A new Lower Triassic (Induan) Jerus Limestone locality in northwest Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia: Conodont fauna, depositional and tectonic settings

Abstract

Limestones exposed north of Raub, Pahang, Malaysia, and sandwiched between the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone and the westernmost margin of the Sukhothai Arc terrane, yield a late Dienerian (late Induan) conodont fauna. The co-occurrence of 'Neospathodus dieneri' Sweet (morphotypes 1, 2 and 3) and 'Neospathodus pakistanensis' Sweet represents the 'Neospathodus dieneri' morphotype 3 sub-zone of the 'Neospathodus dieneri' Zone. The sampled limestones are interpreted as the northwards extension of the Jerus Limestone which crops out near Cheroh and Jerus villages, significantly extending the known outcrop of the Jerus Limestone northwards. The Jerus Limestone is interpreted as hemipelagic and formed in a foredeep or forearc setting on top of the accretionary complex formed by eastwards subduction of the Palaeo-Tethys during the Lower to Middle Triassic.