Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2022) 15: 1501

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10682-6

ORIGINAL PAPER

Recognition of sea‑level fluctuations in Late Silurian to Early Permian

deposits, Perlis, Malaysia
Nurul Syazwin Zamri1 · Ying Jia Teoh1 · Khalf Khiri AbuBakr · Meor Hakif Amir Hassan2 · Nur Azwin Ismail1 ·
Nordiana Mohd Muztaza1

Received: 1 April 2022 / Accepted: 30 July 2022 / Published online: 8 September 2022
© Saudi Society for Geosciences 2022

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to present information on the past sea-level fluctuations of sedimentary rock succession of the
Perlis area that covers the Mempelam Limestone, Timah Tasoh Formation, Sanai Limestone, Telaga Jatoh Formation, Kubang
Pasu Formation, and Chuping Formation at Bukit Tungku Lembu and Guar Sanai, Perlis, Malaysia. Based on sedimentology
logging, cycle stacking patterns, and accommodation variations revealed by Fischer plots, 51 cyclic sequences of third-order
depositional sequences are recognized. These sequences generally consist of transgressive and regressive events. As the
thickness of the cycle column increases, it forms an increase in accommodation space and subsidence rate and results in
rising sea level. As the thickness of the cycle column decreases, it will form a decrease in accommodation space and subsid-
ence rate, resulting in sea-level fall. Generally, the facies of the cycle are vertically arranged, forming coarsening and fining
upward patterns observed from sedimentology logging. The Silurian Mempelam Limestone-Carboniferous Chepor Member
sequence is characterized by a progressive increase and decrease in accommodation space, indicating a rise and fall in sea
level. In contrast, the Carboniferous Uppermost Kubang Pasu-Permian Chuping Limestone sequence is characterized by a
progressive decrease in accommodation space, indicating a longer-term fall in sea level. The regressive-transgressive cycles
recognize deviations in the accommodation space and sediment supply from the cyclic successions. In turn, these cycles
express the long-term of Perlis’s sea-level fluctuations. The results notably reflect the cycles consistent with the long-term
rising and falling trend in different regions globally in Paleozoic times.

Keywords  Late Silurian-Early Permian age · Fischer plots · Regressive-transgressive cycles · Sea-level fluctuations

Introduction
Jones (1981) and Gobbett (1973) elucidated the Paleozoic
to Mesozoic sedimentary successions in the north-western
part of Peninsular Malaysia. It exhibits an in-depth study of
the geological work sequence of Upper Cambrian to Holo-
cene. These rock stratigraphies are grouped into the oldest
to youngest, the Machinchang Formation, Setul Formation,
Singa Formation, Chuping Formation, Bukit Arang Coal
Responsible Editor: Attila Ciner
* Ying Jia Teoh
tyj@usm.my
1
School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2
Department of Geology, Universiti Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bed Granite, and Alluvium. Foo (1983) quoted that these
rocks are comprised of clastics and carbonates sedimentary
rock. Its depositional environment is primarily in shelf sedi-
ments of shallow marine settings (Foo 1983).
This study focused on several outcrops in the Northwest
of Peninsular Malaysia, Perlis. Jones in 1981 reported that
Perlis sedimentary sequence typically begins to young east-
ward from the Setul Boundary Range. Generally, the struc-
tural setting of the area is affected by fold-thrust belt tectonic
events initiated during the Late Triassic, represented by the
collision between the Sibumasu and East Malaya/Indochina
blocks (Metcalfe 2011). The study was carried out on two
localities in the vicinity of Guar Sanai, Kampung Guar
Jentik, and Bukit Tungku Lembu, Beseri (Fig. 2). There-
fore, five measured sections of the sedimentology log were
conducted to determine the sedimentary sequences which
occasionally decipher the depositional environment. Plus,
the cycle stacking patterns and the lithology correlatability

13
Vol.:(0123456789)
1501 Page 2 of 18
of Fischer plots are used to define the sea-level fluctuation of
the Silurian to Permian succession exposed in Perlis.
This paper reviews the sedimentological variation of Per-
lis’s rock formation to correlate with the major eustatic sea-
level history during the Palaeozoic time scale. Because there
is no information on sea-level history based on stratigraphy
studies from the previous researcher, previous studies have
not explained the sea-level fluctuation activities in North-
western Peninsular Malaysia. Thus, this study is significant
to reveal Silurian-Permian relative sea-level changes of the
sedimentary formations in north-western Peninsular Malay-
sia. A precise and accurate sea-level model is essential to
verify the events imprinted in the rock record. We suppose
that correlations must be sufficiently accurate to demonstrate
the synchronous occurrence of rising and falling events in
different regions of the world. Hence, it is now possible to
interpret the Silurian-Permian sea-level activities through
sedimentology logging and Fischer plotting. The study’s
main objective is to construct and correlate the Devonian-
Permian sea-level fluctuations to Paleozoic major eustatic
sea-level history. Previous studies have not explained the
sea-level fluctuation activities in North-western Peninsu-
lar Malaysia. Therefore, this study is significant to reveal
Devonian-Permian relative sea-level activities of the sedi-
mentary formations in north-western Peninsular Malaysia.
A precise and accurate sea-level model is essential to verify
the events imprinted in the rock record. Furthermore, the
correlations must be sufficiently accurate to demonstrate the
synchronous occurrence of rising and falling events in differ-
ent regions of the world. Hence, the cycle stacking patterns
and the lithology correlatability of Fischer plots may define
a eustatic control on sea-level fluctuation in the sedimentary
formations.
Geologic and stratigraphic framework
Perlis is the smallest state in Malaysia yet, it has numerous
unique geological shreds of evidence (Basir 2010). Arafin
and Lee (1989) claimed that Perlis is also a potential source
of groundwater due to the presence of karstic limestone.
Geologists have drawn a ton of attention (Jones 1981; Meor
and Lee 2002; and Cocks et al. 2005) to the Paleozoic stra-
tigraphy of North-western Peninsular Malaysia because of
the interest in its past tectonic evolution as it has been part of
the Northwestern Australian Gondwana margin. The West-
ern longitudinal belt of Peninsular Malaysia forms part of
the Sibumasu terrane that was rifted from Northwestern
Australian Gondwana in the early Permian period (Metcalfe
2011).
Lee (2009) and Meor et al. (2013a, b) also introduced a
revised Paleozoic rock of Perlis into several separated subu-
nits, from oldest to youngest; Timah Tasoh Formation, Sanai
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Limestone, Telaga Jatoh Formation, Kubang Pasu Forma-
tion, and Chuping Limestone (Fig. 1). In addition, Meor
and Lee (2005) discovered a new stratigraphic formation
of the Devonian-Early Carboniferous Jentik Formation that
represents the transitional boundary between the underly-
ing Ordovician–Silurian Setul Formation and the overlying
Carboniferous Kubang Pasu. Figure 1 provides an updated
regional stratigraphic succession chart/column of Perlis.
The lithostratigraphy and depositional environment of the
transitional zone from the Setul Limestone to the Kubang
Pasu Formation were studied in Guar Sanai, Kampung Guar
Jentik, Beseri, Perlis on the sedimentology and paleontol-
ogy analysis (Meor and Lee 2002). A new lithostratigraphic
unit has been distinguished; the Jentik Formation consists
of six informal units: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit
5, and Unit 6 (Meor and Lee 2002). Unit 1 predominantly
comprises black shales that are of an early Devonian age-
dating faunal assemblage (Dacryoconarid-Monograptus-
Plagiolaria). Light-coloured, unfossiliferous sandstones and
shales fall in Unit 2. In addition, Unit 3 consists primarily
of thick and red sandstone, interbedded with sandstone and
occasionally showing a graded layer/bed. Unit 4 allocates
a dark well-bedded limestone layer having straight coned
nautiloid fossils. As for Unit 5 is made up of interbedded
layers of cherts and slump structures in beds of black mud-
stone. Fossil of brachiopod and gastropod is found at the
base of the bed unit. Unit 6 comprises primarily brownish
to red thickly bedded mudstone, interbedded with sandstone.
Macrobole-crinoid fossil assemblage in the thick-redded
mudstones resembled the Early Carboniferous dating age.
The Jentik Formation is located underlying the Kubang Pasu
Formation. Thus, these features suggest that the environ-
ments reflect depositional settings within relatively deep
water marine environments.
Unit 3 of the Jentik Formation (Meor and Lee 2002)
or the Rebanggun Beds (Gobbett, 1972) or the Langgun
Red Beds (Kobayashi and Hamada 1973) is exposed in
the Hutan Aji District, conformably overlying the light-
coloured areno-argillites of Unit 2 (Meor and Lee 2002) or
the Upper Detrital Member (Jones 1981). The Mid-Pale-
ozoic red beds have indicated that this formation corre-
sponds to the transgressive event documented worldwide,
the Hangenberg Event. Hassan and Peng (2004) presented
comprehensive sedimentology and paleontology studies
to determine the depositional environment of the Early
Carboniferous-Late Devonian red beds sequence. The
sedimentological log revealed that the formation is con-
stituted by massive mudstone, thin mudstone to sandstone
couplets, and thin tabular sandstone. The rocks of the Jen-
tik Formation in Unit 3 can be divided into eight facies;
massive mudstone facies, thin mudstone and sandstone
couplet facies, pebbly sandstone facies, massive sandstone
facies, cross-stratified sandstone facies, black mudstone
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Fig. 1  Correlation of rock
units in Perlis area (modified
after Jones 1981; Meor and
Lee 2002; The Malaysian-Thai
Working Groups 2009; Hassan
et al. 2014)
facies, hummocky cross-laminated sandstone facies, and
laminated sandstone facies. These findings demonstrate
that it was deposited in a marine prodelta to delta front
environment with conditions above the storm-wave base
of deep water. These data and field observations show that
the red beds’ sequence can be considered part of the Jentik
Formation deltaic marine deposits.
Page 3 of 18 1501
Meor et al. (2013a, b) studied the sedimentology and facies
analysis of Perlis’s geological rock formations. The uppermost
section of Kubang Pasu Formation clastic deposition shifts
to Chuping Formation carbonates using the logging method
in Bukit Chondong and Bukit Tunku Lembu, for which three
facies associations (with eleven facies) have been identified
reflecting different depositional settings. The stack facies’
13
1501 Page 4 of 18
patterns show a gradually coarsening upward sequence ranging
from the offshore to distal lower shoreface to proximal lower
shoreface facies. As a result, a depositional-environmental
model depicting a prograding storm- and wave-influenced coast
attributed to the upward shoaling pattern of the facies associa-
tion predominance of a storm- and wave-generated facies.
Materials and methods
Fischer plot is a valuable instrument for graphically portraying
the sea-level correlation in cyclic sequences of varying thick-
nesses. Several Fischer plot programs have been developed, for
instance, Read and Sriram (1990), Sadler et al. (1993), Husinec
et al. (2007), Amosu et al. (2020), and Yang et al. (2021; 2022).
Fischer (1964) first established a vertical space–time diagram
to expound on the cyclic events seen in the calcareous Alps
of peritidal Triassic Lofer cyclothems. There are no assump-
tions made regarding the elapsed time between the cycles of the
sequence of cyclic events. Hence, Sadler et al. (1993) renamed
the axes “cumulative deviation from mean cycle thickness” for
the vertical axis and “cycle number” for the horizontal axis.
Sadler et al. (1993) also presented Fischer plotting method but
did not publish the code. Read and Sriram (1990) introduced
the VS FORTRAN 2.0 program to generate Fischer plots. Using
the calculated average cycle period, it plots the relative sea-
level curves, subsidence vectors, and cycle thicknesses against
time. Day (1997) suggested that the traditional Fischer diagram
(event-domain diagram) is converted into the depth domain to
distinguish the stratigraphic sequence features, especially when
dealing with log and core data. Hence, stratigraphers will ana-
lyse the stratigraphic unit data when integrating both materials
from the event-domain and the depth-domain diagrams.
Amosu et al. (2020) presented the FischerLab program
written in MATLAB for computing Fischer plots. The pro-
gram permits the interpretation of data from the stratigraphic
columns and wireline well-logs to initiate the plots in terms
of cycle and depth domain and a dynamically changing cycle
and domain of relative depth. Yang et al. (2021) improved on
Fischer’s (1964) and Read and Goldhammer’s (1988) frame-
works by seeking to model and add processes that were not
captured in typical Fischer plots. PyFISCHERPLOT, a Python
program, could automatically detect cycles in the data and
generate Fischer plots in both the depth and time domains,
along with corresponding CDMT values. This technique can
handle data from numerous wells or sections at once. In addi-
tion, Yang et al. (2021) broadened the range of input data in
this analysis beyond wireline logs and lithologic cycles to
proxy data influenced by sea-level or lake-level fluctuations.
A recent study by Yang et al. (2022) introduces the SediRate-
Fischer plot which is a novel technique for more thorough and
efficient sea-level and lake-level reconstructions and correla-
tions in siliciclastic systems (SR-Fischer plot).
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
As for this study, this research presents the usage of the
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet program from Husinec et al.
(2007) to build Fischer plots. Husinec et al. (2007) devel-
oped the FISCHERPLOTS program using an Excel Spread-
sheet computer program to construct Fischer plots. It plots
the cumulative departure from mean cycle thickness against
the cycle number or stratigraphic distance. The Fischer plots
are used to recognize changes in accommodation space from
cyclic carbonate successions (Husinec et al. 2007). The Fis-
cher plots are generated assuming that each parasequence or
cycle was deposited during time intervals of the same dura-
tion and the subsidence rate is equal to the sedimentation
rate. Fischer plots of long-term relative sea-level changes
from major formations in Perlis were extracted by keying
in the cycle thickness to the excel spreadsheet. The cycle
thickness was determined based on the sedimentology log
and facies association.
The Western longitudinal belt of Peninsular Malaysia forms
part of the Sibumasu terrane that was rifted from Northwestern
Australian Gondwana in the early Permian period (Metcalfe
2011). Perlis is part of the fold-thrust belt developed due to the
collision between the Sibumasu and East Malaya/Indochina
blocks during the Late Triassic (Metcalfe 2011).
The study was carried out on two localities in the
vicinity of Guar Sanai, Kampung Guar Jentik, and Bukit
Tungku Lembu, Beseri (Fig. 2). Therefore, five meas-
ured sections of the sedimentology log were conducted to
determine the sedimentary sequences which occasionally
decipher the depositional environment. Plus, the cycle
stacking patterns and the lithology correlatability of Fis-
cher plots are used to define the sea-level fluctuation
of the Silurian to Permian succession exposed in Perlis.
This study focused on several outcrops in the Northwest of
Peninsular Malaysia, Perlis. Jones in 1981 reported that Perlis
sedimentary sequence typically begins to young eastward from
the Setul Boundary Range (Fig. 3). However, east of the Chup-
ing Hills is repeating the formation itself in the other direction,
forming the axis of a large syncline. Carbonates are exposed by
steep karst hills, and towers expose the carbonates, either stan-
dalone or part of extensive ranges (Meor et al. 2013a, b). Clastic
strata have been uplifted as small hills or ridges due to transpres-
sional and thrusting deformation (Zaiton and Basir 2000).
Results and discussions
1) Sedimentologic facies description
The SL1 and SL2 composited section of Guar Sanai,
Kampung Guar Jentik area comprises Mempelam Lime-
stone, Timah Tasoh Formation, Sanai Limestone, Telaga
Jatoh Formation, and Chepor Member of Kubang Pasu
Formation (Figs. 4 and 5). SL1 and SL2 sedimentology
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Perlis
Fig. 2  Topography map of Perlis, Malaysia, showing the location of the study area
Fig. 3  The geology map of North-western Peninsular Malaysia with
the labelled studied area (modified after Hassan et al. 2013)
Page 5 of 18 1501
logs can be divided into five facies: limestone, black
shale, chert and mudstone, sandstone, and mudstone.
Meanwhile, SL3 and SL4 logs for Bukit Tungku Lembu,
Beseri of Uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation, have five
different facies: coal facies, silty shale facies, shale,
sandstone, and silty shale interbedded with sandstone
facies (Fig. 6). The SL5 comprises of Chuping Formation
(Fig. 7). SL5 sedimentology log has been identified to
have six different facies, which are limestone interbedded
with black mudstone, black shale interbedded with sand-
stone, black mudstone interbedded with chert, mudstone,
sandstone, and diamictite facies.
These facies are interbedded with different thicknesses,
grain sizes, and a difference in the content of fossils. From
the interbedded facies, some cycle patterns can be formed,
which are coarsening upward and fining upward. Besides,
there is also a distinct transition, changed from carbonate
rocks to clastic rocks.
Based on the stratigraphic section SL1 and SL2, the
Guar Sanai, Kampung Guar Jentik has been identified
to have six different facies which are (1) limestone
13
1501 Page 6 of 18 Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501

Fig. 4  Logged stratigraphic sec-

tions (SL1) of the Mempelam
Limestone to Chepor Member
of Kubang Pasu Formation at
Guar Sanai, Perlis (modified
after Hassan et al. 2014)

interbedded with black mudstone; (2) black shale inter-
bedded with sandstone; (3) black mudstone interbedded
with chert; (4) mudstone; (5) sandstone; and (6) diamic-
tite facies. Hence, it is further discussed in the following
paragraphs as follows:
Facies 1: Limestone interbedded with black mudstone
(Meor and Lee 2002)
Description: Strata of these facies consist of rhythmi-
cally interbedded limestone and mudstone about 55 m

13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501 Page 7 of 18 1501

Fig. 5  Logged stratigraphic
sections (SL2) of the Sanai LEGEND Shoreline Movement
Limestone to Chepor Member
of Kubang Pasu Formation at Limestone Regression
Guar Sanai, Perlis (modified (coarsening-
after Hassan et al. 2014) upward)
Diamictite
Transgression
(fining-
Sandstone upward)

Black shale

Chert and mudstone

Chert and mudstone Unconformity

Brachipods Conodonts

Tentaculitoids Nautiloids

Graptolites Radiolaria

Trilobites Bivalves
(Chlupacula) (Posidonia)

(180 ft) thick. The overall sequence is fining upward.
Limestone comprises a greater volume of strata on
the sedimentary sequence compared to the black
mudstone intercalations. Mudstone ranges from light
gray to dark gray. Limestone ranges from dark gray
to white weathering. It is characterized by normally
fine limestone. The dominant lithology in this bed,
the limestone, sets 1 m to 15 m thick and shows planar
lamination. Some are enclosed by stylolitic surfaces.
Along the logged section of Hill B, Guar Sanai is in
fault contact with the overlying Timah Tasoh Forma-
tion and underlain by Sanai Limestone Formation. It
is apparently fossiliferous with abundant conodonts,
brachiopods, and nautiloids from log column SL2.
Interpretation: These facies can be found at different
chronostratigraphic time scales of Late Silurian Mem-
pelam Limestone and Late Devonian Sanai Limestone.
When the brittle formation of carbonate and ductile
formation of fissile chert and black shale strata come
into contact, bed-parallel faults tend to occur along the
bedding plane (Hassan 2021). Pelagic fossils are abun-
dant in the lithologic unit. They contain tentaluculitids,
conodonts, straight-coned nautiloids, ostracods, and
trilobites, in which the platform setting was most likely
a deep water marine. These criteria demonstrate the off-
shore environments (Monroe and Wicander 2014). In
addition, the multiple fining upward sequences are sug-
gestive of several episodes of the transgressive process.

13
1501 Page 8 of 18 Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501

Fig. 6  Logged stratigraphic
LEGEND Shoreline Movement
sections (SL3 and SL4) of the
uppermost Kubang Pasu Forma-
Coal
tion at Bukit Tungku Lembu, Regression
Perlis (coarsening-
Siltstone upward)

Transgression
Shale (fining-
upward)
Sandstone
Sandstone
interbedded with
silty shale

Facies 2: Black shale (Meor and Lee 2002)
Description: The facies dominant black shale. Facies
2 is typically dark to black, containing centimetre- and
milimetre-scale carbonaceous shale. These facies consist
primarily of argillaceous, black carbonaceous shale with
black-coloured beds. These facies show noticeable lithol-
ogy changes from black shale to limestone in fault con-
tact overlain by Sanai Limestone at Sanai Hill B from log
column SL1. Dacryoconarid tentaculitids and graptolites

13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501 Page 9 of 18 1501

Fig. 7  Logged stratigraphic
LEGEND
sections (SL5) of the Chuping Shoreline Movement
Formation at Bukit Tungku Limestone Regression
Lembu, Perlis (modified after (coarsening-
Adenan et al. 2013)
Limestone
upward)
breccia
Dolomite Transgression
(fining-
No records upward)

are locally abundant. The black shale from the Timah in a low-energy deposition environment, and black
Tasoh Formation and the underlying Sanai Limestone carbonaceous shale beds indicate an anoxic water
are seen to be in fault contact. (lack or free of molecular oxygen) environment.

Interpretation: These facies made up the Timah Tasoh
Formation. The Dacryoconarid tentaculitids represent
the zooplankton Devonian group (Berkyova 2009).
Argillaceous material deposits probably recorded the
transgression period as the sea level rose. Therefore,
it can be concluded that the sediments of this unit are
Facies 3: Black mudstone interbedded with chert (Meor
and Lee 2002)
Description: Facies 3 has been recognized in these two
logged sections, both in the same exposure of the Tel-
aga Jatoh Formation. The black mudstone bed consists

13
1501 Page 10 of 18
dominantly of gray to black-coloured chert up to 5 m
thick. It consists primarily of a clay matrix as no grains
are observed. It has a structureless appearance as no sig-
nificant change in sedimentary structures is preserved in
these facies. The bedding is rather slaty, with some parts
having distinctive intraformational folding structures.
The preserved deformational structure is attributed to
slump-fold-related deformation. Radiolarian faunas are
common, locally abundant, and a crucial microfossil
indicator for dating siliceous rocks, especially chert in
Malaysia as reported by Basir (2018). There is a fault
that runs along the bed formation's border overlain by
Chepor Member of Kubang Pasu Formation.
Interpretation: Telaga Jatoh Formation is interpreted for
Facies 3. The presence of extensive terrestrial organic
materials gives the mudstone its dark colour. The sili-
ceous rocks consist of mudstone and chert. According
to the Malaysian-Thai Working Groups (2009), the sil-
ica supply from the siliceous rocks of the Mahang For-
mation or the radiolarian activity or both had increased
the presence of chert and shale. These radiolarian
cherts were deposited in a deep-marine environment.
They have a lack of detrital terrigenous components.
The absence of limestone remains in the radiolarian
chert indicates deposition of these rocks below the cal-
cite compensation depth (Basir 2018). As per Hassan
(2021), other exposures in Perlis show a comparable
faulty contact such as at Hutan Aji and Sanai Hill C,
Kampung Guar Jentik. When the brittle formation of
hard mudstone and ductile formation of fissile chert and
black shale strata come into contact, bed-parallel faults
tend to occur along the bedding plane (Hassan 2021).
Facies 4: Mudstone (Hassan et al. 2014)
Description: This facie may be found in abundance in the
outcrop. Facies 4 is typically gray to whitish in colour and
appears structureless. A varied trace fossil assemblage
of small shelly fossils is present. Typical traces include
ammonoids, cyrtosymbolid trilobites, and posidoniid
bivalves. Normal size grading of siltstone lamination is
present in the beds, forming a laminated mudstone. The
upper few mm- to cm-thick of the mudstone beds are rip-
ple cross-laminated fine-grained sandstone and siltstone.
Load cast has been recognized locally. Some exposures
include lenticular and thinly sandstone beds. A recent
study by Hassan and Becker (2019) has discovered a
large number of ammonoid fossils in the Chepor Member
mudstone which has well-intact sutures. The mudstone’s
shelly layers contain concentrated ammonoids, which
range in thickness from centimetre- and decimetre-scale.
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Interpretation: The colour of mudstone is dependent
upon the chemical composition of the materials’ miner-
als. Mudstone facies is described as mainly suspended
sediment sedimentation that occurs in low-energy envi-
ronments. However, ordinarily graded siltstone intervals
represent gravity flow, sediments from distant storms, or
both (Aigner 1982; Davis et al. 1989; Walker and Plint
1992; Macquaker et al. 2010). According to Swift and
Rice (1984), lenticular beds are attributed to occasional
current transport and deposition. Abundant shelly fauna
indicates deposition in open marine settings, a feature of
offshore. The newly discovered mudstone’s shelly layers
may be the result of the reworked storm or current deposits
or periods of non-deposition (Hassan and Becker 2019).
Facies 5: Sandstone (Hassan et al. 2014)
Description: Facies 5 comprises fine to medium-grained
sandstone beds that range in colour from light to medium
gray. Most sandstone beds include parallel lamination, cross-
laminations, hummocky or micro-hummocky cross-strati-
fication, symmetrical and asymmetrical wave-ripple, and
gently undulating laminae to characterize this facie herein.
The successions of facies five typically coarsen upwards
from sandstone to interbedded between mudstone, each in
beds up to 100 cm thick. Normal size grading with a sharp
base is present in beds. Pebble-sized quartzite clasts are also
found strewn over this facie and seem to ‘float’ in sandstone.
Interpretation: Based on large ranges of lamination of
sedimentary structures, it was likely affected by wave
or current action. According to Harms et  al. (1975),
hummocky cross-bedding is attributed to a storm wave-
generated feature. The sequence of sedimentary struc-
tures observed at the thickening grain size upward rep-
resents an incomplete Bouma sequence of phase Ta-Tc.
The courser lithologies are described as the depositional
result of shelf turbidity currents depositing their sedi-
ment loads below the storm wave-base (Walker 1984).
The floating angular fragments are probably from the
marine glacial deposits.
Facies 6: Diamictite (Hassan et al. 2014)
Description: Facies 6 is a minor component of the Guar
Sanai outcrop. We presume Facies 6 is not thought to be a
typical component in the Kubang Pasu Formation. Facies
6 comprises a mud-rich matrix with clasts ranging in size
from pebbles to cobbles and angular to well-rounded. The
diamictite facie is structureless and poorly sorted. Iso-
lated pebbles are dispersed throughout the muddy sand-
stone matrix and appear to ‘float’ in the sandstone.
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Interpretation: The pebbles are interpreted as dropstones.
The floating pebbles are assumed that they formed by
currents. Sediment consisting of diamictite has always
been regarded as mass-flow deposits. The diamictites
most often interpreted have originated more or less in a
glacial marine depositional setting. Hassan et al. (2014)
are regarded as the result of ice-rafted debris melting.
However, several authors (Eyles and Januszczak 2004;
and Postma et al. 1988) pointed out other possible influ-
ences on diamictite sedimentation. Eyles and Januszczak
(2004) describe that diamictite is most likely the product
of mass flow deposits, which are probably the result of
mass flow deposits instead of glacial sediments. The same
occurrence can support this in Virginia, Namibia, and
Canada, where the turbidity currents transported the large
clasts’ downslope. The individual isolated boulders of the
diamictite facies could also be emplaced within turbidites
(Postma et al. 1988).
Based on the stratigraphic section SL3 and SL4, the
Bukit Tungku Lembu, Beseri has been identified to have
five different facies of the Kubang Pasu-Chuping Forma-
tion, which are (1) coal facies; (2) silty shale facies; (3)
shale facies; (4) sandstone facies; and, (5) silty shale inter-
bedded with sandstone facies. All of them are of clastic
sedimentary rock since they give no reaction to the hydro-
chloric acid test. A study by Meor et al. (2013a, b) reported
that the facies succession at the Bukit Tungku Lembu area
is interpreted as a wave- and storm-influenced coastal depo-
sitional environment. Hence, it is further discussed in the
following paragraphs as follows:
Facies 1: Coal
Description: Facies 1 is rarely seen in the outcrop and has
not been adequately studied so far. It is the oldest layer as
it is the first layer observed from the outcrop. The super-
position principle shows that the bottom sediment layer
is the oldest-aged layer while the top is the youngest-
aged layer. Coal bed thickness reaches up to 3.5 m. These
facies appear dark gray/black in colour and brittle and
exhibits blocky fracture in outcrop. The bedding in the
mudstone is rather fissile and easily breaks. The texture
is soft and delicate when touched. These facies produce
streak as it leaves a pencil mark when written or scratched
on paper, proving one of the characteristics of coal.
Interpretation: Coal is not a common feature in this area.
The coal layer is described to be weathered or once cov-
ered with other sediments. The coal beds are generally
confined to the lower sedimentary formation. Standing
water areas with trees can decay, and the plant matter will
Page 11 of 18 1501
form peat accumulation that eventually becomes coal.
These organic-rich facies represent flood plain swamp
deposits. McCabe (1984) suggested peat is a low-lying
terrain found in deltas, alluvial plains, and coastal areas
generated in swamps.
Facies 2: Silty Shale
Description: Facies 2 is typically pale grayish to black.
Shale of facies 2 includes colour banding locally that
consists of alternating black, orange and gray. The black
materials are mainly a mixture of clay minerals rich in
organic matter. Normal size grading of lamination struc-
ture is present. Horizontal lamination is the main sedi-
mentary structure. The bed sets up to 8 m thick. Fine-
grained and silty, based on Wentworth Classification.
Interpretation: Shale is dominantly grayish in colour.
The colour is dependent on the mineral composition.
The darker colour, the higher the organic content associ-
ated with it. Dark laminas are mostly mud minerals, and
bright laminas are silt (Liang et al. 2012). The almost-
preserved-horizontal lamination indicates less or no bio-
turbation. The silty shale facies reflected the deposition
from suspension in a low-energy environment. According
to Zhao et al. (2017), it may also be the product of depos-
its mended by the bottom current and further into the
distal turbidite sand body. It formed in the shallow water
and then mixed in between silt and shale at the turbidite.
Facies 3: Shale
Description: These facies are characterized by a black to
a dark gray colour and fissile appearance in macroscopic
view. Facies 3 easily splits into thin pieces. It commonly
includes faintly visible millimetre-scale horizontal lami-
nations along with its very fine-grained size sediment.
Dayal and Mani (2017) defined shale as mudrock or clay
rock with very fine-grained size (particle size less than
0.06 mm) sedimentary rocks. The strata of these facies
are about 20 m (65 ft) thick. Repetitive fining-upward
trends show gradual transitions from shale to sandstone
lithofacies.
Interpretation: The black colour depends on the composi-
tion of the minerals. The darker colour is usually asso-
ciated with higher organic content. These facies were
deposited from suspension in a low-energy offshore
marine environment, based on their fine-grained sediment
composition and laminated structure. No macroscopic
plant debris suggested an offshore condition where the
deposited portion of organic debris is probably not pre-
served and broken down.
13
1501 Page 12 of 18
Facies 4: Sandstone
Description: Facies 4 is made up of well-sorted and sub-
rounded quartz grain. Grains are commonly in the ranges
of fine 1/16 mm (or 0.125 mm) to medium 2 mm sand.
These facies have bright orange to brownish weathering
colour. Repetitive fining-upward trends show gradual
transitions from shale to sandstone lithofacies. As for the
thickness of these facies, it reached up to 20 m. Unfortu-
nately, no trace fossil was found at this interval.
Interpretation: The grain size of sandstone in these facies
is interpreted to be deposited by slow to moderate current
energy settings. Sandstone forms in two stages. Firstly,
layers of sand build up as sediment through weathering.
After that, the sand particles are compacted by the pres-
sure of overlying deposits and cemented. The cemented
particles can be either calcite, quartz, or clay. McKay
(1957) defined sandstone as a sedimentary rock made of
consolidated sand or grit bonded together with a high
amount of calcite or silica. Quartz formed in the sand-
stone indicates the environment had a high residence
time, a high transport distance, and a high energy level
generally found at beaches and upper shoreface settings
(Swezey et al. 1996). The coarser-grained of lower con-
tacts mudstone and fine-grained sandstone facies in the
outcrop, between the depths of 11 m and 36 m (36 ft and
118 ft), are interpreted as a transgressive succession.
Facies 5: Sandstone interbedded with silty shale
Description: Facies 5 is a sandstone interbedded with
silty shale of grayish and brown weathering colour. The
sandstone is typically bright orange to brownish and
appears structureless. These facies consist of fine-to-
medium grain sandstone and an interbedded silty shale
layer. The durability of this type of rock is weaker than
sandstone but tougher than shale layers up to 5 m at the
outcrop. There are also quartz minerals found in the sand-
stone. Massive bedding is prominent. The interbedded
sandstone and silty shale caused the lamination texture
can be seen clearly.
Interpretation: It can be assumed that the study area
once experienced a cycle of rising and falling seawater
levels due to the repetitive thick-thin nature of inter-
bedded sandstone with silty shale. According to Meor
et al. (2013a, b), thin interbedded sandstone and silt-
stone show high-energy episodes of transporting and
depositing coarser material on regular disturbance.
Sandstone and silty shale sedimentary rocks are usu-
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
ally formed in active wave activity. Wave activity is
most vigorous at the ocean surface, but it becomes
weaker as going down the depth.
Based on the stratigraphic section SL5, the Bukit Tungku
Lembu, Beseri has also been identified to have three differ-
ent facies of the Chuping Formation, which are (1) brecci-
ated limestone facies; (2) limestone facies, and (3) dolomite
facies. Once the different facies have been identified respec-
tively, the relationship between these facies’ succession is
observed in terms of sequence patterns — either coarsen-
ing or fining upwards. Understanding these trends will pro-
vide us with a clearer picture of the depositional environ-
ment involved, as these two trends portray different types
of depositional settings. The facies analysis of this outcrop
shows two types of rock sequences: the coarsening upward
sequence and fining upward sequence. Hence, it is further
discussed in the following paragraphs as follows:
Facies 1: Brecciated limestone (Adenan et al. 2013; 2017)
Description: Breccias ranging in thickness from 0.9 to
2.2 m appear randomly throughout the rock sequence. It is
made up of fragmented, broken limestone varying in size
from very coarse to medium and can only be seen under a
microscope. The broken or fractured fragments are angu-
lar in shape and composed of dolomites and fossiliferous
limestone, relying on the kind of rock around them.
Interpretation: The breccias are formed by compaction
or compression due to the composition of the rock frag-
ments. Later in its diagenetic history, the rock is broken
and cemented together by calcite-based cement. The pres-
ence of intraclasts indicates high energy conditions. The
whole grains of the intraclast in the limestone suggest that
these facies were perhaps deposited during high-energy
storm events.
Facies 2: Limestone (Adenan et al. 2013; 2017)
Description: A study by Adenan et al. (2017) involved
a detailed petrographic study according to Dunham’s
(1962) carbonate rock classification. The non-brec-
ciated limestone of the Chuping Formation consists
of six microfacies, namely mudstone, dolomites,
wackestone, packstone, grainstone, and oolitic lime-
stone with peloid, bioclasts, and ooid. These micro-
facies’ key components include peloids, ooids, and
bioclastic. In addition, mudstone and wackestone are
mud-supported, while packstone and wackestone are
grain-supported depending on their lime-mud content.
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501 Page 13 of 18 1501

Interpretation: According to Roehl and Choquette (1985), experienced a replacement phase (diagenetic history). On
mud content is vital to determine the ancient depositional the other hand, tightly-packed dolomites with massive and
environment. Most lime muds accumulate in various well-formed crystals indicate a late-stage burial setting
depositional settings, ranging from intertidal to lagoonal and experienced compaction phase (diagenetic history).
and basinal environments (Scoffin 1987). The abundance
of poloidal materials in the limestone occurs in a quiet
depositional environment in general during the deposi- 2) Cyclic thicknesses and variations
tion (Joeharry et al. 2016) of the Chuping Formation. At
the same time, the abundance of bioclast materials in the Fischer (1964) was first presented the Fischer plot in his
limestone suggested that they had been transported and study of Triassic peritidal sequences to obtain interaction
reworked after their deposition. It has been deposited in between tectonic activity and eustatic control on the cyclic
a shallow, quiet, and sheltered body of water on an open sequence of the Lofer facies. He previously named the plot a
shelf and possesses dispersal of bioclast fragments during graphic space–time diagram. Goldhammer et al. (1987) then
periodic storm events (Joeharry et al. 2016). reviewed the Fischer plot to compute the relative sea-level
for cyclic sedimentation of the Middle Triassic Latemar car-
Facies 3: Dolomite (Adenan et al. 2013; 2017) bonate in Northern Italy are of Milankovitch-driven cycles.
From the results of the Fischer plot, the cyclic shallow-water
Description: The distribution of dolomites in the rock carbonate succession of the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan For-
strata has no discernible pattern. Individual rhombs or mation in northern China has indicated similar durations of
whole dolomites exist as a medium to coarse-grained size eccentricity Milankovitch rhythms in comparison with Phan-
crystals. Dolomitized limestone is composed of highly erozoic cyclic strata (Mingxiang and Tucker 2013). To put
fractured limestone with high magnesium oxide (MgO) it laconically, the Fischer plot methodology has been exten-
content. The fully dolomitized rock is called dolomite. sively employed to analyse the meter-scale cyclicity since
Dolomite can be found as a single rhomb replacing spe- the Proterozoic eon to the current Holocene eon, roughly
cific grains or as pervasive dolomite. Peloids could be seen of ± 2500 Ma (Martín-Chivelet et al. 2000; Boss and Rasmus-
dominating the lower section of Bukit Tungku Lembu. sen 1995; Sadler et al. 1993; and Goldhammer et al. 1990).
The Fischer plots are used to recognize changes in accom-
Interpretation: The Chuping Limestone in the Bukit modation space from cyclic carbonate successions (Husinec
Tungku Lembu area has many dolomite occurrences. et al. 2007). Fischer charting of the meter-scale carbonate
Individual rhombus dolomite crystals unaffected by com- platform, according to Sadler et al. (1993), is objective and
paction or pressure suggest that the development of dolo- repeatable, acquires no information about age or subsidence,
mite crystals has taken over in a shallow burial setting and and may be applied to determine the stacking patterns in

Fig. 8  Fischer plot curve of

Cumulative departure from mean cycle thickness (m)

Silurian Mempelam Limestone

20.00 Silurian Mempelam Carboniferous Permian Chuping Formation
Limestone – Carboniferous Uppermost
to Permian Chuping Formation
Chepor Member Kubang Pasu Kubang Pasu
(the updated biostratigraphic 15.00
Formation Formation
ages in Metcalfe and Crowley
(2020) range from Kungurian 10.00
to early Norian age) derived
from the Guar Sanai and Bukit Decrease in accommodation
Tungku Lembu outcrops. The
5.00
plot is produced using the FIC-
SHERPLOT Excel spreadsheet 0.00
program from Husinec et al.
(2007) -5.00
Increase in accommodation

-10.00

-15.00

-20.00
0 10 20 30 40 50
Cycle Number

13
1501 Page 14 of 18
any facies succession. Therefore, this study yields to extract
long-term relative sea-level changes from the Perlis’s For-
mation. The thickness between two maximum regressive
surfaces equals a cycle thickness.
From the composited section of Mempelam Limestone,
Timah Tasoh Formation, Sanai Limestone, Telaga Jatoh For-
mation, Kubang Pasu Formation, and Chuping Formation,
some cycle patterns can be formed, which are coarsening
upward and fining upward. Besides, there is also a distinct
transition, changed from carbonate rocks to clastic rocks.
The Fischer plots are used to recognize changes in accom-
modation space from cyclic carbonate successions (Husinec
et al. 2007). Therefore, this study will extract long-term rela-
tive sea-level changes from the sedimentary formations of Guar
Sanai, Kampung Guar Jentik. Fischer plots of major formations
of Perlis were generated by keying in the cycle thickness to the
excel spreadsheet. The cycle thickness was determined based
on the sedimentology log and facies association done in this
study. The thickness between two maximum regressive surfaces
equals a cycle thickness. Confirming to Read and Goldham-
mer (1988), any deviation from the horizontal datum indicated
changes in eustatic sea-level or subsidence rate.
Thus, concerning the composited logs, the formations
can be divided into 51 sedimentary cycles. The sedimen-
tary logs can be observed in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, and from
there, the cycle thickness can be determined using the Excel
spreadsheet program to generate the Fischer plot (Husinec
et al. 2007). The Fischer plots generated by using this excel
spreadsheet are shown in Fig. 8.
Figure  8 conveys the transgressive–regressive cycle’s
deposition trend via the Fischer plot method by defining
cumulative departure from mean cycle thickness versus the
cycle number. The plot shows the third order of sea level and
a long-term rise and fall. According to Haq et al. (1987), the
third-order sequences were said to have durations of 0.5 ± 3
million years ago.
The column beside the relative sea-level curves contains
the interpretation of the systems tracts represented by a
negative trend and a positive trend of the Fischer plots and
sedimentary cycles, associated with each identifiable facies
for Perlis’s stratigraphic nomenclature. According to sedi-
mentology logging data, the regression and transgression
cycle showed one complete rising and falling sea-level cycle,
enabling regressive and transgressive cycle classification.
The sedimentology logs in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 have illustrated
the great variation of cyclic sedimentation that occurs when
the depositional environment changes repeatedly and recog-
nizes the changes in accommodation space.
The first accommodation events of the third-order Silurian-
Permian age happened with a complete fall sea-level cycle in
Mempelam Limestone Formation and Timah Tasoh Forma-
tion. There is a good match between the regressive and sea-
level curves as interpreted from the Fischer plots. Immense
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
thickness in Cycle 5 indicates a eustatic sea level is rising or
subsidence activity of the basin. No transgressive episode
during this period. This sediment’s formation indicates an
upward deepening and fining sequence. Also, the Fischer plot
illustrated that the accommodation space of sea-level cycle
2 begins to increase up to cycle 9 and decreases to cycle 12
in Sanai Limestone, positioned in Jentik Formation. Several
cycles of continuous rising and falling of sea-level can be seen
in the lowermost section of the Kubang Pasu Formation and
decreasing accommodation space at sea level for the rest of the
Kubang Pasu Formation and Chuping Limestone Formation.
An unconformity developed between the Timah Tasoh
(black shale) and Sanai Limestone. Hence, it is interpreted
as a sequence boundary at the base of the Sanai Limestone
Formation. The lower Sanai Limestone sequence is classified
into a highstand system tract (HST) and transgressive system
tract (TST). The conodonts limestone indicates the transgres-
sion surface and the start of transgressive system tracts (TST).
This sequence shows a shallowing and thickening upward
sequence. A pro-gradational stacking pattern throughout the
highstand systems tract is usually shown by the coarsening-
upward trend from shore (Kwon et al. 2006). Also, the Fis-
cher plot illustrated that the accommodation space of sea-level
cycle 5 to 6 increases in Sanai Limestone, positioned in Jentik
Formation (Hassan and Peng 2003). Sea-level cycle 7 to 11
shows the accommodation space decreases in the upper part of
the Sanai Limestone Formation, followed by little increasing
accommodation space in sea-level cycles 12 and 13. The sea
level reaches the maximum flooding surface in this cycle. It
stands at the boundary underlain by the transgressive system
tract (TST) and overlain by the high stand system tract (HST).
The Sanai Limestone depicts a long-term cycle of sea-level
rise that portrays a good match between transgressive cycles
and the sea-level curve as interpreted from the Fischer plots.
This was inferred from the distinct transition of limestone to
black shale cycles. An abrupt transition from carbonate of
Sanai Limestone to siliceous deposition of Timah Tasoh For-
mation across the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary can be
seen as a relative sea level rise indicator. Thus, it portrays a
good match between transgressive and regressive cycles and
the sea-level curve interpreted from the Fischer plots.
The Sanai Limestone in the sections underlies the Telaga
Jatoh Formation paraconformably. This sediment pattern
of limestone gradually transited into black mudstone and
cherts, indicating sea-level falling. According to Meor and
Lee (2005), major regression activity had taken place after
the Hangenberg Anoxic Event. These cycles show the falling
stage systems tract (FSST) and low-stand system tract (LST).
When the sea level falls, it will expose the shelf deposits and
consequently develop an unconformity.
The cycles of Chepor Member of Kubang Pasu Forma-
tion) show a good match between the regressive cycles
for Kubang Pasu Formation and the sea-level curve as
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Fig. 9  Comparison of third-
order sea-level curves of the
Carboniferous to Permian
deposits with previous stud-
ies (Haq and Schutter 2008;
Bahlburg and Breitkreuz 1993;
Veevers and Powell 1987) and
the present study
interpreted from the Fischer plots. Following with the Chup-
ing Formation will have a rapid fall fluctuation to the end of
the Perlis’s rock sequence.
The Chuping Formation of Guar Sanai is interpreted as
shallowing upwards, or regressive cycle with the regression
peak beginning at cycle 30. From the sedimentology log in
Fig. 7, carbonates gradually become more common as the
bed is graded upward from Kubang Pasu Formation into
Chuping Limestone Formation. The lithological change
from a siliciclastic sequence and gradually to a carbonate
sequence is possibly closely related to sea-level fluctuations.
The coarsening-upward sequence was presumably aroused
Page 15 of 18 1501
in response to the occurrence of the sea-level regression pro-
cess. This process contributes to changes in the sediment
deposition, where the finer ones are at the bottom, and the
coarser ones are at the top.
The first accommodation events of the third-order early
Permian age happened with a complete fall sea-level cycle
in Chuping Formation cycle 30 to cycle 51. A clear down-
ward trend in sea level is observed. The documented relative
sea-level falling by Ross and Ross (1985) is most likely
related to worldwide Carboniferous eustatic episodes.
All in all, there are 51 sedimentology cycles found from
sedimentary rock succession of Perlis comprising Mempelam
13
1501 Page 16 of 18
Limestone, Timah Tasoh Formation, Sanai Limestone, Telaga
Jatoh Formation, Chepor Member of Kubang Pasu Formation,
Uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation, and Chuping Formation.
The sea-level curve was successfully constructed using Fischer
plot analysis to manifest several cycle patterns and putative
links to eustatic sea-level fluctuations. The interpreted trans-
gressive–regressive cycles from the Fischer plots are then com-
pared with the eustatic sea-level fluctuation studied by Haq and
Schutter (2008), Bahlburg and Breitkreuz (1993), Veevers and
Powell (1987) and, Johnson et al. (1985) (Fig. 9).
3) Comparison with other studies
The interpreted transgressive–regressive cycles of the Silu-
rian Mempelam Limestone Formation to Early Permian Chup-
ing Formation from the Fischer plots are compared with other
Late Silurian to Early Permian relative sea-level studies from
other parts of the world (Fig. 9). Eustatic sea-level activities
curve (transgressive–regressive cycles) are correlated with
events of Paleozoic-aged sea-level changes (Haq and Schutter
2008) and transgressive–regressive trends in N. Chilean Andes
(Bahlburg and Breitkreuz 1993) and transgressive–regressive
trends in Russian Platform (Veevers and Powell 1987).
Sometimes the global events are applicable worldwide,
or their magnitude of change at various places may differ
depending on local conditions, such as local tectonic changes
(Haq and Al-Qahtani 2005). The third-order sea-level curve
illustrated based on the studied formations sedimentology log
using Fischer Plots correlates well with the third-order sea-
level defined by Haq and Schutter (2008).
From Fig. 9, these four curves have a particular trend. First,
there was a beginning of sea-level rising in the early Carbonif-
erous age. It represents the worldwide extinction event called
the Latest Devonian Hangenberg Anoxic Event. (Walliser
1984). Second, a major transgressive episode was recorded
worldwide during the Tournaisian (Burlington Cycle). This
event is marked by the black shales (Racka et al. 2010) or
deepwater chert deposition of Unit 5 of Jentik Formation
(Meor and Lee 2002) or Lower Part of Kubang Pasu Forma-
tion (The Malaysian-Thai Working Groups 2009). Third, the
ice sheets began to shed icebergs over the Himalayan–NW
Australian Gondwana bound. Meor et al. (2014) reported that
the deposition of glacial-marine diamictites marks this event
in the Kubang Pasu Formation of Chepor Member. Finally,
an apparent declining trend towards the Permian age shows
a fall in sea-level fluctuations. Hassan and Peng (2004) con-
cluded that the pre-Carboniferous paraconformity seen in the
middle of Paleozoic aged successions of Sibumasu/Shan-Thai
Terrane is caused by major regression immediately followed
after the global transgressive event of the Hangenberg epi-
sode. Tectonically, the glaciation of the Gondwana was at its
peak during Late Carboniferous until the Early Permian.
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
The diversity of data is needed to connect the facies evolu-
tion of the Perlis’ formations with worldwide relative sea-level
fluctuations. For example, the results of Fischer’s transgres-
sive–regressive cycles during sedimentary processes of Devo-
nian to Carboniferous showed the synchronous occurrence of
falling and rising events in different regions of the world from
past studies. Summarising, the transgressive character of the
rocks in the Guar Sanai, Kampung Guar Jentik area suggested
the global event of Hangenberg Anoxic Event. On the other
hand, the shallowing in the Bukit Tungku Lembu, Beseri, has
been attributed to the Permo-Carboniferous Gondwana glacial.
Conclusion
Twenty sedimentology cycles have been recognized from sed-
imentary rock succession of Perlis at Guar Sanai, Kampung
Guar Jentik area. The cycles showed that during sedimen-
tary processes of Late Silurian Mempelam Limestone-early
Carboniferous Kubang Pasu Formation showed transgression
and regression and then transgression. Meanwhile, thirty-one
cycles of coarsening and fining-upwards sequence comprising
the uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation and Chuping Forma-
tion. These depositional sequences in the Guar Sanai outcrop
represent a regressive cycle found in the Early Permian of the
Chuping Formation. Ross and Ross (1985) advocated a sub-
stantial decrease in sea level for the Late Paleozoic Ice Age.
The diversity of data is needed to connect the facies evo-
lution of the Perlis’s formations with worldwide relative
sea-level fluctuations. The results of Fischer’s transgres-
sive–regressive cycles during sedimentary processes of
Devonian to Carboniferous showed the synchronous occur-
rence of falling and rising events in different regions of the
world from past studies. In summarising, the transgressive
character of the rocks in the Bukit Tungku Lembu area sug-
gested the global event of Hangenberg Anoxic Event. On
the other hand, the shallowing in Guar Sanai Area has been
attributed to the Permo-Carboniferous Gondwana glacial.
With that, the resulting integration of the sedimentology log-
ging from geological and Fischer plotting from stratigraphical
framework approaches has undoubtedly shown a good relation.
These techniques give considerable information to unveil the
history of the Devonian to Carboniferous age relative to sea-
level changes. The regressive and transgressive cycles recognize
deviations in the accommodation space and sediment supply
from the cyclic successions. We show that the sequence bound-
aries can be objectively picked on sediment logs by the stacking
patterns identifying fining- and coarsening-upward successions
that can interpret stratal cycles. In turn, these cycles express the
long-term of Perlis’s sea-level fluctuations in this study. Fur-
thermore, the third-order sea-level curve illustrated based on
the sedimentology log correlates with the third-order sea-level
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
defined by other previous works (Veevers and Powell 1987;
Bahlburg and Breitkreuz 1993; and Haq and Schutter 2008).
On a side note, as stated in Miller et al. (2018), integrating
various available methods such as seismic profiles, core lithol-
ogy, sedimentary facies indicators, sediment logs (e.g., Figs. 4,
5, 6, 7 and 8), and chronostratigraphic control with Fischer
plots (e.g., Figs. 8 and 9) can be used to identify ambiguous
surfaces and sea-level fluctuation interpretations. Ultimately,
the recognition of sequences and sea-level fluctuation on any
scale is data-dependent, with the ability to resolve a sequence
at a given scale heavily reliant upon the resolution of the data.
Acknowledgements  The authors express their appreciation for the Min-
istry of Higher Education Malaysia for Fundamental Research Grant
Scheme with Project Code: (FRGS/1/2020/STG08/USM/03/3) for sup-
porting this research project. Above all, we gratefully acknowledge all
the Geophysics team for their kind support throughout the research work.
Funding  This study is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education
Malaysia for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme with Project Code:
(FRGS/1/2020/STG08/USM/03/3).
Declarations  Goldhammer RK, Dunn PA, Hardie LA (1987) High-frequency
Conflict of interest  The authors declare no competing interests.
References
Adenan NB, Ali CA, Mohamed KR (2013) Sedimentologi Lapisan
Perantaraan Formasi Kubang Pasu dan Formasi Chuping, Beseri,
Perlis (In Malay), Sedimentology of the Passage beds between
the Kubang Pasu Formation and Chuping Formation, Berseri.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Perlis, p 59
Adenan NB, Ali CA, Mohamed KR (2017) Diagenetic history of the
Chuping Limestone at Bukit Tungku Lembu, Perlis. Malaysia
Sains Malaysiana 46(6):887–895
Aigner T (1982) Calcareous Tempestites: storm-dominated stratification
in Upper Muschelkalk Limestones (Middle Trias, SW-Germany).
Cyclic and Event Stratification. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 180–198
Amosu A, Imsalem M, Raymond A, Sun Y (2020) FischerLab: an
application for generating Fischer plots and dynamic Fischer plots
from wireline well-logs and stratigraphic data. Earth 1(1):26–48
Arafin MS, Lee CY (1989) Diagnostic resistivity sounding curves of Karstic
Aquifers in the Chuping Limestone. Bull Geol Soc Malaysia 24:27–41
Bahlburg H, Breitkreuz C (1993) Differential response of a Devo-
nian-Carboniferous Platform-deeper basin system to sea-level
change and tectonics. N Chilean Andes Basin Res 5(1):21–40
Basir J (2010) Warisan Geologi Negeri Perlis (In Malay), Geologi-
cal heritage of Perlis State. Bull Geol Soc Malaysia 56:87–93
Basir J (2018) Radiolarian biostratigraphy of Malaysia. Bull Geol
Soc Malaysia 65:45–58
Berkyova S (2009) Lower-Middle Devonian (Upper Emesian-Eife-
lian, serotinus-kockelianus zones) Conodont Faunas from the
Prague Basin, the Czech Republic. Bull Geosci 84(4):667–686
Boss SK, Rasmussen KA (1995) Misuse of Fischer plots as sea-level
curves. Geology 23(3):221–224
Cocks LRM, Fortey RA, Lee CP (2005) A review of Lower and Mid-
dle Palaeozoic Biostratigraphy in West Peninsular Malaysia and
Southern Thailand in its context within the Sibumasu Terrane.
J Asian Earth Sci 24(6):703–717
Page 17 of 18 1501
Davis HR, Byers CW, Pratt LM (1989) Depositional mechanisms
and organic matter in Mowry Shale (Cretaceous), Wyoming.
Am Assoc Pet Geol (AAPG) Bull 73:103–1116
Day PI (1997) The Fischer diagram in the depth domain: a tool for
sequence stratigraphy. J Sediment Res 67(5):982–984
Dayal AM, Mani D (eds.) (2017) Shale gas: Exploration and envi-
ronmental and economic impacts. Elsevier
Dunham RJ (1962) Classification of carbonate rocks according to
depositional textures. In Ham, W. E. (Ed.), Classification of
Carbonate Rocks. American Association of Petroleum Geolo-
gists (AAPG) Memoir, 108–121
Eyles N, Januszczak N (2004) ‘Zipper-rift’: a tectonic model for
Neoproterozoic glaciations during the breakup of Rodinia after
750 Ma. Earth Sci Rev 65(1–2):1–73
Fischer AG (1964) The Lofer Cyclothems of the Alpine Triassic. In:
Symposium on Cyclic Sedimentation. Kansas State Geol Survey
Bull 169(1):107–149
Foo KY (1983) The Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of Peninsular Malay-
sia- stratigraphy and correlation. In: Workshop on Stratigraphic
Correlation of Thailand and Malaysia. Warta Geologi (Geological
Society of Malaysia Newsletter), 9(5). Haad Yai, Thailand
Gobbett DJ (1972) Geology of the Rebak Islands, Langkawi, West
Malaysia. Geol Soc Malaysia Newsletter 37:2–3
Gobbett DJ (1973) Upper Palaeozoic. In: Gobbett DJ, Hutchison
CS (eds) Geology of the Malay Peninsula. Wiley Interscience,
New York, pp 61–95
Glacio-eustatic sea-level oscillations with Milankovitch char-
acteristics recorded in Middle Triassic platform carbonates in
Northern Italy. Am J Sci 287(9):853–892
Goldhammer RK, Dunn PA, Hardie LA (1990) Depositional cycles,
composite sea-level changes, cycle stacking patterns, and the
hierarchy of stratigraphic forcing: examples from Alpine Triassic
platform carbonates. Geol Soc Am Bull 102:535–562
Haq BU, Al-Qahtani AM (2005) Phanerozoic cycles of sea-level
change on the Arabian platform. GeoArabia 10(2):127–160
Haq BU, Schutter SR (2008) A chronology of Palaeozoic sea-level
changes. Science 322(5898):64–68
Haq BU, Hardenbol J, Vail PR (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea
levels since the Triassic. Science 235(4793):1156–1167
Harms JC, Southard JB, Spearing DR, Walker RG (1975) Depositional
environments as interpreted from primary sedimentary structures
and stratification sequences. Soc Econ Paleontologists and Min-
eralogist (SEPM) Short Course 2:1–16
Hassan MHA, Erdtmann BD, Wang-Xiaofeng, Peng LC (2013) Early
Devonian graptolites and tentaculitids in northwest Peninsular
Malaysia and a revision of the Devonian–Carboniferous stratig-
raphy of the region. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Pal-
aeontology 37(1):49–63.r
Hassan MHA, Aung AK, Becker RT, Rahman NAA, Ng TF, Ghani
AA, Shuib MK (2014) Stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evo-
lution of the Mid-to-Upper Palaeozoic succession in Northwest
Peninsular Malaysia. J Asian Earth Sci 83:60–79
Hassan MH, Peng LC (2003) The Sanai limestone member—a Devo-
nian limestone unit in Perlis. In: Annual Geological Conference
2003, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 24th-26th May. Bull Geol Soc
Malaysia 46:137–141
Hassan MH, Peng LC (2004) The depositional environment of the
Mid-Palaeozoic Red Beds at Hutan Aji, Perus and its bearing on
global eustatic sea level change. In: Annual Geological Confer-
ence 2004, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia, 4th-6th June. Bull Geol Soc
Malaysia 48:65–72
Hassan MHA, Becker RT (2019) Carboniferous ammonoids from the
Kubang Pasu Formation. Warta Geologi (geological Society of
Malaysia Newsletter) 45(3):201
13
1501 Page 18 of 18
Hassan MHA (2021) The Devonian-Carboniferous boundary at Guar Sanai,
Kampung Guar Jentik, Perlis: an updated map and stratigraphic sec-
tion. Bull Geol Soc Malaysia 71:57–62
Husinec A, Basch D, Rose B, Read JF (2007) FISCHERPLOTS: an
Excel spreadsheet for computing Fischer plots of accommodation
change in cyclic carbonate successions in both the time and depth
domains. Comput Geosci 34(3):269–277
Joeharry NAM, Ali CA, Leman MS, Mohamed KR (2016) Microfacies and
diagenesis of Gua Bama Limestone, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia.
In AIP Conference Proceedings, 1794(1). AIP Publishing LLC
Johnson JG, Klapper G, Sandberg CA (1985) Devonian eustatic fluc-
tuations in Euramerica. Geol Soc Am Bull 96(5):567–587
Jones CR (1981) The geology and mineral resources of Perlis, North
Kedah, and the Langkawi Islands. Geol Survey Malaysia District
Memoir 17:1–257
Kobayashi T, Hamada T (1973) Cyrtosymbolids (Trilobita) from the
Langgun Red Beds in Northwest Malaya, Malaysia. Geol Palae-
ontol Southeast Asia 12:1–28
Kwon YK, Chough SK, Choi DK, Lee DJ (2006) Sequence stratigraphy
of the Taebeak Group (Cambrian– Ordovician) Mideast Korea.
Sed Geol 192:19–55
Lee CP (2009) Palaeozoic stratigraphy. In: Hutchison CR, Tan DNK
(eds) Geology of Peninsular Malaysia. University of Malaya and
Geological Society of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, pp 55–86
Liang C, Jiang Z, Yiting Y, Xiajie W (2012) Shale lithofacies and res-
ervoir space of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, Sichuan Basin
China. Pet Explor Dev 39(6):736–743
Macquaker JHS, Bentley SJ, Bohacs KM (2010) Wave-enhanced sedi-
ment gravity flows and mud dispersal across continental shelves:
reappraising sediment transport processes operating in ancient
mudstone successions. Geology 38(10):947–950
Martín-Chivelet J, Osleger DA, Montañez IP (2000) Modified Fischer
plots as graphical tools for evaluating thickness patterns in strati-
graphic successions. J Geosci Educ 48(2):179–183
McCabe PJ (1984) Depositional environments of coal and coal-bearing
strata. In: Rahmani, R. A., & Flores, R. M., (Eds.), Sedimentology
of Coal and Coal-Bearing Sequences. International Association
of Sedimentologists Special Paper, 7:13–42
McKay W. (1957). Porosity and Bulk Density of Sedimentary Rocks.
Meor HAH, Lee CP (2005) The Devonian-Lower carboniferous succes-
sion in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia. J Asian Earth Sci 24:719–738
Meor HAH, Lee CP (2002) Stratigraphy of the Jentik Formation, the
Transitional Sequence from the Setul Limestone to the Kubang
Pasu Formation at Guar Sanai, Guar Jentik, Beseri, Perlis—A
Preliminary Study. Bull Geol Soc Malaysia 45:171–178
Meor HAH, Erdtmann BD, Wang XF, Lee CP (2013a) Early Devonian
Graptolites and Tentaculitids in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia
and a revision of the Devonian–carboniferous stratigraphy of the
region. Alcheringa 37(1):49–63
Meor HAH, Yeow BS, Lee CP, Abdul Rahman AH (2013b) Facies
analysis of the Uppermost Kubang Pasu Formation, Perlis: a
wave- and storm-influenced coastal depositional system. Sains
Malaysiana 42(8):1091–1100
Metcalfe I (2011) Palaeozoic–Mesozoic History of Southeast Asia. In:
Hall R, Cottam M, Wilson M (Eds.), The Southeast Asian Gate-
way: History and Tectonics of Australia–Asia Collision. Geological
Society of London Special Publications, 355:7–35
Metcalfe I, Crowley JL (2020) Upper Permian and Lower Triassic cono-
donts, high-precision U-Pb zircon ages and the Permian-Triassic
boundary in the Malay Peninsula. J Asian Earth Sci 199:104403
Miller KG, Lombardi CJ, Browning JV, Schmelz WJ, Gallegos G,
Mountain GS, Baldwin KE (2018) Back to basics of sequence
stratigraphy: early Miocene and mid-Cretaceous examples from
the New Jersey paleoshelf. J Sediment Res 88(1):148–176
Mingxiang M, Tucker ME (2013) Milankovitch-driven cycles in the Precam-
brian of China: the Wumishan Formation. J Palaeogeogr 2(4):369–389
13
Arab J Geosci (2022) 15: 1501
Monroe JS, Wicander R (2014) The changing earth: exploring geology
and evolution. Cengage Learning
Postma G, Nemec W, Kleinspehn K (1988) Large floating clasts in tur-
bidites: a mechanism for their emplacement. Sed Geol 58(1–4):1–6
Racka M, Marynowski L, Filipiak P, Sobstel M, Pisarzowska A, Bond
DP (2010) Anoxic annulata events in the Late Famennian of the
Holy Cross Mountains (Southern Poland): geochemical and pal-
aeontological record. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol
297(3–4):549–575
Read JF, Sriram S (1990) A computer program for construction of Fischer
plots. Compass 66:73–78
Read JF, Goldhammer RK (1988) Use of Fischer plots to define third-
order sea-level curves in Ordovician peritidal cyclic carbonates,
Appalachians. Geology 16:895–899
Roehl PO, Choquette PW (1985) Carbonate Petroleum Reservoirs.
Springer-Verlag, New York
Ross CA, Ross JRP (1985) Late Paleozoic depositional sequences are
synchronous and worldwide. Geology 13:194–197
Sadler PM, Osleger DA, Montanez IP (1993) On the labeling, length,
and objective basis of Fischer plots. J Sediment Res 63(3):360–368
Scoffin TP (1987) Introduction to carbonate sediments and rocks. Glaslow:
Blackie; New York: Chapman and Hall
Swezey C, Deynoux M, Jeannette D (1996) Sandstone depositional envi-
ronments of the upper Permian Champenay Formation, Champenay
Basin Northeastern France. Sediment Geol 105(1–2):91–103
Swift DJP, Rice DD (1984) Sand Bodies on muddy shelves: a model of
sedimentation in the Western Interior Cretaceous Seaway, North
America. In: Tillman RW, Seimers CT (Eds.), Siliciclastic Shelf
Sediments. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists
(SEPM) Special Publication, 34:43–62
The Malaysian-Thai Working Group (2009) Geology of the Bukit Batu
Puteh-Satun Transect Area Along the Malaysia-Thailand Border.
Geological Papers, 8
Veevers JT, Powell CM (1987) Late Paleozoic glacial episodes in
Gondwanaland reflected in transgressive-regressive depositional
sequences in Euramerica. Geological Society of America Bulletin
98(4):475–487
Walker RG (1984) Shelf and shallow marine sands. In: Walker RG
(Eds.), Facies Models ­(2nd Ed.) Geoscience Canada, Reprint
Series, 1:141–170.
Walker RG, Plint AG (1992) Wave- and storm-dominated shallow
marine systems. In: Walker RG, James NP (Eds.), Facies Mod-
els: Response to Sea Level Change. Geological Association of
Canada, St. John’s, 219–238
Walliser OH (1984) Pleading for a natural Devonian/Carboniferous-bound-
ary. In: Paproth E, Streel M (Eds.), The Devonian-Carboniferous
Boundary. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 67:241–246
Yang DM, Huang YJ & Wang CS (2022) SediRate‐Fischer plots as a
tool to illustrate relative sea‐level and lake‐level changes in sub-
aqueous terrigenous deposits. Sedimentology 69. https://​doi.​org/​
10.​1111/​sed.​12983
Yang DM, Huang YJ, Chen ZY, Huang QH, Ren YU, Wang CS (2021)
A python code for automatic construction of Fischer plots using
proxy data. Sci Rep 11(1):1–13
Zaiton H, Basir J (2000). The occurrence of thrusts in North Kedah
and Perlis. Geological Society of Malaysia Annual Geological
Conference 2000 September 8-9, 2000, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Zhao J, Jin Z, Jin Z, Wen X, Geng Y, Yan C, Nie H (2017) Deposi-
tional environment of shale in Wufeng and Longmaxi formations
Sichuan Basin. Pet Res 2(3):209–221
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under
a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author
self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely
governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.