| Abstract: |
Elevated Quaternary shorelines of less than 6m are common and well-established around the coasts of the Malay Peninsula. Quaternary shorelines higher than 6m have been repeatedly postulated, but all such postulations are shown to be based on evidence which is at best inconclusive, in many cases invalid. Several examples of misquotation occur in compilations. In particular it is shown that: a) The elevated Late Cainozoic deposits of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, well exposed in open-cast tin mines and gravel pits, show no granulometric or paleontologic evidence of marine origin
most of the deposits show features indicating fluviatile or colluvial origin
c) Geomorphologic evidence cited for high Quaternary shorelines is scanty and inconclusive
d) Elevated fluviatile alluvium, and breaks in hill slopes, have been taken as positive evidence of high Quaternary sea levels, without consideration of other possible explanations of these features. It is concluded that there is no compelling evidence for Quaternary shorelines above 6m, and the balance of evidence is against any eustatic sea levels higher than 6m affecting the Malay Peninsula in the late Cainozoic. It is suggested that future work on the Quaternary will be more fruitful if problems are approached without preconceived ideas about high Quaternary sea levels, and if the evidence is described in detail and evaluated critically.
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