Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks of Singapore

I) SAJAHAT FORMATION STRATA

The outcrop of Sajahat formation can be seen in the eastern region of Singapore and
Pulau Sajahat. The formation comprises weakly to moderately deformed, regionally
metamorphosed, quartz-rich sandstone and mudstone (referred to as quartzite and
argillite in DSTA (2009)). Metamorphosed and weakly to moderately penetratively
deformed quartzite, metasandstone (psammite) and metamudstone (pelite) are found on
Pulau Sajahat Kechil and Pulau Tekong. The maximum thickness of this formation is
estimated to be at least 2000-3000 m.
II) JURONG GROUP STRATA
Four distinctive lithostratigraphical formations of Jurong Group Strata are
underlaid most of the western parts of mainland Singapore. A minimum vertical
thickness is estimated 3000-4000m based on the present understanding of its
structural and stratiraphical architecture.
i) Tuas Formation
The Tuas Formation is a newly identified lithostratigraphical unit named after and
largely encountered in the Tuas planning area. A maximum thickness is at least
several hundred meters.
The Tuas Formation is composed of interbedded, cyclic successions of limestone and
siliciclastic sediments and incudes subordinate thin layers of tuff. Units of
bedrock identified as limestone are 1-20m thick, alternating in the succession with
1-20m-thick units of very fine- to medium-grained sandstone and mudstone, which
have minor amount of bioturbation. The limestone is predominantly micritic, with
subordinate patches of allochem-rich zones that include oncoids and peloids.
Parallel-laminated and well sorted, medium-grained sandstone units from coursing
upwards packages, commonly displaying mud drapes and moderate bioturbation. Other
sandstone units display erosive bases, normal grading and occasional trough and
planar cross-bedding. The sandstone units are typically dark grey, with clay-grade
material in the matrix and little in the way of incorporated valcaniclastic
sediment derived from contemporaneous volcanic activity or pre-existing volcanic
rocks.
ii) Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation
The Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation is a new lithostratigraphical unit mostly
encountered in south-western Singapore and named after Pulau Ayer Chawan. A maximum
thickness of around 2000 m. The boundary between the Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation
with the underlying Tuas Formation appears to be sharp and conformable.
The Pulay Ayer Chawan Formation comprises interbedded sandstone and mudstone, with
subordinate but upwardly increasing occurrences of pyroclastic rock (tuff and
lapilli-tuff), volcaniclastic rock (tuffite) and conglomerate. Sandstone units are
typically quartz-rich, subangular to subrounded and very fine- to medium-grained,
but occasionally coarse-grained. The Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation was deposited in a
predominantly deep, but occasionally shallow, marine environment. The upper
boundary of Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation is interpreted to be most likely defined in
many places by an unconformity associated with the eruptive event that produced the
Nanyang Member.
a) Nanyang Member of the Pulau Ayer Chawan Formation
The Nanyang Member is a recently identified lithostratigraphical unit named after
Nanyang Technological University. The Nanyang Member comprises pyroclastic rocks in
a unit of hydroclastic (quenched) lapilli-tuff and lapillistone. A maximum
thickness was at least 56 m. Nanyang member rocks are clast supported, with more
than 80 per cent of clasts formed of brownish-grey to green andesitic rock, with
much smaller proportions of dark-grey mudstone and grey limestone. The clasts of
igneous rock have distinctive polygonal shapes and a ‘zoned’ character (dark-green
rims and paler cores).