Petrographic analysis of Belait Sandstone, Onshore Sarawak: article

Petrographic analysis was used to characterize the rock structure sample of sandstone of Belait Formation (Mid-Upper Miocene) in onshore Sarawak. The sample was properly prepared for petrographic analysis that includes Polarizing Light Microscope (PLM) to make observation regarding grain texture and size, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to obtain quantitative evaluation of chemical composition and Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) to define quantitative compositional and elemental information. On the basis of petrology, the sample is composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, hematite and zircon. The following are the elements that have been determined and identified: Si, O, Zr, Al, Ba, Fe, C, Na, K, Ca and Mn. Hence the results gained from the analysis shown that sandstone sample in Belait Formation has major elemental composition by Si that has higher weight in percentage (41.6Wt.%) as compared to the other element.