Mineralogical study of Kelantan Delta sediments

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the mineral contents and type of mineral at Kelantan delta. The sediments were collected from 8 stations which covered an area of Kelantan delta consists of 3 islands which are Pulau Bedal, Pulau Terendak and Pulau Tengkorak . The sediments were analyzed for its mineralogy using two methods: The XRay Diffractometer (XRD), Quantitative Mineral Estimation (QME) for silt and clay fractions and heavy minerals respectively. Textural analysis was determined using hydrometer method. Results of the XRD analysis showed that quartz is dominant in station l and 8 moderate in stations 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and trace in station 7. Goethite, vermiculite and kaolinite are present moderately in every station except at station 6 for geothite and station 1 for kaolinite. Illite is trace in station 4 and 8, microline is trace in station 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 and montmorillonite is trace in stations I, 4, 7 and 8. Gibbsite, calcite and andalusite are also found trace in stations 4, 5, and 8 respectively. From the QME analysis, 13 heavy mineral were found. Quartz presents dominantly in stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the study area. Mica has low percentage (5-10%) in stations I and 3 while present in trace amount in other stations. Besides, amphibole is present in station 8 (0.5%) while trace in other stations. Other minerals such as feldspar, rutile, epidote, leucoxene, pyroxene, hydroilmenite, sphene, iron oxide, magnetite, and zircon are present in trace amount. From textural analysis it showed that sandy clay loam was the texture of the study area.