Metamorphic Evolution of the Baling Formation at Banding Island, Perak, Malaysia

Abstract

This paper presented new study on the mineral assemblages and the compositions on the rocks protolith. Banding island and its surrounding area are dominated by low-grade regional metamorphism which located within the East Malaya Block and dated from Ordovician to Permian age. The study area is situated at longitudes of 101° 22’ 25”E to 101° 22 35”E and latitudes at 5° 33’ 47”N to 5° 32’ 95”N. The metamorphic rocks consist of phyllite, mica schist, and metasandstone interbedded with slate. Majority of the phyllite are highly weathered with visible joint. Phyllite in the study area contains quartz veins with thickness varies from 0.5 cm to 6 cm, that follows the direction of rock foliation. Phyllite is dominated with mica group with major muscovite mineral, and the mica is mostly muscovite. While the mica shist is also dominated with mica group with muscovite mineral. The intensity of the regional metamorphism is lowest from the west of the Banding Island to slightly moderate metamorphism toward the east of the study area, which supported by the changes of the metamorphic rock type from phyllite to schist according to the petrographic analysis. Regionally, Perak state especially in Gerik area are dominated by rocks from Paleozoic era as Perak is located in Western Belt of Peninsular Malaysia.