Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments

Observations on artesian springs indicate the presence of at least three groundwater bodies that are chemically distinct. Artesian springs are observed from both high and low iron-content ground waters. Fe2+ rich groundwater is rapidly oxidized at surface, and orange deposits of Fe3+ minerals are pr...

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Main Authors: Kessler, L, Padmanabhan, Eswaran
Format: Journal Article
Published: Geological Society of Malaysia 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.gsm.org.my/publications/GSMPublications.htm
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30812
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author Kessler, L
Padmanabhan, Eswaran
author_facet Kessler, L
Padmanabhan, Eswaran
author_sort Kessler, L
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Observations on artesian springs indicate the presence of at least three groundwater bodies that are chemically distinct. Artesian springs are observed from both high and low iron-content ground waters. Fe2+ rich groundwater is rapidly oxidized at surface, and orange deposits of Fe3+ minerals are precipitated. These are either parallel-layered, or form concentric ferric conglomerates in coastal caves. Once eroded, Fe-coated pebbles are scattered along the coast and embedded in recent sediments. Similar deposits are also seen in the Late Miocene Lambir and Miri formations. Field observations supportive the idea of a strong tidal influence on the dynamics of aquifers, and iron mobility in coastal areas. Re-deposition of the Fe in oxidized form could be in combination with other metallic cations, anions or even in chelated forms with organics. The reduction and movement of Fe in aquifers, and iron deposits (coated pebbles, filled burrows) could be linked to the facies signature of coastal Miocene rocks, as it does in present-day sediments. This process might be related to the development of source rocks in coastal offshore deposits.
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publishDate 2008
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-308122017-01-30T13:21:39Z Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments Kessler, L Padmanabhan, Eswaran Sarawak Aquifers Miri Formation iron oxides Malaysia source rocks facies signature Observations on artesian springs indicate the presence of at least three groundwater bodies that are chemically distinct. Artesian springs are observed from both high and low iron-content ground waters. Fe2+ rich groundwater is rapidly oxidized at surface, and orange deposits of Fe3+ minerals are precipitated. These are either parallel-layered, or form concentric ferric conglomerates in coastal caves. Once eroded, Fe-coated pebbles are scattered along the coast and embedded in recent sediments. Similar deposits are also seen in the Late Miocene Lambir and Miri formations. Field observations supportive the idea of a strong tidal influence on the dynamics of aquifers, and iron mobility in coastal areas. Re-deposition of the Fe in oxidized form could be in combination with other metallic cations, anions or even in chelated forms with organics. The reduction and movement of Fe in aquifers, and iron deposits (coated pebbles, filled burrows) could be linked to the facies signature of coastal Miocene rocks, as it does in present-day sediments. This process might be related to the development of source rocks in coastal offshore deposits. 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30812 http://www.gsm.org.my/publications/GSMPublications.htm Geological Society of Malaysia fulltext
spellingShingle Sarawak
Aquifers
Miri Formation
iron oxides
Malaysia
source rocks
facies signature
Kessler, L
Padmanabhan, Eswaran
Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title_full Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title_fullStr Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title_full_unstemmed Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title_short Aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of Miri, Sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
title_sort aquifers and ferric spring deposits south of miri, sarawak: impact on facies characterisation of coastal sediments
topic Sarawak
Aquifers
Miri Formation
iron oxides
Malaysia
source rocks
facies signature
url http://www.gsm.org.my/publications/GSMPublications.htm
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30812