Publication: Hydrogeochemical characterization of kinta limestone, peninsular Malaysia
Loading...
Date
2024-02-01
Authors
Khong, Ling Xin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Kinta Valley is well-known for its unique topography of karst. The previous
study of karst and hydrogeochemistry are very limited in Kinta Valley. The
hydrogeochemistry study on Kinta Valley limestone were expected to determine the
mineralogy, dissolution condition of the carbonates besides reporting the
hydrochemistry of Kinta Valley limestone which can support in conservation plans
of the carbonate and groundwater resources. In this study, the physicochemical
properties and dissolution conditions of the carbonates in Kinta Valley were
investigated. Six carbonate samples and groundwater from five production wells
were collected from limestone area. XRD, XRF, petrography study and dissolution
test were carried out to characterize the carbonate sample. In-situ field test,
laboratory analysis and hydrochemical facies plot were used to characterize the
hydrochemistry, and further investigated for Irrigation Water Quality Indices
(IWQI). The carbonate samples contained between 45.38% to 53.82% of calcium
oxide (CaO), with SP having the highest content of CaO. Half of the thin sections
were constructed from micrite matrix hence classified as mudstone from the Dunham
classification, the samples with no depositional textures were classified as
crystallized carbonate. The hydrochemical facies showed the water samples
controlled by host rock dissolution. Overall, most of the groundwater samples were
considered safe with evaluation IWQI. In 2019, water samples from PA191 and
PA302 had high concentrations of sodium which is not safe but returned to normal
level in 2020