Geochemical characteristics of serpentinite soils from Malaysia

Tashakor Mahsa, . and Wan Zuhairi Wan Yaacob, . and Hamzah Mohamad, . and Azman A. Ghani, . Geochemical characteristics of serpentinite soils from Malaysia. pp. 35-49. ISSN 1394-7990

The geochemistry of ophiolite related serpentinite soils has been one of the most challenging concerns among soil scientists and ecologists for several decades. Despite increasing global knowledge about the specificity of serpentinites they have received limited attention in Malaysia. Considering the role of climate in the chemical composition of the derived soils this study focused on tropical serpentinite soils in Malaysia. A total of 27 soil samples was collected from five serpentinite outcrops in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and analysed elementally. Based on their major oxide contents the soils were divided into two groups of rich in Fe and rich in Mg which represent mature and immature soils respectively. However the most striking result that emerged from this study was the anomalous concentration of three trace metals of chromium nickel and cobalt in the studied serpentinite soils in comparison with those of the adjacent sedimentary soils (soils of Crocker). The observed elemental ranges were Cr 2 427-27 863 Ni 850-4 753 and Co 35-167 (in g g-) while the ranges for these elements for the soils of Crocker formation were Cr 67-182 Ni 33-270 and Co 11-23 (in g g-). It is obvious that the amounts of Cr Ni and Co in the studied serpentinites soils were 105 15 and 6 times higher respectively than those in Crocker soils comparing with the Dutch List standard and Great London Council guidelines serpentinite soils of Malaysia can be considered to be heavily contaminated with Cr Ni and Co.

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Abstract

The geochemistry of ophiolite related serpentinite soils has been one of the most challenging concerns among soil scientists and ecologists for several decades. Despite increasing global knowledge about the specificity of serpentinites they have received limited attention in Malaysia. Considering the role of climate in the chemical composition of the derived soils this study focused on tropical serpentinite soils in Malaysia. A total of 27 soil samples was collected from five serpentinite outcrops in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and analysed elementally. Based on their major oxide contents the soils were divided into two groups of rich in Fe and rich in Mg which represent mature and immature soils respectively. However the most striking result that emerged from this study was the anomalous concentration of three trace metals of chromium nickel and cobalt in the studied serpentinite soils in comparison with those of the adjacent sedimentary soils (soils of Crocker). The observed elemental ranges were Cr 2 427-27 863 Ni 850-4 753 and Co 35-167 (in g g-) while the ranges for these elements for the soils of Crocker formation were Cr 67-182 Ni 33-270 and Co 11-23 (in g g-). It is obvious that the amounts of Cr Ni and Co in the studied serpentinites soils were 105 15 and 6 times higher respectively than those in Crocker soils comparing with the Dutch List standard and Great London Council guidelines serpentinite soils of Malaysia can be considered to be heavily contaminated with Cr Ni and Co.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Serpentine soils
AGROVOC Term:	Geochemistry
AGROVOC Term:	Surveys
AGROVOC Term:	Trace elements
AGROVOC Term:	Air drying
AGROVOC Term:	Boric acid
AGROVOC Term:	Soil sampling
AGROVOC Term:	Chemical composition
AGROVOC Term:	Chromium
AGROVOC Term:	Cobalt
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8008

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