Abstract
Small benthic foraminifera have been fully extracted from the mudstone of Kudat Formation, Kudat, Sabah. The Kudat Formation comprise thick-bedded, quartzose to feldspathic, locally calcareous sandstone, an overall abundance of lignitic and carbonaceous layers, and the presence of red shales and detrital calcarenites. A total of 22 mudstone samples of Kudat Formation in difference localities have been collected for foraminifera analysis. All samples are processed according to standard micropaleontological method. Twenty-five species of small benthic foraminifera consisting of the agglutinated and hyaline group have identified. Almost all mudstone samples of Sikuati Member and Matunggong Member are consisting of deep-sea agglutinated foraminifera assemblage indicative of bathyal to abyssal. K21 sample of Tajau member and K9 sample of Sikuati Member consist of deep-sea agglutinated foraminifera together with reworked calcareous foraminifera. Foraminifera analysis shows that the Kudat Formation sediment was deposited in deep marine setting ranging from bathyal to neritic.
Highlights
Foraminifers are one of the important microfossils to geologists
Wellpreserved specimens were photographed by High Performance Microscope for further examination
Bathysiphon and Nothia were common in the samples with minor occurrence of Ammosphaeroidina and Trochammina
Summary
Foraminifers are one of the important microfossils to geologists. This fossil provides the most accurate means of age determination of rocks and environment of formation of the sediments of the past. The Kudat Formation are characterised by predominance of medium to thick-bedded, quartzose to feldspathic, locally calcareous sandstone, an overall abundance of lignitic and carbonaceous layers, and the presence of red shales and detrital calcarenites This location has chosen because there is limited information about the paleontological studies from previous work of this fossil. Liechti et al (1960) has been revised this formation and subdivided into several members (Garau, Tajau, Sikuati, Gomantong, Dudar, Sirar), but only Tajau and Sikuati Members can be identified in the field This rock unit was reported an age Early Miocene and probably deposited in shallow to deep water environment. The Middle Muddy Unit comprises sandstone and mudstone dominance with some occurrences of limestone bed and lenses This unit was referred to previously as the Sikuati Member and cropped out at the middle part of the Kudat Peninsula. The result shows a mixing assemblage of neritic to bathyal environment
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