Search for the Permian-Triassic boundary in central Peninsular Malaysia: Preliminary Report

Abstract

The Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB), despite decades of searching, has not been located precisely to date in Malaysia. We are currently focusing our search for the PTB in central Peninsular Malaysia as part of our contribution to the geological heritage scheme launched by the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) and as a contribution to the new IGCP 572 Project "Restoration of marine ecosystems following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction: Lessons for the present". In central Peninsular Malaysia, there are several limestone karst hills which have yielded data indicating the possible presence of the PTB. Among them, Gua Bama has now emerged as the most prospective site, as it displays strata ranging from Upper Permian to Triassic. Its lithofacies is a thickly to massively bedded succession of limestones, with occasional tuffaceous layers.