Geology and microfacies analysis of Gua Keris, Dabong, Kelantan

A research was carried out at the limestone occurrence at Gua Keris, Dabong, Kelantan to identify the geology and microfacies study of the area as well to investigate the paleo depositional environment of the limestone occurrences at Gua Keris. The lithology group involved at Gua Keris area was Gua Musang Group where it comprised of Gua Musang Formation and Gunong Rabong Formation. The microfacies study was based on the microscopic study of the limestone thin section under the polarizing microscope. Both Alizarin Red S and Potassium Ferricyanide was used as mixed staining method to differentiate the mineral of calcite and dolomite and also to differentiate between the ferroan carbonates and non-ferroan carbonates as to ease the thin section study. A total of four microfacies types (Microsparite- MF1, Oosparite- MF2, Ferroan Oomicrite- MF3 and Oomichte- MF4) were identified from the research area based on Folk's Classification. The depositional environment of the research area was identified as shallow marine zone to shallow marine transitional zone to deep marine zone based on the combination of the microfacies data and the field studies where it involved both of the formations under Gua Musang Group.