Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Platinum Group Elements in Proximal Impactites of the Bukit Bunuh Impact Structure, Malaysia


Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
2 Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
3 Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Precinct 2, Putrajaya 62100, Malaysia
 

The Bukit Bunuh in Malaysia has recently been identified as an impact structure after the discovery of possible impact-melt-like rocks and impact breccias from this area. The impact event is believed to have occurred around 1.34-1.84 Ma. Twelve impact-related rocks from this suspected impact structure were analysed in the present study for platinum group of element (PGE) content. The sample population includes proximal impactites (two impact-melt rocks and three impact breccias) and possible impact-related rocks (four mylonites) and basement granite (three in number). The results showed no observable clear distinction between the impactites and basement granite. Compared to other asteroid impact sites in the world, the impactites and impact-related rocks in the Bukit Bunuh structure clearly contain a lower concentration of PGEs. Even though previous studies reported possible evidences of shock metamorphism in the Bukit Bunuh structure and electrical resistivity survey favoured the presence of asteroid impact structure in this area as well, the absence of a clear projectile signature in our investigation on PGE hinders further discussion on the existence and nature of the impact. We suggest that the absence of any PGE signature in the Bukit Bunuh impactites could be indicative either of (1) an achondrite projectile, or (2) an oblique impact or (3) the presence of a volatile-rich layer.

Keywords

Basement Granite, Impact Structure, Platinum Group Elements, Proximal Impactites.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Avci, E., Uysal, I., Saka, S., Akmaz, R. M. and Muller, D., Mineralogy and composition of solid phases in chromite grains of ophiolitic podiform chromitites from the Pozanti–Karsanti Ophiolite, southern Turkey. Geophys. Res. Abstr., 2014, 16.

  • Schmidt, G. and Pernicka, E., The determination of platinum group elements (PGE) in target rocks and fall-back material of the Nördlinger Ries impact crater, Germany. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1994, 58, 5083–5090.

  • Schmidt, G., Clues to the nature of the impacting bodies from platinum‐group elements (rhenium and gold) in borehole samples from the Clearwater East crater (Canada) and the Boltysh impact crater (Ukraine). Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 1997, 32, 761–767.

  • McDonald, I., Clearwater East impact structure: A re‐interpretation of the projectile type using new platinum‐group element data from meteorites. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2002, 37, 459–464.

  • Tagle, R., Erzinger, J., Hecht, L., Schmitt, R. T., Stöffler, D. and Claeys, P., Platinum group elements in impactites of the ICDP Chicxulub drill core Yaxcopoil‐1: Are there traces of the projectile? Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2004, 39, 1009–1016.

  • Goderis, S., Tagle, R., Schmitt, R. T., Erzinger, J. and Claeys, P., Platinum group elements provide no indication of a meteoritic component in ICDP cores from the Bosumtwi crater, Ghana. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2007, 42, 731–741.

  • Gertsch, B., Keller, G., Adatte, T. and Berner, Z., Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Geochemistry of Brazos Sections, Texas, USA. The End-Cretaceous mass extinction and the Chicxulub impact in Texas. SEPM Special Publication, 2011, vol. 100, pp. 227– 249.

  • Koeberl, C., Claeys, P., Hecht, L. and McDonald, I., Geochemistry of impactites. Elements, 2012, 8, 37–42.

  • Jinmin, M., Saad, R., Saidin, M. and Bery, A. A., Electrical resistivity survey in Bukit Bunuh, Malaysia for subsurface structure of meteorite Impact study. Open J. Geol., 2013, 3, 34–37.

  • Saidin, M., Historic discovery of meteorite impact at Bukit Bunuh, Lenggong Valley, Perak. In International Conference on Archeogeology of Meteoritic Impact at Bukit Bunuh Area, Lenggong, Perak, Malaysia, Center for Global Archaeological Research, University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, 2012.

  • Saidin, M., Absolute date of Bukit Bunuh impactites. In International Conference on Archeogeology of Meteoritic Impact at Bukit Bunuh Area, Lenggong, Perak, Malaysia, Center for Global Archaeological Research, University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, 2012.

  • Mohamad, H., Saidin, M., Rashidi, N. A. and Umor, M. R., Petrography of Bukit Bunuh impactites and their protolith. In International Conference on Archeogeology of Meteoritic Impact at Bukit Bunuh Area, Lenggong, Perak, Malaysia, Center for Global Archaeological Research, University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, 2012.

  • Stöffler, D. and Grieve, R. A. F., Impactites. In Metamorphic Rocks: A Classification and Glossary of Terms, Recommendations of the International Union of Geological Sciences (eds Fettes, D. and Desmons, J.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2007, pp. 82–92; 111–125 and 126–242.

  • Isahak, A., Rashidi, N. A., Cahyaningsih, C. and Saidin, M., Indications of shock metamorphism in Bukit Bunuh area, Lenggong, Perak. In International Conference on Archeogeology of Meteoritic Impact at Bukit Bunuh Area, Lenggong, Perak, Malaysia, Centre for Global Archaeological Research, University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, 2012.

  • Huber, H., Koeberl, C., McDonald, I. and Reimold, W. U., Geochemistry and petrology of Witwatersrand and Dwyka diamictites from South Africa: search for an extraterrestrial component. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2001, 65, 2007–2016.

  • Simonson, B. M., McDonald, I., Shukolyukov, A., Koeberl, C., Reimold, W. U. and Lugmair, G. W., Geochemistry of 2.63– 2.49 Ga impact spherule layers and implications for stratigraphic correlations and impact processes. Precambrian Res., 2009, 175, 51-76

  • Raj, J. K., Tan, D. N. K. and Abdullah, W. H., Cenozoic stratigraphy. In Geology of Peninsular Malaysia (eds Hutchison, C. S. and Tan, D. N. K.), University of Malaya and Geological Society of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2009, pp. 133–173.

  • Ghani, A. A., Searle, M., Robb, L. and Chung, S.-L., Transitional I S type characteristic in the Main Range Granite, Peninsular Malaysia. J. Asian Earth Sci., 2013, 76, 225–240.

  • Cobbing, E. J. and Mallick, D. I. J., South East Asia granite project: field report for Peninsula Malaysia, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, UK, 1987.

  • Cobbing, E. J., Pitfield, P. E. J., Darbyshire, D. P. F. and Mallick, D. I. J., The granites of the South–East Asian tin belt, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, UK, 1992, p. 369.

  • French, B. M. and Koeberl, C., The convincing identification of terrestrial meteorite impact structures: What works, what doesn't, and why. Earth-Sci. Rev., 2010, 98, 123–170.

  • Hecht, L., Reimold, W. U., Sherlock, S., Tagle, R., Koeberl, C. and Schmitt, R. T., New impact‐melt rock from the Roter Kamm impact structure, Namibia: Further constraints on impact age, melt rock chemistry, and projectile composition. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2008, 43, 1201–1218.

  • Koeberl, C. and Reimold, W. U., Geochemistry and petrography of impact breccias and target rocks from 60 the 145 Ma Morokweng impact structure, South Africa. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2003, 67, 1837–1862.

  • Pratesi, G., Morelli, M., Rossi, A. P. and Ori, G. G., Chemical compositions of impact melt breccias and target rocks from the Tenoumer impact crater, Mauritania. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2005, 40, 1653–1672.

  • Morgan, J. W., Janssens, M. J., Hertogen, J., Gros, J. and Takahashi, H., Ries impact crater, southern Germany: Search for meteoritic material. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1979, 43, 803–815.

  • Palme, H., Identification of projectiles of large terrestrial impact craters and some implications for the interpretation of Ir-rich Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary layers. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 1982, 190, 223–234.

  • Wolf, R., Woodrow, A. B. and Grieve, R. A., Meteoritic material at four Canadian impact craters. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1980, 44, 1015–1022.

  • Krot, A. N., Keil, K., Goodrich, C. A., Scott, E. R. D. and Weisberg, M. K., Classification of meteorites. In Meteorites, Comets and Planets: Treatise on Geochemistry, Volume 1 (ed. Davis, A. M.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2005, pp. 83–128.

  • Stöffler, D., Artemieva, N. A., Wünnemann, K., Reimold, W. U., Jacob, J., Hansen, B. K. and Summerson, I. A., Ries crater and suevite revisited – Observations and modeling Part I: Observations. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2013, 48, 515–589.

  • Gelinas, A., Kring, D. A., Zurcher, L., Urrutia‐Fucugauchi, J., Morton, O. and Walker, R. J., Osmium isotope constraints on the proportion of bolide component in Chicxulub impact melt rocks. Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 2004, 39, 1003–1008.

  • Alvarez, L. W., Alvarez, W., Asaro, F. and Michel, H. V., Extraterrestrial cause for the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction. Science, 1980, 208, 1095–1108.

  • Samsudin, A. R., Saidin, M., Harun, A. R., Ariffin, M. H., Hamzah, U. and Sahibul Karamah, M. S., Morphology of Bukit Bunuh Crater: geophysical gravity evidences. International Conference on Archeogeology of Meteoritic Impact at Bukit Bunuh Area, Lenggong, Perak, Malaysia, Center for Global Archaeological Research, University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, 2012.

  • McDonough, W. F. and Sun, S. S., The composition of the Earth. Chem Geol., 1995, 120, 223–253.

  • Adatte, T., Keller, G., Stüben, D., Harting, M., Kramar, U., Stinnesbeck, W. and Benjamini, C., Late Maastrichtian and K/T paleoenvironment of the eastern Tethys (Israel): mineralogy, trace and platinum group elements, biostratigraphy and faunal turnovers. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr., 2005, 176, 37–55.


Abstract Views: 360

PDF Views: 131




  • Platinum Group Elements in Proximal Impactites of the Bukit Bunuh Impact Structure, Malaysia

Abstract Views: 360  |  PDF Views: 131

Authors

Long Xiang Quek
Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Azman A. Ghani
Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Muhammad Hafifi Badruldin
Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Mokhtar Saidin
Centre for Global Archaeological Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
Zuhar Zahir Tuan Harith
Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Precinct 2, Putrajaya 62100, Malaysia
Muhammad Hatta Roselee
Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia

Abstract


The Bukit Bunuh in Malaysia has recently been identified as an impact structure after the discovery of possible impact-melt-like rocks and impact breccias from this area. The impact event is believed to have occurred around 1.34-1.84 Ma. Twelve impact-related rocks from this suspected impact structure were analysed in the present study for platinum group of element (PGE) content. The sample population includes proximal impactites (two impact-melt rocks and three impact breccias) and possible impact-related rocks (four mylonites) and basement granite (three in number). The results showed no observable clear distinction between the impactites and basement granite. Compared to other asteroid impact sites in the world, the impactites and impact-related rocks in the Bukit Bunuh structure clearly contain a lower concentration of PGEs. Even though previous studies reported possible evidences of shock metamorphism in the Bukit Bunuh structure and electrical resistivity survey favoured the presence of asteroid impact structure in this area as well, the absence of a clear projectile signature in our investigation on PGE hinders further discussion on the existence and nature of the impact. We suggest that the absence of any PGE signature in the Bukit Bunuh impactites could be indicative either of (1) an achondrite projectile, or (2) an oblique impact or (3) the presence of a volatile-rich layer.

Keywords


Basement Granite, Impact Structure, Platinum Group Elements, Proximal Impactites.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv109%2Fi12%2F2303-2308