Development

of the
Philippine
Mobile Belt in
northern Luzon
from Eocene to
Pliocene
SHIGEYUKI SUZUKI, ROLANDO E. PENA,
TOMAS A. TAM III, GRACIANO P. YUMUL JR.,
CARLA B. DIMALANTA, MAYUMI USUI, March 23, 2019
KEISUKE ISHIDA
Presentation
I. INTRODUCTION
Outline
II. METHODOLOGY

III. RESULTS

IV. DISCUSSION

V. CONCLUSION
Introduction
The Philippine island arc
system is divided into 2
majors terranes: - The
Palawan Continental block
(PCB) and the Philippine
Mobile Block (PMB). (Suzuki
et al., 2000a)
Surrounded by 2 oppositely
dipping trench systems

FIG. 1A: PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO

WITH PCB AND PMB
Introduction
The Philippine island arc
system is divided into 2
majors terranes: - The
Palawan Continental block
(PCB) and the Philippine
Mobile Block (PMB). (Suzuki
et al., 2000a)
Surrounded by 2 oppositely
dipping trench systems

FIG. 1A: PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO

WITH PCB AND PMB
Objective of the study

To evaluate the oceanic

crust origin of the Philippine
Mobile Belt
General Geologic
setting
Dingalan Area: Northern Quezon
Province, northern Luzon
Baguio Area: Occupies part of the
southern Cordillera Central and the
Coastal Fold belt in northern Luzon

FIG. 1B: NORTHERN LUZON, STUDY AREAS

(BAGUIO AND DINGALAN) BOXED IN RED
General Geologic
setting
Majors units: Cretaceous ophiolitic
complex as basement, m. Eocene
succesions, m. Eocene to
Oligocene plutonic and volcanic
rocks, and Miocene to Pliocene
successions.

FIG. 2; STRATIGRAPHY OF THE CENTRAL

LUZON ISLAND
Methodology: Facies
Analysis
To determine the submarine geomorphology of
the depositional basin.
Obtained from field data: lithology, structures,
and stratigraphic relationships.
Methodology: Sandstone
Composition
All samples that have undergone
weathering were rejected.
21 samples collected for modal
analysis.
Polarizing microscope
Gazzi-Dickinson method: sand-sized
grains in a lithics component is
counted as an individual grain.
https://www.microscope.com/motic-ba310p-p
compound-microscope.html
Methodology:
Chemical Composition
X-ray spectrometer Philips PW 1480

HTTPS://WWW.EBAY.COM/ITM/PANALYTICAL-PW1480-WAVE-
DISPERSIVE-X-RAY-SPECTROMETER-WD-XRF-MINERALS-ORE-
ASSAY-/311584455246
Results: Facies
Analysis
Zigzag Formation, Klondyke
Formation, and Amlang
Formation

FIG. 2; GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE BAGUIO AREA

WITH PLOTS OF SAMPLES COLLECTED
Zigzag
Formation
Facies Z-a: Coarse Grained
Lenticular Sandstones
Facies Z-b: Sub-parallel
bedded sandstones
Facies Z-c: Sandy Mudstone
Zigzag Formation

FIG. 3A: FACIES Z-A IN FACIES Z-C OF

ZIGZAG FORMATION
Zigzag Formation

FIG. 3B: DIGITAL SKETCH OF FIG 3A SHOWING

FACIES Z-A AND Z-C
Zigzag Formation

FIG. 4A: FACIES Z-B AND Z-C OF

ZIGZAG FORMATION
Zigzag Formation

FIG. 4B: DIGITAL SKETCH OF FAIG 4A

Klondyke
Formation
Facies K-a: Conglomerates
and coarse grained
sandstone
Facies K-b: Parallel bedded
sandstones
Facies K-c: Thinly bedded
sandstones
Facies K-d: mudstones
Klondyke
Formation

FIG. 5A: KLONDYKE FORMATION LITHOFACIES

Klondyke
Formation

FIG. 5B: KLONDYKE FORMATION LITHOFACIES

Klondyke
Formation

FIG. 5C: KLONDYKE FORMATION LITHOFACIES

Amlang
Formation
Facies A-a: Parallel bedded
sandstone
Facies A-b: Thinly bedded
sandstone 
Facies A-c: Thinly bedded
sandstone with parallel
laminations
Facies A-d: Mudstones
Amlang
Formation

FIG. 6A: AMLANG FORMATION LITHOFACIES 

FIG 6B: DIGITAL SKETCH OF FIG 6A
Results:
Sandstone
Composition
Zigzag
Sandstone
FIG. 7:
PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF
ZIGZAG SANDSTONES
THIN SECTIONS UNDER
PPL AND EPL
Results: Sandstone
Composition
Klondyke Sandstone

FIG. 8: PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF ZIGZAG

SANDSTONES THIN SECTIONS UNDER PPL
AND XPL.
Results: Sandstone
Composition
Amlang Sandstone
Intermediate to mafic volcanic rock
fragments
Plagioclase Clast
Quartz clast
Gabbro and diorite fragments rare in these
sandstones
 ZIGZAG KLONDYKE AMLANG
CABOG
SANDSTONE SANDSTONE SANDSTONE
SANDSTONE
(L. OLIGOCENE- (M.-L. (L. MIOCENE -E.
(M. EOCENE)
E. MIOCENE) MIOCENE) PLIOCENE)
Mafic volcanic Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate to
rock to mafic to mafic mafic volcanic
fragments volcanic rock volcanic rock rock fragments
fragments fragments (24.7%)
(50.8%)
(29.9%) (25.9%) Plagioclse clast
Plagioclase
Plagioclase Plagioclase (33.4%)
clast (29.3%)
clast (27%.0) clast (39.7%) Qtz clast (1.6%)
No k-feldspar Gabbro and
Small amount Qtz clasts
of Qtz and Kfs (3.9%) diorite rock
found (~5%.0) Plutonic rock fragments,
fragments very rare
(1.2%)
Discussion
and
Conclusion
 Discussion

Detrital modes of the

samples from each
formation were counted
and plotted in the QFR
diagram.
The plots for the
Palawan Continental
Block are from Suzuki et
al (2000a,b)
 ZIGZAG KLONDYKE AMLANG
CABOG
SANDSTONE SANDSTONE SANDSTONE
SANDSTONE
(L. OLIGOCENE- (M.-L. (L. MIOCENE -E.
(M. EOCENE)
E. MIOCENE) MIOCENE) PLIOCENE)
Mafic volcanic Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate to
rock to mafic to mafic mafic volcanic
fragments volcanic rock volcanic rock rock fragments
fragments fragments (24.7%)
(50.8%)
(29.9%) (25.9%) Plagioclse clast
Plagioclase
Plagioclase Plagioclase (33.4%)
clast (29.3%)
clast (27%.0) clast (39.7%) Qtz clast (1.6%)
No k-feldspar Gabbro and
Small amount Qtz clasts
of Qtz and Kfs (3.9%) diorite rock
found (~5%.0) Plutonic rock fragments,
fragments very rare
(1.2%)
 Discussion

Based on the samples'

chemical composition,
they were respectively
plotted in this
The plots for the
Palawan Continental
Block are from Suzuki et
al (2000a,b)
 Zigzag formation: Inferred to be
Depositional associated with a slope depositional
Environments environment
Klondyke formation: Facies Ka-Kb are
possibly associated to an inner fan
depositional environment. While Kc-Kd
are associated to slope depositional
environment
Amlang formation: Facies Aa possibly a
bouma sequence while facies Ab can be
associated a waning flow. Likely
deposited in a lower fan environment.
 Middle Eocene period
Conclusion
Dominant mafic source rock
area existed
Mafic rock complex not so
dissected
Inferred to be a primitive
island arc setting
 Late Oligocene to early
Conclusion Miocene period
Zigzag Sandstone clasts and
fragments indicate dioritic
plutonic activities and
andesitic to dacitic
volcanism
K-rich composiion indicate
supply from alkali rocks
PMB has evolved into a
volcanic island arc setting
 Middle to Late Miocene
Conclusion period

Shallow marine to terrestrial

environment inferred from E.-
M. Miocene(Kennon
Limestone)
Turbidites of the Klondyke
formation were deposited.
 Middle to Late Miocene
Conclusion period
Clasts of the deposits were
derived from an intermediate
to mafic source rock area
3000 m thickness of the
Klondyke Formation indicates
a period of significant erosion
 Late Miocene to Pliocene
Conclusion period

Dominant mafic clasts and

limited quartz clasts indicate
an intermediate to mafic rock
source
Volcanic island arc setting
 Late Miocene to Pliocene
Conclusion period
Folded structures of the
Zigzag, Klondyke, Amlang, and
Cataguintingan formations is
attributed to the collision
between the PCB and PMB
Reference
Suzuki, S., Peña, R., Tam, T., Yumul, G., Dimalanta, C., Usui, M., & Ishida, K. (2017).
Development of the Philippine Mobile Belt in northern Luzon from Eocene to
Pliocene. Journal Of Asian Earth Sciences, 142, 32-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2016.08.018