Page 8 - Sumatra Geology, Resources and Tectonic Evolution

Preface

The initiative for this Memoir arose from a series of field-based The University of London Group, directed by Dr A. J. Barber,
geological studies in Sumatra by the Institute of Geological Sciences became involved in Sumatra at the invitation of Dr John Hepworth
(later the British Geological Survey) and the University of London (BGS) to provide training and qualifications to GRDC geologists
Group for Geological Research in Southeast Asia in collaboration and geophysicists who were taking part in the field mapping
with the Indonesian Ministry of Mines, through the Geological programmes, in return for administrative and logistical support for
Research and Development Centre and the Directorate of Mineral PhD research students and post-doctoral research assistants from the
Resources in Bandung, and the Research and Development Centre University of London. A similar arrangment was subsequently made
for Oil and Gas Technology (LEMIGAS) in Jakarta between 1975 with LEMIGAS. Financial support for British research students was
and 1995. The Indonesian side selected Sumatra as a suitable area provided by the Natural Environment Research Council and by a
for this programme of scientific and technical assistance in Consortium of oil companies who supported the work of the
geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys, inventories of University of London Group throughout SE Asia. Indonesian
mineral potential and the training of geoscientists in pursuance of geologists from GRDC, DMR and LEMIGAS studying in Britain
successive five-year development plans (Pelita). The work were supported by the Overseas Development Administration,
culminated in the publication by the Geological Research and through the British Council, and by the University of London
Development Centre of a series of 42 1:250 000 Geological Map Consortium. The contributions of the many geologists both
Sheets with Explanatory Notes covering the whole of Sumatra. In Indonesian and British who worked on projects in Sumatra under
compiling these geological maps the work of the Dutch geologists of these collaborative arrangements is acknowledged in the list of
the Netherlands Indies Geological Survey, who commenced a references which accompanies this Memoir.
systematic programme of mapping in Sumatra before the Second The editors are indebted to Mike Atherton, Paul Burton, Nick
World War, and the work of geologists working for oil companies Cameron, Chuck Caughey, Martin Clarke, John Clure, Valerie
with concessions in Sumatra, supported by the Indonesian National Clure, John Cobbing, Chris Elders, Derek Fairhead, Massimo
Oil Company (Pertamina), and published since 1971 in the Gasparon, Robert Hall, Clive Jones, David Land, Bill McCourt,
Proceedings of the Indonesian Petroleum Association, were also Greg Moore, Tim Moore, Andrew Samuel and Steve Sparks for their
incorporated. reviews of chapters, or parts of chapters, in this Memoir. Some
Map compilation, follow-up geological studies and the continu- generously reviewed more than one chapter. Their expertise has
ing activity of oil company and academic geologists resulted in the resulted in the correction of errors and misunderstandings and the
accumulation of a vast amount of geological information which is overall improvement of the presentation of the contributions
scatttered in diverse sources and has never been properly included in the Memoir.
synthesized. A group of geologists from the BGS and the University The authors of the chapter on mineral resources are grateful for
of London, together with other collaborating scientists, agreed to the provision of unpublished data by Terry Middleton, Rod Jones,
synthesise and review our current knowledge of all aspects of the Brian Levet and Greg Hartshorn. Discussions over many years with
geology of Sumatra in the present Memoir to form the foundation on Andi Mangga, Mike Andrews, Nick Cameron, John Cobbing,
which future geological work in Sumatra may be soundly based. Thamrin Cobrie, Suudi Gafoer, Agus Ganowan, Hariwidjaja, Linda
Credit is due to the foresight of Directors of the Indonesian Heesterman, Umi Kuntjara, Chris Johnson, Machali, Bill McCourt,
Ministry of Mines (Dr John A. Katili, Director General of Geology Sumartono and Bob Young concerning the geology and mineral
and Mining), the Indonesian Geological Survey (Ir Johannas, deposits of Sumatra have been invaluable in the preparation of this
Ir Salman Padmanagara), Geological Research and Development chapter.
Centre (Dr H.M.S Hartono, Dr Rab Sukamto, Dr Mohamed Untung A. J. Barber is indebted to Elsevier Science and the International
and Dr Irwan Bahar) the Directorate of Mineral Resources Association of Gondwana Research for permission to reproduce
(Ir Salman Padmanagara, Ir Kingking A. Margawidjaja), and the versions of figures which had been published previously in the
Director (Dr Rachman Subroto) and Chief Geologist (Dr Bona Journal of Asian Earth Sciences and Gondwana Research,
Situmorang) of LEMIGAS, who initiated and provided adminis- respectively, and to the Indonesian Petroleum Association for
trative and logistic support for these various geological programmes written permission to publish figures taken or modified from
and saw them through to successful conclusions. Credit is also due articles published in the Proceedings of their Annual Conventions.
to the many Indonesian geologists from these various organizations M. J. Crow and A. J. Barber are indebted to the Librarians of the
who worked on the geological mapping, geophysical and mineral Geological Society (Assistant Librarian Wendy Cawthorne) and the
exploration programmes in Sumatra and acting as counterparts to British Geological Survey for invaluable assistance in extensive
BGS and University of London geologists in gathering the basic data bibliographic searches, and to Prof. Robert Hall for access to the
and ensuring, frequently in challenging conditions, that expeditions resources of the SE Asian Library at Royal Holloway, University of
in Sumatra were brought to successful and safe conclusions. London. They are also indebted to their wives Nuala and Brenda for
On the British side, the contribution of geologists of the Institute their support and forebearance during the preparation of this
of Geological Sciences/British Geological Survey and the provision Memoir.
of equipment and of scholarships was supported by the Overseas Financial support provided by ConocoPhillips Indonesia (Chief
Development Administration (ODA), and later the Department of Geologist James Matthew) and of the Royal Holloway South East
International Development, as part of a technical aid programme to Asian Research Group (Director Professor Robert Hall) for the
Indonesia by the British Government. The technical programme was printing of coloured maps and diagrams is gratefully acknowledged.
initiated by Assistant Director (IGS) Dr David Bleackley CMG, and Simon Suggate of the South East Asia Research Group compiled
supervised successively by Regional Geologists Dr John V. the DEM image of Sumatra used on the cover of the volume.
Hepworth, Dr Clive Jones OBE, Dr John Bennett and Robert
Evans. The North Sumatra Project (1975-1980) was managed in
Bandung by Dr Barry Page, the North Sumatra Support Project by
Dr Martin Clarke, the Nortb Sumatra Mineral Exploration Project
(1984-1988) by Frank Coulson, and the Southern Sumatra A. J. Barber
Geological and Mineral Exploration Project (1988-1994), by M. J. Crow
Dr Michael Crow. Sandy Macfarlane OBE managed the J. S. Milsom
North Sumatra Basin Project (1985-1990) and follow-up projects November 2004
(1990-1995) at LEMIGAS in Jakarta.