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            The geology of Langkawi islands is the result of long depositional history under the various paleo environmental conditions. Geological processes that occurred for more than 550 million years have created unique geological diversity in Langkawi. Today we could observe wide spectrum of sedimentary, geological structures and rock formations, etc. In general, the rocks formation in Langkawi islands could be divided into four sedimentary rocks formations. The Machinchang Formation is one of the oldest Cambrian rock formations in South-east Asia. It is predominantly made up of sedimentary structures in the form of cross-beds, ripple marks, load casts, and trace fossils. The Machinchang Formation was divided into three members (i) the oldest Hulor Member, (ii) the middle Chincin Member and (iii) the youngest Jemuruk Member. The youngest of the Machinchang Formation is named after Jemuruk Island in Kubang Badak Bay in the eastern part of the north Machinchang area (Lee, 2006). Most of trace fossils found in Machinchang formation came from Jemuruk Island and Teluk Kubang Badak. The presence of several trace fossils of Dictyodora, Chondrites, Gordia, Neonereites, Diplichinites, Monorphichnus and Dimorphicnus were reported in Jemuruk Island (Lee 1983, Leman 2003 & Lee 2006).

 

                 The unique of Jemuruk Island is not only because its flora and fauna. The formation of rocks and marine mineral deposits remains incompletely understood. The involvement of bacteria in this process has long been suspected. The Microbiomes of Jemuruk Island (MJI) project is an effort to characterise microbial life in this island. We are using DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry platforms and bioinformatics to understand patterns in microbial ecology across the biomes. Cultivable bacterial and yeast species will be isolated and characterised. The characterised microbial taxonomic and functionality will be used for the benefit of humankind.