Morphometric and geological features of potential karst depressions in Kanthan limestone formation, Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, limestones extensively outcrops in the northern half of Peninsular Malaysia, such as in Langkawi Islands, northern Perlis, Kinta Valley in Perak, southern Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur Valley in Selangor. Although these limestone formations vary considerably in geological age and tectonic setting they are very similar in chemical composition; being dense, recrystallized, and massive varieties of limestone with little impurity; these are more likely to develop large caverns within them. Currently, most of these limestones are continuously quarrying for the production of dimension stone, aggregate resources, and raw materials for cement industries, part of urban development infrastructure and could be foreseen as future potential reservoirs of high-quality groundwater. Nonetheless, the fragility of karst environments makes it highly vulnerable to a variety of different geological hazards. The aim of this study is to determine the geohazard susceptibility of karst depressions in Kinta Valley, Ipoh using morphometric measurement and joints properties calculations. The joint properties calculate include spacing, roughness, aperture, persistence, infilling and weathering. This study describes the field data measurements of few quarries in Kinta Valley, Ipoh to examine the morphometric and geological features of limestone karst in the area. The effect of geologic evolution, structural properties and hydrogeologic variables on the geomorphologic and spatial distribution of karst depressions are discussed in this study.