Warta Geologi, Vol. 47, No. 2, August 2021, pp. 113–121

Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of earth materials
in a weathering profile over the Kuantan Basalt, Pahang, Malaysia

John Kuna Raj

No. 83, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi 2,

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Email address: jkr.ttdi.tmc@gmail.com

Abstract:
Three broad morphological zones can be differentiated at the weathering
profile; the top, 3.80 m thick, pedological soil (zone I with sub-zones IA, IB
and IC) comprising soft to stiff, brown clays and the bottom bedrock (zone III)
being an outcrop of vesicular olivine basalt. The intermediate zone II
(saprock) is 1.12 m thick and consists of brown, very stiff, sandy clayey silt
with many lateritic concretions. Laboratory constant head permeability tests
show the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) to vary with depth; sub-zone IB
having a conductivity of 0.007 cm/hr, and sub-zone IC (saprolite), and zone II
(saprock), having conductivities of 0.147, and 0.447, cm/hr, respectively. The
conductivity values show no correlation with physical properties of the earth
materials, but increase with increasing sand, gravel, and silt, contents. The
conductivity values also decrease with increasing clay and colloid contents.
The low hydraulic conductivity of sub-zone IB will lead to surface runoff and
ponding over natural ground surfaces during rainfall events, though over
disturbed ground surfaces, infiltration is anticipated in view of exposed
saprolite and saprock earth materials with relatively high conductivity.

Keywords:
Weathering profile, Kuantan Basalt, saturated hydraulic conductivity

DOI :
https://doi.org/10.7186/wg472202102

ISSN
0126–5539; e-ISSN 2682-7549