HYDROLOGY OF QUARTERNARY VOLCANOCLASTIC ROCKS IN LEMBANG,
ELABORATION OF RESISTIVITY STUDY AND CORE ANALYSIS
Yoal Dianto
Faculty of Geology, Universitas Padjadjaran
yoal.dianto@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract
Lembang is situated in Northern Bandung, West Java. This
hidrological study was conducted in 3 sites of geoelectric
(BMC-1, BMC-2, and BMC-3). Hidrology of this region is
strongly associated with volcanoclastic deposits mainly of
tuff lapilli, coarse tuff, breccias with middle to high in
productivity, the impermeable emerged as compacted fine
tuff or coarse tuff, the pattern of fractures influenced the
existence of aquifer. This exploration integrated the study
of morphology and topography, study of local outcrops,
core descriptions, and geophysics study using geoelectric
method in Schlumberger configuration. Geophysics study
was conducted using variations within resistivity values to
detect properties, depth, thickness, and extent of rocks
layer, in addition subsurface structural geology. BMC-1
vertical sections interpreted as 8 layers in rocks
assemblage, BMC-2 vertical sections with 7 layers, and
BMC-3 vertical sections with 7 layers. There are two
packages of pyroclastic rocks layers.
Late Quarternary layer on the upper part consisted of
Coarse grained tuff (66 Ohm meter), fine grained tuff (32 –
48 Ohm meter), coarse grained lapilli tuff (108 Ohm
meter) thinned out westward.
Early Quarternary layer on the lower part consisted coarse
grained tuff (86 Ohm meter), fine grained (30-51 Ohm
meter) compacted in downward, fine compacted tuff (10
Ohm meter) in western part and breccias (302 Ohm meter)
in northern part thinned out southward.
The boundary or contact between Early Quartenary layer
and Late Quartenary layer is interpreted as a normal fault
with SW-NE in strike direction, and dip to the NW.
Volcanoclastic rocks of Early to Late Quartenary in age,
has a good potency as aquifer. Major structural geology as
fault may allow minor structures as joints and fractures to
be developed in rocks layer, primarily within Late
Quarternary rocks. Water flowing direction is NW-SE
perpendicular with fault trend.
Keywords: aquifer, geoelectric, Lembang, resistivity,
hydrology, volcanoclastic.
Introduction
Lembang is situated in Northern Bandung, West Java.
Within this study, the elaboration of geological and
geophysics study were carried out in term of underground
water exploration. Surface data of geomorphology,
structural, and outcrops lithology mixed with subsurface
data. Subsurface data were acquired through core analysis,
and geoelectric study using resistivity method in
Schlumberger configuration, which conducted in 3 sites
(BMC-1, BMC-2, and BMC-3). Investigation using
resistivity method in Schlumberger configuration is meant
to estimate the existence, depth, thickness, and distributions
of rocks layer based on difference in specific resistivity
values.
The output of this study is a general spatial images of water
bearing formation distribution. Calculation of specific
resistivity value were to be done in order to construct the
subsurface architecture of water bearing rocks layers. These
information are essential to determine where the drilling
sites will be, in exploitation stage.
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphic sequences and hidrological aspects of Nothern
Bandung are strongly related with volcanoclastic rocks,
where the oldest unit that exposed is Cikapundung
Formation (Oud Kwartaire Vulkanische afzettingen)
composed by conglomerates and volcanic breccias, tuff,
and interbedded of andesitic lava, it had a good
permeability to act as aquifer.
This unit has erosional surface contact, upon which the
Cibeureum Formation (Jong Vulkanische afzettingen)
overlied. Cibeureum Formation is a cyclic deposits, which
consisted of breccias-fragments of tuff, scoria-andesite-
basalt and pumice (with maximum thickness of 100m).
This formation is a major aquiver with permeability value
of 4x10-6 to 2x10-5 meter/second. Its average trasmisivity is
400 m/day, the aeration zone extended from Dago Hill
toward Cipaganti River (Hartono,1980).
Cibeureum Formation has an interfingering relationship
with Kosambi Formation that consisted of tuffaceous
claystone and pumice of lake deposits. Upon this formation
there is Cikidang Formation (Basalt Stromen van den
Tangkuban Prahu) resulted by erupsion within period B
and C. This unit consisted by basaltic lava, volcanic
conglomerates, coarse tuff with parallel bedding and
volcanic breccias. As the youngest deposits approximated
is fluvial deposits of Cikapundung River as unconsolidate.
The age of this deposits is approximated range from
Pleistocene to Holocene (Recent). Formation boundaries
recognizable through lithological analysis, well data,
radioactivity curves, and electrical curves. Boundary
between Cikapundung Formation and Cibeureum
Formation has a prominent characteristic remarked by high
kick of gamma ray curves, due to black clayey soil of an
ancient soil, which overlied right between the two of the
formations.
Sedimentological studies toward Cibeureum Formation had
revealed that this formation is a gradational cyclic of
breccias conglomerates fining toward tuffaceous in upward
direction. At least it can be subdivided into 7 cyclics, which
also apparent through electrical curves analysis, and
radioactivity curves. Subsequent grain size analysis
provides a tool to classify this deposits as density flows or
lahar that was flowing as fan density current filling into
Bandung ancient lake.
Structure
Lembang Fault is a significant product of tectonic
deformation, that extends from the southern part of
Lembang toward Western part in Cisarua, and also
elongates toward Eastern part trough Maribaya continue to
Manglayang Mountain. This is a normal fault that separated
of hangingwall Tangkuban Parahu Mountain and footwall
of Northern Bandung Hill, the throw of the fault is
increasingly easternward. The geometry of aquifer and
water-bearing formation in several sites are controlled by
structural deformation styles, as major styles represented by
tensional styles of Lembang Fault.
Figure 1. Outcrop of a volcanoclastic rocks. Coarse grained
of grayish tuff, grayish black on the weathered surfaces,
well interbedded sequence in an inclined geometry.
Data and Method
Geoelectrical investigation was conducted based on
physical properties of rocks, where each different rocks has
a distinctive specific resistivity. This property depends on
several factors which are rocks age, electrolysis content,
fluid content, density, minerals composition, porosity, and
permeability.
If a direct electrical current to be applied directly to the
earth surface through a pair of current electrode C1 and C2,
continued by measurement of electrical potential difference
at P1 and P2 electrode, then specific resistivity will be
obtained. Schlumber Configuration which is applied in this
geoelectrical investigation, is where a pair of potential
electrode P1 and P2 located in between the midst of a pair
current electrode C1 and C2.
In every measurement, the pair of current electrode C1 and
C2 will be removed in certain distance that had been
established before, meanwhile the electrical potential
electrode P1 and P2 will be removed in certain distance with
requirements that the distance of P1P2/2 equal with 1/5
times the distance of C1C2/2.
Parameter data that will be obtained from measurement in
form of electrical current value (mA) and electrical
potential value (mV), in refer to Ohm Law than the specific
resistivity will be obtained by multiplied it with distance
factor (K) as before.
General equations to find the value of specific resistivity,
using Schlumberger configuration method, as follow :
s = K. V/I
K =  /D[ (L/2)2 – (l/2)2 ]
where : s = Specific Resistivity (.meter)
V = Potential Difference (Volt)
K = Distance Factor
I = Electrical current (Ampere)
L = Length of C1C2 current electrode (meter)
D = Length of P1P2 potential electrode (meter)
 = Constant (3,14...)
Figure 2. Geoelectric method using specific resistivity.
Schlumberger configuration.
Result and Discussion Sandstones (single thin layer), dark gray, medium-coarse
sand grained size, medium – well sorted, grain supported,
Core Description
Well: BMC I
angular-subangular in roundness, loose, saturated
L oca tion: Lemba ng - Ba ndung
D epth (m )
Litologi Description
Sca le 1 : 50
Breccias (bottommost section), dark grey, matrix (±70%)
0
silt – medium sand, components consisted of igneous rock
- Soil, completely weathered, ber warna co kelat, besar butirclay-fine sand ,low
1
plasticity, moist
- Soil, extremely weathered, berwarna cokelat-abu kehitaman, besar butir silt-medium
gravel-pebble size, medium-poorly sorted, matrix
2 sand, saturated
supported, angular-subangular in roundness, compacted
moist.
3
- B r e k s i, moderately w eathered, b e rw a rn a c o k e la t k e m e r a h a n , matriks
supported (± 8 0 % ) b e ru k u ra n silt-medium sand, saturated, K o m p o n e n
4 b a tu a n b e k u b e ru k u ra n granule-pebble, medium-poorly sorted, k e m a s

5
te r b u k a , b e n tu k b u tir angular-subangular
- B r e k s i , m od era tel y wea th ered , b e r w a r n a c o k e l a t k e a b u - a b u a n , ma tri ks
s up po rt ed ( ± 8 0 % ) b e r u k u r a n fi ne s an d-co arse sa nd , sat ur at ed , K o m p o n e n
The West-East lateral section of BMC-1 and BMC-2, can
be subdivided into two Late Quartenary pyroclastic rocks
b a tu a n b e k u b e r u k u r a n g ra nu le- cob bl e , mediu m-p oo r ly s or ted , k e m a s
6 t e r b u k a , b e n t u k b u t i r a ng ul ar-s ub an gu l ar
- Breksi, moderately weathered, berwarna cokelat, matriks supported (± 80%) berukuran
7 fine sand-coarse sand, saturated, Komponen batuan beku berukuran granule - pebble ,

8
medium-poorly sorted, kemas terbuka, bentuk butir angular-subangular
- B r e k s i , slightly weathe red, b e r w a r n a c o k e l a t , matrik s supporte d (± 8 0 % ) b e r u k u r a n
fine sand-coarse sand, saturated, K o m p o n e n b a t u a n b e k u b e r u k u ra n granule-pebble ,
assemblages which emplaced the upper part of the section,
varied in grain size from fine grained to coarse grained. In
9 medium- poorly sorted, k e m a s t e r b u k a , b e n t u k b u t i r angular-subangular
- B r e k s i , s lightly we athere d, b e r w a r n a a b u k e c o k e l a t a n , mat rik s supported ( ± 7 0 % )
be rukuran c lay-coarse sand, moist , k o m p o n e n b a t u a n b e k u b e r u k u r a n granule -c obble ,
m edium- poorly sorted, k e m a s t e r b u k a , b e n t u k b u t i r angular- subangular
10

BMC-1 these rocks assemblage lied within the depth of 0-

- B r e k s i , sl ightl y w e athe red , b e r w a r n a a b u k e c o k e l a t a n , ma tri ks support ed ( ± 7 0 % )
b e r u k u r a n si lt-fi ne s and, satu rate d, k o m p o n e n b a t u a n b e k u b e r u k u r a n coa rse sand- co bble,
poorl y s orte d, k e m a s t e r b u k a , b e n t u k b u t i r angular- suba ngular
11
- Breksi, slightly weathered, berwarna abu kehitaman, matriks supported(± 80%)
12
berukuran silt-fine sand, saturated, komponen batuan beku berukuran coarse sand - granule
medium sorted, kemas terbuka, bentuk butir angular-subangular , agak sukar diremas
,
77 meter (specific resistivity 41 Ohm meter), meanwhile in
13

14
BMC-2 these rocks assemblage lied within the depth of 0-
15
41 meter (specific resistivity 29 Ohm meter).
16

17
Consequently, it can be inferred that these rocks
18 assemblage inclined to the West, and coarse grained lapilli
19
tuff emerged in the Eastern part, then thinning out to the
20

21
West.
22
- Brek si, berwarna ab u kehitaman, matriks (±80%) berukuranmedium sand - coarse
sand, komponen batuan beku berukuran berukurangranule - pebble poorly
, sorted ,
The Early Quarternary assemblage, consisted of coarse to
23
kemas terbuka, bentuk butir men yudut menydut tan ggung, mudah diremas, saturated
fine grained pyroclastic rocks, lied within the depth of 77-
167 meter with specific resistivity of 51 Ohm meter in
BMC-1, and lied within depth of 41- 167 meter with
specific resistivity of 86 Ohm meter in BMC-2. With the
layer of coarse grained tuff thicken to the Eastern part.

Figure 3. Core description

Soil (topmost section), completely weathered, brownish,

clay-fine sand, low plasticity, moist. Breccia, moderately
weathered, reddish brown, Matrix supported (± 80%) silt-
medium sand grained size, saturated, components consisted
of igneous rock gravel-pebble size, medium-poorly sorted,
matrix supported, angular-subangular in roundness.
Breccias (midsection) dark grey, matrix (±80%) medium
sand – coarse sand grained size, components consisted of
igneous rock gravel-pebble size, poorly sorted, matrix
supported, angular-subangular in roundness, friable, Figure 4. Vertical section of specific resistivity value from
saturated. BMC-2 site of measurement.
From the South-North lateral section of BMC-2 and BMC-
3, it had a general features similar with West-East lateral
section, but the coarse grained lapilli tuff layer and fine
grained tuff layer that lied on the upper part of the section
are thicken in the Northern part, and steeply inclined to the
North. In addition, in Northern Part within the depth of
140,53 meter existed volcanic breccias layer of Early
Quarternary age, meanwhile the same layer could not be
encountered in Western and Eastern part (BMC-1 and
BMC-2).
From 3 Dimensional model and analysis of all sites of
vertical specific resistivity sections (BMC-1, BMC-2,
BMC-3), it can be inferred that The Early Quarternary and
Late Quarternary volcanic deposits are separated by a
normal fault that has strike direction of SW-NE and dip to
the NW (coarse grained tuff with specific resistivity value
of 86 Ohm meter thicken in BMC-3 site).
Figure 5. Lateral section traverse of specific resistivity
measurements BMC-1, BMC-2, and BMC-3. Interpretation
of processed specific resistivity to determine rocks
dimensions both thickness and depth.
Conclusions
1.There are two packages of pyroclastic rocks layers:
a). Late Quarternary layer on the upper part consisted of
Coarse grained tuff (66 Ohm meter), fine grained tuff (32 –
48 Ohm meter), coarse grained lapilli tuff (108 Ohm
meter) thinned out westward.
Figure 6. Cross section model of lateral North-South, East-
West and vertical depth, suggested the extension and
thinning out of rocks layer. Model with Rockplot 3D.
b). Early Quarternary layer on the lower part consisted of
coarse grained tuff (86 Ohm meter), fine grained (30-51
Ohm meter) compacted in downward, fine compacted tuff
(10 Ohm meter) in western part and breccias (302 Ohm
meter) in northern part thinned out southward.
2. The boundary or contact between Early Quartenary layer
and Late Quartenary layer is interpreted as a normal fault
with SW-NE in strike direction, and dip to the NW.
Volcanoclastic rocks of Early to Late Quartenary in age,
has good potency as aquifer. Major structural geology as
fault may allow minor structures as joints and fractures to
be developed in rocks layer, primarily within Late
Quarternary rocks.
3. Water flowing direction is NW-SE perpendicular with
fault trend.
References
Hartono, D., 1980, Thesis, ITB.
Koesoemadinata, R. P., and Hartono D., 1981, Proceedings
PIT-X IAGI, 318-336.
Silitonga, P.H., Sistematical Geological Map of Java,
Bandung Sheet, GRDC.
Telford, 1992, Geophysical Prospecting, Mc.Graw Hill.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks are due Yudih Saamena and M. Rizwan. I
acknowledge generous assistance and discussions that have
been conducted.