A study on the sedimentological characteristics and elemental contents of Bidong Island sediments

Abstract

A study was carried out around Bidong Island in order to determined the sedimentological characteristics and elemental contents in the sediments. Thirty two samples from eight transets were collected at Bidong Island on 23 March 2011. The samples were prepared for sedimentological characteristics (mean,sorting,skewness and kurtosis) using dry siewing method and elemental contents by Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results showed that the mean size ranged between -0.003 to 1.85 0 with an average value of 0. 727 0. The area was dominated by coarse sand (25%) and very coarse sand (25% ),followed by fine sand with 22%. Sorting ranged between 0.53 to 1.37 0 and average value was 0.94 0. Sorting in the study area was dominated by moderately sorted (47%), and followed by poorly sorted (41%). The range of skewness was between -1.47 to 0.94 0. Most of the stations were very positively skewed (35%), very negatively skewed(28%), positively skewed (25%), symmetrical and negatively skewed with (6%). For kurtosis, the area was very leptokurtic (66%), followed by extremely leptokurtic (34%). For the elemental contents, there area 8 elements(Mg, O,Fe,K,Ca,Al,Si,Cl) that were found in the study area. Results showed that the dominant compound was Si02 (l lstations) and followed by CaO (5stations). The lowest percentage found at the study area is K20 ( 11 stations).