Sedimentation Rate and 210Pb Sediment Dating at Kuantan and Kemaman Harbours, Malaysia

Sedimentation rate at Kuantan and Kemaman harbours were determined by applying the Pb-210 profiles. The activities of natural radionuclide Pb-210 in sediment core were measured by gross alpha/beta spectrometry. This investigation of sedimentation rate is a part of an overall study to examine and quantify past and present patterns of sedimentation, revealing how deposition of sediments occurs in active physical activities areas such as marine harbours. This is the first report of sedimentation rates in Kuantan and Kemaman harbour, Malaysia which show the sedimentation rate at Kemaman (0.45 +/- 0.08) is higher compared to Kuantan harbour (0.16 +/- 0.02) which might be due to high physical activities (e.g., shipping activities) at the harbour area. By assuming the constant sedimentation rate; we can consider the sediment age at Kemaman is younger than Kuantan harbour. The age of upper 18 cm sediment core at Kemaman harbour and Kuantan harbour is around 113 and 40 years, respectively. Well dated sediment core can be used in forthcoming research to investigate the historical profile of anthropogenic activities affecting the Kuantan and Kemaman harbours.