Abstract:
Sedimentological and heavy metall study was carried out in South China Sea off
Kemaman Coastal Water. This study had 12 stations altogether and covering Dungun
River, Port Kerteh and Kemaman River. Collection of sediment was done from 17
September 2006 until 20 September 2006. The purpose of this study was to determine
the sediments characteristics, percentage of organic carbon contents and concentration
of selected heavy metals. Generally, the sediments in the study area ranged from very
coarse sand to fine silt and value for standard deviation is irregular. Most of the
sediments in the study area were dominated by coarse sand. The range of percentage
organic carbon contents ranged from 0.81 % to 1.38 % which indicates weak
correlation with particle mean size. Average concentration of Co, Cu, Zn, and Pb are
7.9403 μg.g- 1 , 17.4167 μg.t 1 , 59.2747 μg.g- 1 , and 17.9830 μg.g- 1 respectively. All the
selected metals show weak correlation with particle mean size and an organic carbon
contents. Normalization and Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis shows that the metals
studied (Co, Cu, Zn, and Pb) are derived from natural sources and not influence by
anthropogenic sources.
