GEOMECHANIC PROPERTIES AND PROVENANCE ANALYSIS OF QUARTZ SANDSTONE FROM THE WARUKIN FORMATION

Abstract

Quartz sandstone is the main constituent material of the Warukin Formation in the Kusan Block,
Tanah Bumbu regency, South Kalimantan. This study aims to determine provenance of the Warukin quartz
sandstone by using petrographic analysis method. The method is carried out by an approach based on the
percentage of feldspar, quartz, and rock fragments composition plotted on the Q-F-L ternary diagram. For
provenance determination, it is done by plotting the composition on the Qm-F-L ternary diagram. The analysis
was carried out on 7 sandstone samples taken from the surface of mine slopes at the Warukin Formation. Based
on microscopic observation on thin sections of the samples, quartz minerals of the samples are monocrystalline.
Sandstones in the Kusan Block have homogeneous property in terms of constituent mineral content. According
to the Pettijohn classification in 1975, sandstones and claystones of the Warukin Formation are both classified
as greywacke. The result of provenance analysis according to the classification by Dickinson and Suczek in
1979 shows that the sandstones provenance is recycled orogen with subclassification of quartzose recycled.
Provenance of sandstones at the Warukin Formation is from the older formation.