Tanjung Balau – geological heritage hold the ancient secrets of life and earth

The rocks at Tanjung Balau, east of Kota Tinggi in Johor, are the beach rock with wind-stress features that hold the ancient secrets of life and earth. 

                       the geological uniqueness make Tanjung Balau a tourist spot

             Activities KEJORA  benefited local residence economically

The prehistoric geological sites beach rocks are unique and shown distinctive rock formations. It is older than those of the Permian period which began 275 million years ago. 

                                  Fisherman boats 

The Johor Tenggara Development Authority (KEJORA) owns the suggesting geo-tourism park land. The site is easily accessible by vehicles. 

           Tanjung Balau Beach withhold the ancient secrets of life and earth

The Tanjung Balau prehistoric geological sites exposed meta-sedimentary rocks with records of tectonic history part of the Eastern Belt of the Peninsular Malaysia. The rock, consisting predominantly of meta-quartzite, phylitte and slate; are believed to be Permo-Carboniferous age.

                     Rich geological heritage and high scientific value

The obvious of the geologic event recorded and implied in these rocks are well reflected by various types of complex and classic geological structures.

                             Distinct deformation structures

The geometry and orientations of individual structures and their relations to other structures can be enshrined of at least three main phases of deformation.

                   complex and classic geological structures stones

A generalized deformation event is calculated by paleo-stress field orientations. The first deformation event (D1) is characterized by the structures such as tight to isoclinals folds associated with slaty and schistocity cleavages. 

          geometric, kinematic and the multiple deformation structures

This first deformation was followed by another ductile event (D2). The latter produced refolded folds, periclinal folds, z-asymmetrical folds, crenulations cleavage, dextral shear zones and mullions boudinage.

Two distinct deformation structures (D1 and D2) are in turn overprinted by the third deformation (D3) structures. It is commonly represented by open and chevron folds as well as kink bands with steeply plunging to sub-vertical axes oriented in approximately east-west direction. 

                                    valuable treasure to the geological heritage 

The great diversity of the classical examples of geological structures in Tanjung Balau suggested in greater detail from a geometric, kinematic and the multiple deformational structures.

The deformation characteristics too can provide an insight story into the kinematics evolution history of the Eastern Belt Peninsular Malaysia. The unique geological characteristics make Tanjung Balau an ideal site practical structural geology laboratory for researching, academic teaching and learning.

The presence of other geological features such as Quaternary beach deposits and piles of bauxite boulders along the coastline is also an additional valuable treasure to the geological heritage in Tanjung Balau.

Sail Rock    The existence of Batu Layar or Sail Rock has shown a wind stress geological process leading to a sail boat like formation. It is the process of ongoing erosion of the soft layer creation.                                         Sail Rock It’s very important in geology because the presence of rocky stores information about the radiocarbon age of about 2600 year B.P.                         complex and classic geological structures   It’s also a sign or carving on rock surfaces beach caused by strong winds. All parallel features, however, are the indicative of unidirectional motion showing the direction of strong paleowind from land to the sea and so far there have been no reported cases or found elsewhere. The Sail Rock provides insight into the effects on kinematics evolution of the stone hardening process undergoes a gradual period during the lunitidal interval of high or low tide.                         Geologists - from Media and NRE   It also indicates that the wind was stronger than today and probably semi-arid climate 2600 year ago.

The geology and landscape resources keep a record of Earth's important history. It is unique heritage and has a very interesting design which closely related to human civilization.

The Johor State Government was keen to turn the site into a geological monument. It will be gazetted under the National Parks (Johor) Corporation Enactment 1989 to facilitate research and to protect them from rock poachers. 

                                    Location Map

 

Geologic event recorded in the rocks are well represented by various types of complex and classic geological structures. With a rich geological heritage and high scientific value, Tanjung Balau withhold the ancient secrets of life and earth, is the gateway to the discovery of the history of the country.

 

Geological heritage with high scientific value seems need to be preserved and developed as another resource of the nation can be fully benefited.