Paleontological Reassessment of Bukit Bucu, Batu Rakit, Terengganu, Malaysia

¹ Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan
² Tropical GeoResource & Hazards Research Group, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia
³ Environment and Sustainable Development Research Group, Faculty of Earth Science, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: nursufiah@umk.edu.my

Abstract

Bukit Bucu is situated close to Terengganu’s northern coast. The entire sequence comprises of minor slate, sandstones, and shales that have been gently folded to produce an anticline that plunges towards the NNW. These interbedded sandstones and shales are dipping ENE or WSW and striking NNW. There is evidence of slaty cleavage and well-preserved sedimentary formations in the rocks of Bukit Bucu, which are subjected to very low metamorphism grade. Fossils assemblages that have been identified in Bukit Bucu include brachiopods, trilobites, bryozoans, crinoids and bivalves, indicating a shallow marine depositional environment. This sedimentary rock also produced several plant fossils from our most recent visit. Some of the fossils that have been recognized were Avonia sp. and Dictyoclustus sp. (brachiopods), Posidonia sp. and Euomphalus sp (mollusks), Fenestella pahangensis (bryozoan), Phillipsia sp. (trilobite) and Calamites sp (plants). Bukit Bucu’s most recent age has been determined to be Carbo-Permian, which is consistent with low-grade metamorphism sequences that extend from Terengganu’s north to Johor’s south. The purpose of this study is to bring Bukit Bucu’s fossil record up to date since it was last kept in 1986.