KAMPAR: The Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) will not bring the specimens of ancient coral fossils, estimated to be some 300 million years old, out of the discovery site in Kampung Changkat Tualang, here.
Its director, Nizarulikram Abdul Rahman said that JMG would do a mapping of the area and at the same time, a thorough research would also be conducted on the samples taken.
"Whether we want to bring the samples (fossils) out or not, depends on the sample in the field. In our view, it would be great if we maintain the fossils here and everyone can come here and see them.
"This place could be a tourist attraction and it will bring a lot of benefit to the community here.
"We will try to keep the fossils here but when we do keep them here, there must be elements of conservation so that they will be here for a longer period," he told reporters after visiting the fossils site here, today.
It was reported that various types of ancient coral fossils were discovered in an area of 6.9ha at Kampung Changkat Tualang on Saturday.
The fossils of the long-extinct sea snail species were found by a group of researchers from the Perak Geotourism Association (Geonat), who were conducting research in the area.
Geonat vice-chairman Mohd Fadly Md Noor said that the group explored the area after referencing old journals including old researcher records.
Mohd Fadly said this discovery is the first so far in Perak, especially in the Kinta district and these fossils are ancient marine creatures from the Paleozoic era before the time of the dinosaurs.
Nizarulikram added that should the fossils be left exposed to the uncertainty of the weather, they might be damaged.
"As such, it is important to have conservation methods, maybe we can build a roof to avoid the hot weather, or rain from damaging the samples," he said.
He added that the department would do the mapping to identify the area involved and would also come out with a proposal to name this area as one of the geo-sites in the Kinta Valley Geopark.
"It is crucial to do mapping as we can identify how big the zone is involved to conserve the fossils. However, the mapping process needs allocation and hopefully, it can be done by this year.
"I was also informed that the fossils here are too precious as they are from sea marine. In other places (in caves) they found a tiger fossil but for marine, this is the only place," he added.
When asked about the safety of the place to preserve the fossils, Nizarulikram said that the department has worked with the local authority and police to manage the area.