Warta Geologi, Vol. 49, No. 2, August 2023, pp. 55–63
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 zones can be differentiated at the weathering profile; an upper 3.9 m thick pedological soil (zone I), an intermediate 21.4 m thick saprock (zone II), and the underlying bedrock (zone III). To determine the soil moisture retention characteristics of saprock, samples were collected at vertical depths of 5.7 m (sample A), 9.1 m (sample B), 12.7 m (sample C) and 16.9 m (sample D). Samples A and B with porosities of 39% and 48%, had 7% and 6% gravel fractions, 48% and 57% sand fractions, 32% and 30% silt fractions, and 13% and 7% clay fractions, respectively. Samples C and D with similar porosities of 46%, had 6% and 17% gravel fractions, 56% and 45% sand fractions, 32% silt fractions, and 6% clay fractions, respectively. Laboratory determinations employing the pressure plate method show increasing suctions from 0 kPa through 0.98 kPa and 9.8 kPa to 33 kPa and 1,500 kPa to result in gravimetric soil moisture retentions of 28.3% through 24.0% and 19.2% to 15.0% and 5.7% for sample A, and from 21.7% through 21.1% and 17.8% to 11.9% and 3.8% for sample B. Similarly increasing auctions yield gravimetric soil moisture retentions of 28.3% through 34.7% and 29.1% to 23.2% and 7.0% for sample C, and from 28.4% to 28.1% and 23.4% to 18.6% and 5.0% for sample D. Regression analyses of gravel, sand and clay fractions plotted against moisture contents retained at large suctions (33 kPa and 1500 kPa) yield variable trends with low correlation coefficients (R2<0.179), though plots involving silt contents yield positive trends with larger correlation coefficients (R2 >0.525). It is concluded that the adsorption of water on the surfaces of silt particles that most likely results in retention of soil moisture by saprock.
Keywords: Rhyolite, weathering profile, saprock, soil moisture retention, silt content
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Manuscript received 17 March 2023;
Received in revised form 20 May 2023;
Accepted 20 May 2023
Available online 30 August 2023
DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/wg492202302
0126-5539; 2682-7549
Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia.
© 2023 by the Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License 4.0
