Geology and Geoheritage of Gunung Ayam, Gua Musang

Gunung Ayam, Gua Musang is highlighted for research on the potential geological and geoheritage features. Geoheritage is the varsity and rarity of minerals, rocks, fossils, soils, landform and geological process ranging from tiny scales of grain size to regional scale as large as mountain range. Recently, threat in form of logging and plantations are rising across the area which is part of Sungai Betis Reserved Forest. Although the logging and agricultural activities are licenses, it is important to ensure the geological features present are well conserved and do not being demolished by these activities. Lacking of geological data from past studies makes it hard to define and strengthen the debate regarding geoheritage characteristics for geoconservation. Therefore, the main objectives of study are to construct geological map of scale 1:25000 with updated geological data as well as analysing geoheritage features within the study area. Geological and geoheritage mapping are done to acquire the information. Three dominant lithology units are identified which are schist unit, tuffaceous mudstone unit and conglomerate breccia unit. The research area is located within the Bentong-Raub suture zone that is rich in geological history of Palaeo-Thethys, indicates by the presence of complex earth science structures such as faulting, folding and joints. Mount Ayam conglomerate, huge quartzite dike, coal and graphite are several geoheritage features identified, characterized and evaluated via geoheritage assessments comprising qualitative and quantitative methods according to specific parameters. Results acquired can be used to explain the importance of the geoheritage features for geoconservation.