Singapore's Geology and Landscape

About us

Emerging NLC on Singapore’s Geology and Landscape

Many teachers have expressed interest in joining a new NLC on Singapore’s geology and landscape ever since they attended the virtual fieldtrip and webinar conducted by Dr Stephen Chua, Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth Observatory of Singapore, on 13 Aug 2021, ‘Why is understanding Singapore’s Geology crucial for a Sustainable Future?’ Participants learned first-hand from Dr Chua, a sedimentologist, many big ideas on rocks and sediments.

Did you know Singapore has all three types of rocks in our small island state? Do you know that tectonic movement has uplifted and folded layers of consolidated sediments 200 million years ago? These exposed rock strata comprising layers of mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, shale and conglomerate can be found along the Southern Ridges, extending to the offshore islands. The base of Fort Siloso, Sentosa, where the Tanjong Rimau rock formation meets the sea presents a tremendous opportunity for geologists to uncover the past geological history of Singapore.

On 3 June 2022, Geography Chapter organised a fieldtrip to Tanjong Rimau, the rocky outcrop upon which Fort Siloso was built. Led by the experts in Earth Observatory of Singapore, it was a rare opportunity for the teachers to learn the story of the formation of this rocky outcrop. Within the layers of beige, dark grey and reddish brown rocks lie evidence of past environmental conditions. It was amazing to realise that beneath the surface are materials that had been deposited by rivers, lithified, compressed and uplifted through plate tectonic forces, and exposed through sea level changes and coastal erosion. As practitioners in the field, we also learned how to design learning experiences for students to uncover geographical knowledge through inquiry.