (Ciranultl 2-4mmJ

1!000 00.1 r; Verr oranllr

E ol llodtratelr : ,, .•... , I g I sntbtlr trowour

J I (o) Ron Qro .. llr

I : : I Sacul mtellam :: uso-soo .. ml

I• • ., Verr soadr • • • CmtdlucnJ

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

TA

0.03

C .ll M odtrcntlr t nndy I medium)

I ·.: I Slltbtlr sanely (laedlumJ

I II•J Rare sand (coor,.J

l<g. Pahang

BH 20

BHI9

Col FORMATON

------?----------

CSI

d) Fe

c~' C•l

Col tt c:~

CID SIMPANG Col

FORMATION

Col CCI

----?

TR

TR

TR

TR

0.01

TR

o.o1

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.01

QUATERNARY LITHOLOGICAL

1·.·-:1 .. ~ Saact, flu C62.5-Z50Mm)

F! ":.i Moderaulr t !il aooctr (flu)

r ~! 1 ~;.·::;•r soadr It::) Ran sand Cline)

v.,, .u., Moderoterr .... , Slltbrlr slltr

II II Cloy

II• ., II I II'

I! II I! I

Vorr clcrror ..... , .... , ... ,., Sllebtlr clor•r

MATANG GELUGO MEMBER

-------?-----~~-

... tP Fo CSI

tf

tt 1•1 .. ,.

LEGEND

~::) Yerr humic

Is sl Modtratelr Js sl buralc

J : J Slightly luamlc

J ( r&J ::':a:~:uat

<. ', ,.>

~.,·"" ',? ;)

/

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) I

I

' ) I c '? \

I , I

I {

I I •--

lUI ••o•

Itt ::•p· It :::~

-- -------------·------·----------- ----------------------------------------1 J• Clar ~toll (111 Concr_erlons I Fe Coocrerlons

lSI occor41DI to aiiOIDCODIIIODOnt

0.095 j SaOz 'WOI¥11 CaQ,/ml)

Fig. 5 Cross-section from Kampung Baharu- Kampung Rhu Bangkok (Horizontal scale 1 :50,000; Vertical scale 1:

Kg. Pohang EAST

BH 20

BH 19

------... ..... , ..... _ ---

I : : I Sacul medlgrza :: uso-soo,.mJ

I! ' 'I Yerr IODd1 ~ ·' lmedlaatJ

0.01

0.01

o.o1

0.01

o.o1

0.01

0.01

TR

0.01

t .:1 Mocteroter, t sour (medium)

I :. I snobrlr sonctr (IDOdlum)

I It•) Rare acrnd (COGUI)

---r.~----~~------~~m ·I' l'R :I: BERUAS I ~ ~! Col FORMATON \

: I : ------? ------- . \ -------? \ . ------' • Col

lSI

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ft .., Col

lol tt

~~ r:~

CID SIMPANG :·:·: Col

FORMATION ·:· .,. :.: ·'· TR ... ... o:O 000

.:. TR

Col ICI TR

TR

o.or 0 I 0

TR . . •I'

o.o1

"I'

!I: ••• 'I"

0.01 ~I~ .,. "I"

0,01 ~I! ·•· 010

0.01 .,. 0.01

MATANG GELUGOR MEMBER

Kg. Rhu Bangkok

BH 21

-:r: ..•. TR

---~-----?------~-,: ......... -------------

t c

cc

tP Fo

lSI

tt

tt

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<./> KEMPADANG ra . _! -'-~ FORMATION • 'C•l l :1: CCI

I TR •o•

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I j ~~ Cfl

I 9° CCI t TR •• I

\ ;• o (•I

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1).01

0.0 I

QUATERNARY LITHOLOGICAL LEGEND

1·.·-:r 0 0 ~

Sand, fine C62.5-2SO•ml

" ':j ..... ,., •• , J: ~ sonctr (fine)

r ~ l ~;::::·' tandr

(c::. R11n aond Cflao)

Vor, ... ,,

MocloroteiJ ... ,, Sllvhrlr tlltr

II II Cloy

1'''1 Ill ••• I! II I! I

VorJ CIOJOJ

Moderaltelr cloreJ

Slitfttly CIGJOJ

~::1 Verr bymlc

Is Sl Madera telr Is sl IU1mlc

I •• I SllefiiiJ bumlc

I liS) Rare amount or fluraut

I ~i I ....

I t l Ron ontopt of ( plant nmolnt

Ieee

1 cc

I c

!eel

A~uadond shells Moderate amount of sbellt Small amount of abolls Rare oma"gnt of shells --·----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------

1 I· CIOJHII I tP Coacretloos I Fe Coacretloat Ill occordlat ro

maJocompoaee~t 0.015 j SaOz YCIIIW.I

Cllg./mSJ I Sa02 preteltt Ia trace omoaot

Fig. 5 Cross-section from Kampung Baharu- Kampung Rhu Bangkok (Horizontal scale 1:50,000; Vertical scale 1:400).

kBM.CQtJ 0- G9 -84 -

-iJ .. ·~-~

WEST

Kg. Batu Enam

Metres

6 Kg. Belukar

4

2

M.S.LO

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30

BH 15

o.ot

0,10

0.16

O.OT

O.IT

0.28

BERUAS

~':ORMATION

-----________ ,_ •:: (O) . -----------.. ! ... ... ... ::: :·· ... . . ·.·

. . :-: ... · .. ·.· ·.·

SIMPANG FORMATION

Col

Col

Col ?--· ---

I:: I Gravel :: IGranules 2·-4 rnmJ I :: I Sand 111edlum

:: 12S0-500,ullll

1!: =I 1:. •. Very gravelly

Moderately gravelly

Very sandy I medium I

Moderately sandy I medium I

L 9

~---..... ...... ..... _ -..... -----? ______ > __ _

-nr-- -- -----..... , PORT

~BHI3 ._TTT,__ __ _

WELD tt MEMBER

·---------

-? -----

1·1

! (0)

·;~ ! I

0.01 ! ! CoJ ! !

o.ot I I t, ••

O,OJ ';I; ,Po :l: lol

o.os : 1 ~ :t 0.10 ~t;

o.1o ~· ~ 0.41 ~:J~ .. 0.41 ~!o:

0.411 ~:~:~ 0.11 :

+ --+

SIMPAN

-QUATERNARY LITHOLOGICAL LEGEND

1:;:;:1 Sand,flne t·:·: 162,5-250,uml ~~~ Silt 1111 Clay

~~::· :_1 Very sandy 1:1 ~ lflnel · Very silty 1'''1 :II Very clayey ll:m very

1.:. :.·.~ Moderately sandy (:; !I lflnol Moderately sllt.:t Moderately clayey Ill Model

Ill Sligh·

I ic•, :: -------------~-----------------------~~-$~~~:::--------------------------------------~-~::·

Slightly gravelly

11•1 Rare gravelly

~t~ t tl ltl l ;:;· I ·Slightly sandy

Cflnel

I lc .. 1 Rtiro sand " lflnel

Slightly aiiiJ' Slightly clayey Slightly sandy lmordluml

1,1 Rare sand lcoorsel

r ::1 Grovel (pebbles 4-&mml 1:+~ Bedrock jo Clay ball I , ... Concretions 0.095] Snaa •

I I,,. Concrotlofts occo ding Tr ] SnOa

to malncompono11t NR] No sa

Fig. 6 Cross-section from Kampung Batu Anam - Kampung Anak Air (Horizontal scale 1 :50,000; ·

PORT

--

Kg. B•lukar

BH 13

W£. LD tt MEMBER

BHI2

___ , ··---------

' ', Til

...................... ........ ....... ----

o.os SIMPANG FORMATION

- - --?-

LITHOLOGICAL LEGEND

1111 Clay Iii Peat

lily 1'"1 :I: Very clayey II:JI Very humic

>tely silty 1': ':I I! II Moderately clayey II 5 Moderately humic

y silly I I Slightly clayey Ill· Slightly humic

I 1181 Rare amount of hum•

I I Moderate amount ft of plant remains

I I " Smal) amount of T plant remains

I I tfl Rare amount of plant remains

GULA FORMATION

I I cc Moderate amount of shells

I I c Small amount of shells

I IICI. Rare amount of shells

·---------------------------------------------------------------------

ncr•tlo.ns

ncrotlone acco dint malncomponent

H Peat_loyer

Sno1 valves I kgJrri' I

Sno1 present in trace o111ouat

No eomple recovered

n- Kampung Anak Air (Horizontal scale 1 :50,000; Vertical scale 1 :400).

BHIO

lSI

EAST

Kg. Ana k A lr

BH 9

TR

c lSI tt CCISI

CCI

c cc

PLACER TIN DEPOSITS IN THE KUANTA ~REA 799

-;uta Formation This formation· is made up of mainly grey to greenish-grey to estuarine clay and

subordinate sand deposited after the most recent major low sea-level stand, The term · Matang Gelugor Member was introduced on the west coa:st for th.e stibordinate :sand occurring as beach ridges along the coastal areas. The term Port Weld Member-( also from the west coast) encompasses clay .and_ silt deposited·in a 'm:fiqgrove environ merit. . ·~. ~ .

Beruas Formation This unit consists of Clay, silt, sand, gravel and peat deposited in a terrestrial

environment after the most recent majq.r 1qw sea,l~vel stand. The term Pengkalan Member was inttoduced on the west coast for peat with minor intercalations of clay

· and silt deposited in a palpdal envirortment. ·

PRO.SPECTING RESULTS OF. PRIVATI~: COMPANIES

The prospecting res~lts of ·!JliniiJ.g companies show that the values for cassiterite range from trace to 0.08 Jg. per cu m.(O.lO katis per cubic-yard) in Sungai Pandan and the other areas . In the S11ngai Pandan area, the average depth of alluvium is about 16.8 m (55 feet) and the average ya lue for cassiterite is 0.1 kg. per .s;u m (0.13 Katis per cubic yarc;l). A Minerals Iiwesti.gation Drilling Report (MIDU Report 7 /55) states that the cassiteri·te in the Sungai Pandan area is fine and rounded which indicates trans­port. A similar rep,oJt.CD211 ) on the prospe~ting carried out in the Gam bang, area states that c_a~sit~rjfe w~s. not transeor!ed ·eastwards, along the P.r~sent Sungai Bel at valley. This- reporN1,!_so st~es that possible conce!Jtrafjons of tin mjght occur west of the present coastline. . .. ' ,. . .. ,._: .. ~ . ·. ·- "-· .....• . , -

_,. • , 1 , ,• .lr : •

The prospecting results indicate that the overburden thickens southwards and eastwards. The cassiterite content in the paydirt layers also incr.eases with depth.

RESULTS OF THE PRESENT INV_ESTIGA TION -

In summary, the present inve.sti~ation d'emonstnited that:

i) The thickness of the unconsoltdat~d deposits increases southwcu-ds and eastwards. Refra~tion· seismic sury_eys_ indioate the thickness of 'the unconsolidated deposits to vary from 39.6 m·(lJO feet) in the north to more than 152m (500 feet) in the south. This is confirmed by drilling where in the Sungai Pandan area· the average thickness of the overburden is 1_6.8·(55 .feet) and it increases to more than 130m l425· feet) inJhe feno.r a·rea. .. ·

ii) Cassiterite in significant quantities occurs ·in the sand. ~t: grav~lly .sand layers of the Simpang ana Kempadang. I:ormations (Figures 5 and 6). It is .either absent or found only in trace ~~ouuts i(l the oyeFlying Beruas and Gula Formations. · ·

iii) Borehole results show that cassiterite values ranging from 0.079 kg per ci.t m to 0.4 kg per cum (0.10- (').55 katis per cubic yard}occur between depths of 15m

•'•

~ -··I' •

800 T. SUNTHARALINGAM AND GHAN I AMBAK

to 30 m below the surface at Kampong Permatang Badak (borehole 2), Kampong Belukar (borehole I 3), Kampong Derhaka "(borehole I 2) and Kampong Anak Air (boreholes 8 and 9). In areas towards the south only trace to small amounts of cassiterite have been recorded (Figure 6). However, an unbottomed borehole (BH 28) at Kampong Penor gave cassiterite values ranging from .0.23 kg per cu m (0.29) katis per cubic yard) to 0.40 kg per cu m (0.50 katis per cubic yard) between depths of 118.9 m to 122m.

iv) The grain size of the cassiterite is generally fine. In the Kampong Permatang Badak- Kampong Belukar- Kampong Anak Air areas more than 60 percent of the cassiterite is coarser than the 200 mesh fraction (British Standard Size- BSS). Further south in the Kampong Bahru- Kampong Pahang­Kampong Rhu Bangkok areas there appears to be nearly equal amounts of coarse ( + 200 mesh BSS or + 75 microns) and fine cassiterite (- 200 mesh BSS). However , towards' southeast in the Sungei Penor area at least 60 percent or more of the cassiterite is in the range of - 200 mesh .

v) Because of the absence of any major past or present river system there is no evidence to show that the cassiterite came from the well known Gam bang tin field , which is located west of the Kuantan area. The Sungei Kuantan which flows through known tin mineralized areas in l:he north appears most likely to be the source. This river also flowed .further south of its present course to the South China Sea. The rich pockets of cassiterite south of Sungai Kuan tan is probably the southern limit of the Pandan tin field.

CONCLUSION

The present investigation, supplemented by the prospecting results of the various mining companies, indicates that the best prospect for placer tin lies between latitudes 3 o 45'N to 3 o 49'N and longitude I 03 o I 5'E to the coastline. The thickness of overburden is about 15 metres in this area compared to about a few metres towards the north in the Pandan area. It is recommended that further close spaced drilling be carried out to determine the. economic potential of the deep seated placer tin deposit in the area.

Further scout drilling is necessary to ascertain the possible source(s) of the tin in the Sungai Penor area and the explanation for the high tin values for example in borehole 28.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank the Director General of the Geological Survey of Malaysia for permission to publish this paper and their colleagues for the valuable comments and suggestions.

PLACER TIN DEPOSITS I THE KUANTAN AREA 801

REFERENCES

GHANI, A. (in manuscript). The Geology of the Quaternary sed iments in the coastal plain of Kuanta n. Geol. Sur. Malaysia ( Quaternary). Bull. No. 4.

Ho, C.S., 1982. Seismic survey in the coastal area of Kuantan , Pahang. Geol. Sur. Malaysia Annual Report, 1982 (in press).

WALKER, D ., 1955. Studies on the Quaternary of the Malay Peninsula. Alluvial deposits of Perak a nd the relative land and sea. Fed. Mus. Joum. f and II , 19- 34.

Manuscri pt received 6th September 1984.