Large Databases as a Measure of Regional Provenance in Southeast Asia

The geological history of Southeast Asia is highly varied and complex with sparse exposure of the geology and rare outcrops heavily weathered due to the humid present-day climate. Provenance studies provide a powerful tool to understand the geology as it allows for links to be made between basin sediments and the geology and tectonics of their source lithologies. This acts as an important addition to biostratigraphy, especially in areas of barren sediment. Light mineral QFL analysis for provenance has limitations in SE Asia as feldspathic material readily breaks down into authigenic clays and lithic fragments disintegrate in humid environments. However, light mineral analysis can still be a useful first-pass assessment of sediment generation. Complementary heavy mineral studies are integral in pinpointing source areas for sediments as they contain high precision detrital mineral data often overlooked in light minerals. The recent development of Raman Spectroscopy for heavy mineral analysis now allows for the quick identification of the entire heavy mineral suite, meaning less-common populations can be isolated and considered. In terms of dating detrital material, UPb dating of zircon is the primary tool used to link the age of the source to the age of the zircon found in the sediments. 35 years of data from the Southeast Asia Research Group is presented, including light mineral analyses from over 700 samples with an excess of 350,000 data points, heavy mineral analyses from 500 samples with over 100,000 data points, and UPb zircon ages from 570 samples with 36,500 individual analyses. Geological road maps from the region provide a visible model of all these data, alongside field observations, structural measurements, lithological descriptions, and interpretations. These are supported by the large provenance datasets coming together to shed new light on the complex sedimentary systems of Southeast Asia.