volcanic boulders in sungai balung, tawau!!

amazed

July 23, 2009
Sungai Balung's Volcanic Boulders, A Tourism Asset For Tawau

By Nashir Mansor

TAWAU, July 23 (Bernama) -- Viewing the hundreds of 'basalt-type' volcanic boulders or columns that emerged vertically from the surface of Sungai Balung for the first time, this writer found it hard to believe that this was a natural phenomenon.

The volcanic boulders, of pentagonal and hexagonal columns, are not only 'uniformly arranged' but appear to be of about the same size.

To some, that these volcanic boulders appear as if they were machine-made and used as piling rods at the river might not be an overstatement.

The superior surface of each of these columns measures about 60cm x 80cm but it is hard to determine the structure's actual length and how deep it is buried in the riverbed.

The aerial view of these volcanic columns appears like the bricks layed out neatly on a pedestrian walkway. The others, located at the riverbank appears as if they are piling rods used to prevent erosion.

COOLING OF MAGMA

According to the Deputy Director-General of the Mineral and Geoscience Department (Corporate and Mineral Economy), Dr Mustapha Mohd Lip, the boulders were formed due to the cooling of magma (molten rock under the earth's crust) when it 'oozed out' into the earth's surface.

These rocks were classified as extrusive volcanic granites that were formed on older layered rocks that also comprised volcanic mud and sand.

"When magma rose to the earth's surface and undergone the cooling process, it became crystallised naturally and turned into these volcanic structures.

"A study carried out by the department revealed that the volcanic stones are about 27,000 years old," Dr Mustapha told Bernama.

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

These basalt columns were formed after the eruption of Mount Maria (1,183 metres above sea level) located at the Tawau hills Park, some 24 km north of this district.

Similar structures can also be found at several locations along Sungai Balung, located about 40 km from here.

"These volcanic rocks can only be found here (Tawau) and not at other places in Sabah and also Malaysia", Dr Mustapha said during a visit to view the structures at Sungai Balung.

He said the sites was discovered by the department's geologists while on a mapping exercise.

"There are not many locations worldwide that have such structures. From what I know, the rocks also exist in Iceland and United States", he said.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

"In my opinion, this place (Sungai Balung) can be a tourist destination, particularly for the foreigners, in Tawau. Foreign tourists are keen to view such structures.

"If there are travel agents bringing tourists for scuba-diving at the islands off Semporna, like Mabul and Sipadan, on their way from the Tawau Airport, they can make a stopover here to view the boulders", he said.

Dr Mustapha said Sabah was behind Sarawak in promoting the state's natural treasures despite not lacking such attractions.

Other similar geological attractions in Tawau are the hot springs as well as volcanic stones and mud flats at Bukit Tiger. The volcanic boulders at Bukit Tiger were described by geologists as almost 'perfect' and used as reference in geological textbooks.

Dr Mustapha said as there are signs that erosion is taking place on the volcanic columns at Sungai Balung, efforts to conserve these rocks are needed.

ACTIVE EROSION

"If left unchecked, the columns would be gradually ruined by active erosion. We have to regulate development activities out there to control the erosion caused by water (floods and others) factor.

"We hope that this place is left as it is. If this place is left untouched, then it can be conserved.

"We will recommend for the Sabah Government to make this place a conserved site and refrain from issuing permits for quarry operations," he said.

He also said the Mineral and Geoscience Department would assist the Sabah Government to identify other geological sites in the state that could be turned into tourist attractions.

-- BERNAMA



wowzieeeeeeee mmg interesting.. aku masih lagik carik gambar2 tapak volcanic kat sungai balung nih.... mana2 porumer yg ada gambar tu... post kan  ekkkkkk... bley share sama2 hah!!

alphawolf

Aiyaaa apasal la buat berita takde gambo....

Tapi dari deskripsi tu aku rasa sama macam Giant's Causeway kat Ireland atau Devil's Tower kat US.

mbhcsf

2# alphawolf

i see ....giant cause way ..hm..ok .nice lah....kalau camtu.

kawae

Sungai Balung's Volcanic Boulders, A Tourism Asset For Tawau
tahniah Tawau...Hopefully this place can be a tourist destination.

adeknana

http://www.ums.edu.my/sst/geo/Geosites.html


Columnar Jointing in Basalt (hexagonal prism) along Balung River, Tawau

Pillow Lava Basalt along Baliojong River,Tandek,Kota Marudu

Active Mud Volcano Cone, near Tingkayu River, Lahad Datu

"Anak Kinabalu"--A Glacial Granitic Boulder at Kg. Lobong-Lobong, Kota Belud

Maliau Falls, Maliau Basin, Tongod


Duplex structures, Paleogene Sediments, KotaKinabalu

jelebu

Maliau Falls, Maliau Basin, Tongod....

.Apasal aku tak tahu benda ni ada kat sdana masa aku gi tongod dulu......