Drop stones that are gems unearthed

Drop stones dropped by melting icebergs hundreds of millions of years ago found in Tanjung Mali at Pantai Tengah showed Langkawi’s landmass moved from the South Pole to its present location.

A drop stone can be in various sizes. This one is smaller than a lens cap.

Drop stones (the lighter part of the rock) are created hundreds of million years ago when drifting melting iceberg deposited isolated fragments of rock into sedimentary rocks under the sea.

The several drop stones as large as a clenched fist are embedded into the sedimentary rocks are recent findings of geological significance in Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark. The location of the drop stones is marked by signboard; one at The Cliff Restaurant and another on the other side of the cape.

The immediate area by the high tide part of rocks near the sea is a protected area. LADA Geopark Division is encouraging a developer building a resort near to the drop stones to take up joint ownership as private sector stakeholders in preserving the important finding.

Langkawi Development Authority staff with the signage that explains how drop stones are created hundreds of millions of years ago.

These drop stones in Tanjung Mali show the significance of Langkawi in our earth’s history. To the uninitiated, these findings are nothing more than rocks by the sea. You bet you won’t be able to identify them at all until they are pointed out to you.

To geologists, they are definitely a wonder. To those who appreciate natural heritage, it is reason enough to preserve Tanjung Mali and its geological history for the country’s legacy and created a new tourism product.