Quaternary stratigraphy and prospects for placer tin deposits in the Kuantan area, Pahang

The Quaternary deposits in the Kuantan a rea are described . The deposits are di vided into fo ur lith ostrat igraphic uni ts : the continental Sim pang Formation (equivalent to 'the Old Allu vium of the Kinta Valley, Plei stocene age), Kempadang Formation (a Pleistocene marine unit) , G ul a Formation (a Holocene marine unit) and the continental Beruas Formation (eq ui valent to the Young Alluvium of the Kinta Vall ey). The thickness of the unconsolid a ted deposits va rie s from a few metres in the wes t to more tha n 120 metres towards the east. Cassiterite occurs in significa nt concentratio ns in the Simpang a nd Kempadang Formations. Trace or minor a mounts of cassiterite a re found . in the G ul a and Beruas Formations. Scout drill ho les show that cass it erite values rangin g from 0.079 kg per c u m to 0.40 kg pe r c u m (0 . 1 0 to 0.55 kat is per c ubi c. yard) occur at depths of 15 m to 30 m be low the surface in Pay a Derh aka , Kampong Belukar, Kampong Permatang Badak and Kampong Anak Ayer a reas . A deep borehole at Kampong Penor in th e south gave sectio na l va lu es rangi ng from 0.3 kg pe r cum (0.29 kati s per cubic yard) to 0.4 kg per c u m (0 .05 kati s per cubi c ya rd ) between depths of I 18.9 m to 122m. The best prospects fo r pl acer tin li es between latitudes 3° 45'N to 3° 49'N and lo ngi tud e 103 ° 15' E to th e coastline, and this pan of the Kuantan area appears to be th e southern li mi t of the Pandan place r tin depos it.