Geology of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Geologically, Sulawesi Island and its surrounding area is a complex region. The complexity was caused by con­vergence between three lithospheric plates: the northward-moving Australian plate, the west­ward-moving Pacific plate, and the south-southeast-moving Eurasia plate. The Makassar Strait, which sepa­rates the Sunda Platform (part of the Eurasia Plate) from the South Arm and Central Su­lawesi, formed by sea-floor spreading originat­ing in the Miocene. North of the island is the North Sulawesi Trench formed by the subduc­tion of oceanic crust from the Sulawesi Sea. To the southeast convergence has occurred between the Southeast Arm and the northern part of the Banda Sea along the Tolo Thrust. Both major structures (the North Su­lawesi Trench and Tolo Thrust) are linked by the Palu-Koro-Matano Fault system.

Based on lithologic association and tectonic development, Sulawesi and its surrounding is­lands are divided into 5 tectonic provinces:

• The Tertiary Western Sulawesi Vol­canic Arc
• Quarternary Minahasa-Sangihe Volcanic Arc
• Cretaceous-Paleogene Cen­tral Sulawesi Metamorphic belt
• Cretaceous Eastern Sulawesi Ophiolite Belt and its associ­ated pelagic sedimentary covers
• Paleo­zoic Banda Micro-continental fragments derived from the Australian continent

The contacts between those provinces are faults.

Regional Tectonic of Timor Island, Indonesia

Arc-continent collision between Eastern Sunda Arc (Banda Arc) and Southwest Australia continent formed the southern boundary of the tectonic elements. This collision zone is part of the evolutionary stages of young or early and more to resemble aspects of normal trench-arc system.

In the eastern part of Sumba Island, Indian Ocean crust has a complete experience of intense subduction and Australia now has been raised above the Banda Arc due this. To the west of the collision zone, Sunda Arc moved to the edge of continental Southeast Asia which make up one of the classic collision system features, in which the crust of the Indian Ocean-Australian (about >150 Ma) forces down along the Sunda trench, given that the Indian Ocean Plate, Australia moved northward relative to the Eurasian Plate with a velocity of about 7.5 cm/year (according to Curray, 1989). The island of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa expected forming this through the formation of the volcanic arc on the southern edge of Sundaland that initially passive. Sumba represents the bedrock that uplifted front of the arc and was trapped in front of the arc current basin (Reed et al., 1986). Some evidence suggests that the development of Sumba geology can be parallel correlated with Doang Borderland located at the end of the edge of the Sunda Shield (Wytze et al., 1991). However, Lombok front arc basin lies to the west of Sumba marked by the opening structures on certain stratigraphy horizon.

Transition zone Sunda-Banda arc is clearly recorded the existence of two straight thrust fault zone, both located in the front of the arc itself. One is represented by Savu fault (thrust type), and the other were behind the arc is called Flores back arc fault (back-arc thrust type). Both systems are connected (Silver and Reed, 1987). Area behind the arc shows laterally discontinuous zones of the back arc fault structures and produced younger accretionary wedges.

Timor Island is located outside the non-volcanic arc islands of Indonesia, between the Australia plates that move toward the north and the outer Banda arc as part of the Eurasian plate. The Timor Island is made by deformation of the northern Australia plate which had being thrust faulted, especially the southern part around Timor Trough.

The Non-volcanic arcs consist of the underwater ridge of Java Trench, Timor Island, Tanimbar, Kei and Seram up to the east. During the Tertiary age, continuous trench system was fairly active in northwestern Sumatra, Java Trench, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Timor, Tanimbar, Kei and Seram, accompanied by active volcanic subduction that can be found on the West Coast of Sumatra, South Coast of Java, Lesser Sunda Islands (Katili, 1990).

Component of plate tectonics collision involved in this, namely the Asian plate lithosphere that appear shaped by the continental crust (Sunda Craton), sea-marginal (marginal sea) of the Banda Sea, and Australian-Irian lithosphere plate (Gondwana), made by the oceanic crust Indian and Australian continental crust include elements from the island of New Guinea, Buru, Obi and others.

Tectonic evolution that began at the age of the Upper End of Perm, Middle Jurassic, Early Cretaceous until the Late Cretaceous and Neogene basin formation resulting from Paleozoic basin which had trending oriented northwest-southeast direction which then formed again (overprinting) by later Mesozoic basin of northeast-southwest trending direction. Meanwhile, the sinistral transform fault was rejuvenated by Neogene normal fault were related both sides (N. Sitompul, S, Wijanto, J., Purnomo, 1993).

Sikuai Island, West Sumatra Indonesia

Sikuai Island, there is beautiful and sophisticated island in west Sumatra Indonesia, named Sikuai. A private island which shines like a pearl, in a beautiful white sand beach. There you can find tropical weather all year long with white sand beach just a walk away, while exotic wave may excite those who craves for splashing experince. In the island, you can find natural tropical forest providing astounding atmosphere. With a total area no less than 44.4 ha, integrated with 25 cottages, restaurant, conference hall, swimming pool and jogging track surrounding the island, are you ready to be pampered with exotic natural experience.



Sikuai Island Package:

1. One day tour
2. Meeting package
3. Diving package
4. Fishing package
5. Honeymooners package

Other activity:

1. Banana boat
2. Diving
3. Canoing
4. Snorkeling
5. Jogging track
6. Sunset plaza



The facilities

A. Room services : 54 room available + single/double bed, bathroom with shower, TV, refrigerator, AC, fresh fruits, private balcony
B. Sikuai area facilities: restaurant, meeting room, mushalla, sunset plaza, pub/karaoke, laundry service, swimming pool, billiard, live music, fun bicycle, volley ball area, boat transfer.
 

Port where boat transfer to Sikuai Island from Sumatra Island:

Contact Address:
Dermaga wisata bahari
Batang arau west sumatera Indonesia
Telp (0751) 24880 Fax (0751) 24890

Boat schedule:

· Dermaga wisata bahari – Sikuai = 10.00 & 14.00 wib (check in)
· Sikuai - Dermaga wisata bahari = 11.00 & 16.00 wib (check out)