General geology and coastal geomorphology with possibilities of tsunami occurrence in Lahad Datu town area

• Main Author: Jassimran Singh
• Format: Academic Exercise
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: GE1-350 Environmental sciences
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/36619/1/24%20PAGES.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/36619/2/FULLTEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/36619/

The study area consists of 189.36 km2 which is located at the main town ofLahad Datu. It starts approximately from Kg. Sepagaya Ulu to Taman Warisan. The study area is situated 260 km from Sabah's capital, Kota Kinabalu and lies on latitude between N 04° 56.5' - N 05° 03.5' and longitude of E 118° 15' - E 118° 24'. The area lies on 4 major formations which are the Quaternary Sediments, the Tabanak Formation, the Ayer Fonnation and the Crystalline Basement Rocks. There are two different types of Quaternary Alluvium that were seen in the study area which were the Coastal alluvium and the Fluviatile deposit (pebbly alluvium). The Tabanac Formation which comprising conglomerate, boulder conglomerate, conglomeratic mudstone, interbedded tuffacoeus sandstone and shales, shales, tuffaceous sandstone and tuff were noticed. The Ayer Formation consists of slump breccia deposits to those of the Kuamut Formation. Tuffaceous sedimentary rocks are most abundant in the Ayer Formation. Crystalline Basement in Lahad Datu area has an age or Pre-Tertiary and probably metamorphosed mainly of basic igneous and plutonic intrusive rocks. The study of the area was emphasized the most on the geomorphology of the coastal line. Factors such as topography, drainage, erosion, coastal types and population density were all considered and associated with each and other to evaluate the risk of the study area in preventing a setback from a tsunami. It is believed that the main town area which includes Kg Ipil, Kg. Burung, Kg. Unta and Kg Puyut lays at the most risky region. Places such as Kg. Muhibah, Taman Aman, Taman Aman Jaya, Kg Tabanak, Kg. Sepagaya and Taman Warisan are considered at the moderate risk area while Kg. Dusun, Kg. wawasan, Kg. Damai, Kg. Durian and Kg. Jawa would be considered the most least prone to the effect of tsunami.