Lithostratigraphy and faunal aspects of marine Jurassic rocks in Thailand

Thai marine Jurassic rocks are well exposed in the Mae Sot, Umphang, and Phop Phra areas, less extensively near Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi. Generally they rest unconformably on Permian and Triassic, and are overlain by Quaternary strata. Fourteen lithostratigraphic units are defined (in ascending order): Pa Lan, Mai Hung, Kong Mu formations of the Huai Pong Group-Mae Hong Son area; Khun Huai, Doi Yot, Pha De formations of the Hua Fai Group-Mae Sot area; Klo Tho, Ta Sue Kho, Pu Khloe Khi, Lu Kloc Tu formations of the Umphang Group-Umphang area; and Khlong Min Formation-Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Krabi areas. Dominant widespread mudstones, siltstones and sandstones; limestones are confined to the Mae Sot, Phob Phra, Umphang, Kanchanaburi and Mae Hong Son areas; marls are found only in Mae Sot. Sequences are approximately 900 m thick (Mae Sot), 450 m thick (Umphang) and thinner elsewhere, especially the south. Based on ammonites, brackish to marine bivalves, and foraminifera, the beds are dated mainly as ToarcianEarly Bajocian.     

Non-marine Jurassic rocks of Thailand: A summary

Non-marine Jurassic rocks are widespread in the northeastern part (Khorat Plateau), and partly in the northern, eastern, and southern parts of Thailand. In the Khorat Plateau, the rocks, more than 1000 m thick, are represented by the Phu Kradung and Phra Wihan Formations of the Khorat Group but are less extensive in the north, east, and south. Reddish brown to grayish purple sandstones, siltstones, claystones, conglomeratic sandstones and conglomerates are the main lithologies; calcrete nodules are also present in claystones only in the Phu Kradung Formation. Deposition occurred mostly in meandering and braided rivers in semi-arid and slightly humid conditions for the Phu Kradung and Phra Wihan Formations, respectively, except for the southern rocks, where lacustrine deposits dominate. Age determinations are based mainly on vertebrates, bivalves and palynomorphs indicating reassignment to the Jurassicpossibly Early Cretaceous.     

Lithostratigraphy and faunal aspects of marine Jurassic rocks in Thailand

Thai marine Jurassic rocks are well exposed in the Mae Sot, Umphang, and Phop Phra areas, less extensively near Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi. Generally they rest unconformably on Permian and Triassic, and are overlain by Quaternary strata. Fourteen lithostratigraphic units are defined (in ascending order): Pa Lan, Mai Hung, Kong Mu formations of the Huai Pong Group-Mae Hong Son area; Khun Huai, Doi Yot, Pha De formations of the Hua Fai Group-Mae Sot area; Klo Tho, Ta Sue Kho, Pu Khloe Khi, Lu Kloc Tu formations of the Umphang Group-Umphang area; and Khlong Min Formation-Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Krabi areas. Dominant widespread mudstones, siltstones and sandstones; limestones are confined to the Mae Sot, Phob Phra, Umphang, Kanchanaburi and Mae Hong Son areas; marls are found only in Mae Sot. Sequences are approximately 900 m thick (Mae Sot), 450 m thick (Umphang) and thinner elsewhere, especially the south. Based on ammonites, brackish to marine bivalves, and foraminifera, the beds are dated mainly as ToarcianEarly Bajocian.     

Non-marine Jurassic rocks of Thailand: A summary

Non-marine Jurassic rocks are widespread in the northeastern part (Khorat Plateau), and partly in the northern, eastern, and southern parts of Thailand. In the Khorat Plateau, the rocks, more than 1000 m thick, are represented by the Phu Kradung and Phra Wihan Formations of the Khorat Group but are less extensive in the north, east, and south. Reddish brown to grayish purple sandstones, siltstones, claystones, conglomeratic sandstones and conglomerates are the main lithologies; calcrete nodules are also present in claystones only in the Phu Kradung Formation. Deposition occurred mostly in meandering and braided rivers in semi-arid and slightly humid conditions for the Phu Kradung and Phra Wihan Formations, respectively, except for the southern rocks, where lacustrine deposits dominate. Age determinations are based mainly on vertebrates, bivalves and palynomorphs indicating reassignment to the Jurassicpossibly Early Cretaceous.