Mapping the Kinta Valley karst system, Peninsular Malaysia: Implications for Better Insight of Subsurface Karst Features

The Kinta Valley karst system is characterized by residual limestone hills which are immensely fractured and honeycombed with karst caves, whose passage morphologies appear rectilinear, convoluted and circular. It is not uncommon to observe similar karst morphologies being interpreted from seismic data. The uncertainties about the true nature of the subsurface karst features highlight the importance of studying subaerial karst system, as comprehending the origin and nature of the latter is the key to envisage and interpret the former. Lineament analyses, using Spot image, and cave surveying were conducted to understand the relation between geologic structures and karst features. Similar orientation of fractures and karstic caves channels were obtained, and the continuity of fracture traces was inferred, which enables us to envisage the occurrence of the same trend of fractures in the subsurface karst.
Key words: Cave passage, Fracture, Karst, Kinta Valley