Journal de géologie et géophysique
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Recent Clay Mineral Composition and Mineral Assemblages in the Sunda Shelf: A Review

Mohamad Arif Che Abd Rahim

Sediment which presents at the bottom of the water column is the weathered product of sediments and mineral rock, mainly from drainage basins and from external inputs of surrounding marginal basins. Clay is weathered product mobilized from its source, where it consists of kaolinite, illite, smectite and chlorite. These compositions morphed into clay minerals, becoming a building block for the compaction of young sediment. Furthermore, fine-sized clay also leads to the accumulation and dissolution of clay minerals, with the presence of temperature and pressure, much like with chemical composition carried with it. The survey shows that the Sunda Shelf received its weathered sediments and minerals mainly via localized drainage basins or neighboring region as external inputs in its semimarginal basins. The high rate of weathering which released large volume of weathered product and being channelled into the basin was due to the monsoons, affecting the surface plane of eroding sedimentary layers and mineral rocks. This literature survey revealed that information is still limited on clay minerals in Sunda Shelf, therefore further research is needed.