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IGCP 700 : CARBONATE BUILD-UPS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

 

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​​Organized by​​​

• Mahasarakham University, THAILAND

• Department of Mineral Resources, THAILAND

• Universiti Teknologi Petronas, MALAYSIA

• Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CHINA

• Seckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt, GERMANY

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​​In co-operation with

• Geological Society of Thailand

• Union of Geological Sciences (VUGS), VIETNAM

• Department of Geotechnology, Khon Kaen University, THAILAND

• Department of Geological Science, Chiang Mai University, THAILAND

• Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, THAILAND

• Division of Geosciences, Mahidhol University, THAILAND

• School of Geotechnology, Suranaree University of Technology, THAILAND

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​​Scientific committee​

• Prof. Clive Burrett

• Prof. Chen Jitao

• Assist. Prof. Halay Tsegab Gebretsadik

• Assoc. Prof. Hathaithip Thassanapak

• Assoc. Prof. Mongkol Udchachon

• Prof. Steve Kershaw

• Dr. Peter Königshof

• Dr. Pradit Nulay

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Contact

Contact: Mongkol Udchachon; Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai, Mahasarakham, 44150, THAILAND

Email: igcp700@msu.ac.th, cc: mongkol.c@msu.ac.th

Phone: (+66) 081-8731724; (+66) 088-301 4652; (+66) 095 7316877

Website: https://prc846.wixsite.com/igcp700

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Background

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The study of limestones, particularly reef limestones requires bridging across disciplines and timescales in a comparative approach leading to the recognition of trends and patterns. Understanding of ecological changes of ancient reefs is also crucial to evaluate threats to modern coral reefs. The aims of the project are to integrate and synthesise information on Palaeozoic carbonate build-ups throughout South East Asia. Research will focus on the growth and demise of carbonate platforms, the distribution and geometry of build-ups, climate change vs. reef development, and framework-builder diversification in the Palaeozoic. Facies settings of interest will range from seamount carbonates to supratidal and shallow-subtidal environments. We will also address the economic potential of carbonates and thus the planned conference will be of interest for scientists as well as decision makers, politicians, and companies. Carbonates, particularly caves are very attractive for the general public, therefore we foster collaboration with geoparks and national parks.

Limestones are well-known in SE Asia both in Indochina and Sibumasu terranes as extremely attractive karst areas for instance Hai Long Bay in the World Heritage area of Vietnam, in Krabi and Phang Nga in Thailand, in the UNESCO Geoparks in Langkawi, Satun and Dong Van (Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, respectively) and in the Kinta Valley (Malaysia) and Khammouane and Vang Vieng areas of Lao PDR.  Apart from scenic beauty, all these areas and many more have caves that are both aesthetically attractive and have considerable actual and potential for palaeontological, palaeoclimatic, archaeological, historical and biological research.  Limestones are also sites of large cement works and many karst areas are being or potentially will be destroyed by quarrying for cement (Kiernan, 2010). One aim of this project is to map areas of suitable quality limestone distant from tourist areas in order to help avoid conflict between the two important industries: tourism and construction. Limestone is important economically as host to very important mineral deposits (e.g. Devonian limestone of the Sepon copper-gold mine in Lao PDR, (Thassanapak et al., 2017) and to important petroleum accumulations such as the Permian limestone of North East Thailand (Booth and Sattayarak, 2011).

Limestones are scientifically important as they are important archives of palaeoclimatic and palaeoceanographic data, of palaeodiversity and as palaeogeographic features. South East Asia contains not only ancient tropical limestones but also cold-water limestones (e.g. early Permian limestones in Malaysia and Thailand (Rao, 1996; Thassanapak et al., 2019). Platform limestones of various ages are widespread across South East Asia and occur in a variety of tectonic environments (e.g. Udchachon et al., 2013). How they accumulated and the controls from tectonic, biotic and palaeoclimatic factors are amongst the academic aims of this project. How the widespread platforms grew, laterally and vertically, how the carbonate factories kept-up with subsidence and the mystery of carbonate platform demise (Wilson et al., 2019) will be important considerations. These also have significant economic implications as platform growth and their palaeogeographic setting controls primary porosity and hence petroleum reservoir formation (e.g., Saw et al., 2019).

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