Geology and geochemical study of stream sediment at Batu Melintang, Kelantan

The geochemical survey of stream sediment of Batu Melintang area was mainly focused at Tadoh River and its tributaries. The study area located at Batu Melintang, Kelantan, Malaysia 001°44'0" E, 5°45'0'N). It covered twenty five km² of area which include flat plain, mountain and alluvial plain. The objective of study is to study the geology of study area, geochemical characteristic of stream sediments and to determine the concentration and distribution of element and heavy metal concentration of stream sediment. The general geology of study area was determined by constructing lithology and structural map and the area shows mainly three type of lithology that are marble and limestone, granodiorite and sandstone. Twenty six samples of stream sediment were collected for the analysis of five type elements which are iron, zinc, manganese, lead and copper and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Generally the highest element concentration is iron with highest value of 1153ppm, and the second highest element concentration is manganese which is 38.39ppm. The overall element concentration for zinc, copper and lead are low and ranging from lowest 0.2ppm-2ppm. The high concentration of iron element indicates that the area is mainly sediment hosted iron bearing rock, and the area might be contaminated due to human activities nearby the river. The high concentration of manganese also shows that bicarbonate ion is dissolved at marble and carbonate rocks.