Deep-marine sedimentary facies in the Belaga Formation (Cretaceous-Eocene), Sarawak: Observations from new outcrops in the Sibu and Tatau areas

Abstract

Deep-marine rocks of the Belaga Formation (Cretaceous-Eocene) in the Sibu-Tatau area, Sarawak, show a variety of facies types, which are characterized by grain fabric, bed thickness, and sedimentary structures. The main facies types are (A) thick-bedded sandstone, (B) thinly-bedded heterolithic sandstone-mudstone interbeds, and (C) mudstone facies. These facies may be interpreted in relation to a submarine fan model, in which facies A represents a proximal position (near to source area) while facies B and C represent deposition in the middle to distal parts of the system, respectively. Within this general fan model, a detailed characterization of the facies can be made to understand the depositional processes operating in the deep-marine environment. Facies A, for instance, comprises massive and graded sand beds that appear to be linked genetically; the massive bed, often with floating mudclasts at the top, probably represent a debris flow deposit laid down over a precursor turbidity flow deposit, which is commonly preserved as a thin graded bed at the base of the sandbody. Such linked debrite-turbidite facies association seems to be a common feature in the Belaga Formation, similar to many other deep-marine depositional systems, including the West Crocker in Sabah.