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Sumatra is recognized as one of the Indonesian islands with a big potential for mineral deposits particularly along the belt known as Neogene Sumatra gold axis. However, the publication of the gold resources is still restricted as regional/district scale maps or limited in some locations and internal company reports, hence, a detailed study on deposit scale remains limited. This study aims to document the deposit geology, ore characteristics and geophysical features of the Tambang Sawah prospect at Lebong district, Sumatra Island. The study was done by geological mapping, sampling, and analyzing of selected samples by petrographic, ore microscopic, X-Ray Diffraction, micro X-Ray Fluorescence and various geochemical analyses to identify ore characteristics. The geophysical survey was carried out using geomagnetic and induced polarization. Ore mineralization is manifested by various alteration types such as argillic, propylitic, and silicification, which suffered andesitic breccia and granite host-rocks. Gold mineralization is in the form of quartz veins with typical opening space filling textures such as colloform, crustiform, cockade, moss, comb, and brecciated. The main sulfides consist of pyrite, chalcopyrite, covelite, sphalerite and galena. Gold commonly occurs as free grains. Highest grade gold of up to 21.3 ppm is associated with colloform and cockade-crustiform quartz veins. Geophysical surveys indicate that gold mineralization is associated with low geomagnetic anomaly areas. The 3D modelling of the IP survey reveals that the ore mineralization may occur at 75m depth. Two target areas located at the northeastern and southwestern portions are recommended for a follow-up detailed exploration based on the mapped ore geology, ore characteristics, and geophysical anomalies.

Sebuku Island is located at the southeastern tip of Kalimantan Island and has geological similarities with the Bobaris-Meratus complex in distribution pattern and stratigraphic sequence. The pattern of straightness of geological structures between the two, both folds and faults, is generally directed from northeast-southwest to northwest-southeast. The previous geological research on Sebuku Island focused on the distribution of ultramafic rocks, which are speculated to contain iron, particularly from laterite soils. This research aims to determine the rock units in the study area to update the geological map of Sebuku Island, especially in the Sei Pinang and Halaban areas. The research method consists of fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and data analyses. The geological fieldwork collected 34 samples from detailed mapping on outcrops, trenching, and drilling. Geological structure observations were carried out on fresh outcrops and measured 57 structural geological elements from 6 locations. Petrographic analysis of 34 samples was carried out with the aim of determining rock type and mineralogical composition. Stereographic analysis of geological structure measurement data was used to define the general direction and type of geological structures in the investigated outcrops. The geological map is constructed on the basic topographic map in the scale 1:50,000 using Map-Info Pro v17.0.5. Based on petrographic observations and detailed field observations, especially in North Damar, from surface outcrops and drill core observations from Madang, the following results are revealed. In the geology of North Damar, in particular, and Sebuku Island, in general, the lithology can be described as an ultramafic rock unit (lherzolite, harzburgite, and dunite), pyroclastic rock unit (crystallo-lithoclastic tuff and crystalloclastic tuff), limestone unit, dike rock unit (microgabbro and diorite), sandstone unit, and alluvial deposit. Almost 60% of Sebuku Island outcrops belong to the ultramafic rock units, which are tectonically covered by crystalline lithic tuff and crystalline tuff and volcaniclastic rock units with interbedded limestone, unconformably covered by sandstone units, alluvial deposits, and swamp deposits. Microgabbro and diorite were observed from the drill core and were not exposed to the surface. Hydrothermal mineralization is indicated by quartz veins cross-cutting the pyroclastic rock group observed in drill cores. This research shows a more detailed geological description of the study area compared to previous research and regional geological map.

Provenance, paleoweathering, and tectonic environment were studied on the iron sand samples taken from Cipatujah and Cikalong areas in Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia using their mineralogical and geochemical data. These data were obtained from mineralogy grain analysis, X-ray fluorescence, dan ICP MS. From this study, iron sand deposits in both areas vary in grain sizes from very coarse to fine sand. Various minerals, such as magnetite, ilmenite, hematite, pyroxene, amphibole, garnet, quartz, ankerite, plagioclase, and zircon were identified. In addition, rock fragments, fossils, and clay are also found. In term of grain size, the placer deposit is geochemically classified as Fe shale (clay-silt grain size). The provenance shows that the basic rocks act as the source rock based on REE values, heavy mineral assemblage, and elemental ratios. Based on the provenance characteristics, regional geological framework, and catchment area pattern, the Jampang Formation and Young Formation of Mount Cikuray are the most possible sources of iron sand. The chemical index of alteration calculated from major oxide values indicates that the source area had intense chemical weathering. Heavy minerals contained in iron sand deposits reveal a low maturity based on compositional variability (16.58–36.55). Both iron sand deposits from Cipatujah and Cikalong originated in a continental arc setting, which coincides with the current tectonic setting of western Java.

In Indonesia, gold is commonly mined from epithermal-, porphyry-, and skarn-type deposits that are commonly found in volcanic belts along island arcs or active continental margin settings. Numerous gold prospects, however, were recently discovered in association with metamorphic rocks. This paper focuses on metamorphic rock-hosted gold mineralization in Eastern Indonesia, in particular the Bombana (SE Sulawesi) and Buru Island (Maluku) prospects. At Bombana, gold-bearing quartz-veins are hosted by the Pompangeo metamorphic complex. Sheared, segmented veins vary in thickness from 2 cm to 2 m. Gold is mainly present in the form of ‘free gold’ among silicate minerals and closely related to cinnabar, stibnite, tripuhyite, and in places, minor arsenopyrite. The gold distribution is erratic, however, ranging from below detection limit up to 134 g/t. At least three generations of veins are identified. The first is parallel to the foliation, the second crosscuts the first generation of veins as well as the foliation, and the late-stage laminated deformed quartz-calcite vein represents the third mineralization stage. The early veins are mostly massive to crystalline, occasionally brecciated, and sigmoidal, whereas the second-stage veins are narrower than the first ones and less subjected to brecciation. Gold grades in the second- and third-stage veins are on average higher than that in the earlier veins. Microthermometric and Raman spectrometric studies of fluid inclusions indicate abundant H2O-NaCl and minor H2O-NaCl-CO2 fluids. Homogenization temperatures and salinities vary from 114 to 283 ºC and 0.35 to 9.08 wt.% NaCl eq., respectively. Crush-leach analysis of fluid inclusions suggests that the halogen fluid chemistry is not identical to sea water, magmatic or epithermal related fluids, but tends to be similar to fluids in mesothermal-type gold deposits. In Buru Island (Gunung Botak and Gogorea prospects), two distinct generations of quartz veins are identified. Early quartz veins are segmented, sigmoidal discontinuous and parallel to the foliation of the host rock. This generation of quartz veins is characterized by crystalline relatively clear quartz, and weakly mineralized with low sulfide and gold contents. The second type of quartz veins occurs within the ‘mineralized zone’ of about 100 m in width and ~1,000 m in length. Gold mineralization is intensely overprinted by argillic alteration. The mineralization-alteration zone is probably parallel to the mica schist foliation and strongly controlled by N-S or NE-SW-trending structures. Gold-bearing quartz veins are characterized by banded texture particularly following host rock foliation and sulphide banding, brecciated and rare bladed-like texture. Alteration types consist of propylitic (chlorite, calcite, sericite), argillic and carbonation represented by graphite banding and carbon flakes. Ore mineral comprises pyrite, native gold, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite. Cinnabar and stibnite are present in association with gold. Ore chemistry indicates that 11 out of 15 samples yielded more than 1 g/t Au, in which 6 of them graded in excess of 3 g/t Au. All high-grade samples are composed of limonite or partly contain limonitic material. This suggests the process of supergene enrichment. Interestingly, most of the high-grade samples contain also high concentrations of As (up to 991ppm), Sb (up to 885ppm), and Hg (up to 75ppm). Fluid inclusions in both quartz vein types consist of 4 phases including L-rich, V-rich, L-V-rich and L1-L2-V (CO2)-rich phases. The mineralizing hydrothermal fluid typically is CO2-rich, of moderate temperature (300-400 ºC), and low salinity (0.36 to 0.54 wt.% NaCl eq). Based on those key features, gold mineralization in Bombana and Buru Island tends to meet the characteristics of orogenic, mesothermal types of gold deposit. Metamorphic rock-hosted gold deposits could represent the new targets for gold exploration particularly in Eastern Indonesia.

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.v1i1.172This paper discusses characteristics of some key features of the primary Buru gold deposit as a tool for a better understanding of the deposit genesis. Currently, about 105,000 artisanal and small-scale gold miners (ASGM) are operating in two main localities, i.e. Gogorea and Gunung Botak by digging pits/shafts following gold-bearing quartz vein orientation. The gold extraction uses mercury (amalgamation) and cyanide processing. The field study identifies two types/generations of quartz veins namely (1) Early quartz veins which are segmented, sigmoidal, dis­continous, and parallel to the foliation of host rock. The quartz vein is lack of sulfides, weak mineralized, crystalline, relatively clear, and maybe poor in gold, and (2) Quartz veins occurred within a ‘mineralized zone’ of about 100 m in width and ~1,000 m in length. The gold mineralization is strongly overprinted by an argillic alteration zone. The mineralization-alteration zone is probably parallel to the mica schist foliation and strongly controlled by N-S or NE-SW-trending structures. The gold-bearing quartz veins are characterized by banded texture particularly colloform following host rock foliation and sulphide banding, brecciated, and rare bladed-like texture. The alteration types consist of propylitic (chlorite, calcite, sericite), argillic, and carbonation represented by graphite banding and carbon flakes. The ore mineralization is characterized by pyrite, native gold, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite. Cinnabar, stibnite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite are rare or maybe absent. In general, sulphide minerals are rare (

The eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 leads to the lahar flow disaster in the region of the mountain slopes. Due to the impact caused by the lahar flow, it is important to develop warning criteria for lahar flow disaster with a simple method corresponding to the limitation of existing data and parameters. One of the methods is by analyzing rainfall data to predict the occurrence of lahar flow in Gendol River. It applies the setting of standard rainfall for warning and evacuation of sediment disasters based on Guidelines for the Development of Warning and Evacuation System against Sediment Disasters in Developing Countries, published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan, 2004. This study analyzed the critical line (CL) which can be used to predict the occurrence of lahar flow based on the rain characteristics namely working rainfall and rainfall intensity. Furthermore, it can be established by warning line (WL) and the evacuation line (EL) as a basis for determining the standard rainfall for warning (R1) and standard rainfall for evacuation (R2). The value of R1 obtained ± 6 mm and R2 ± 29 mm. The value of R1 and R2 are strongly influenced by the availability of rainfall data and occurrence of lahar flow. The results of this research were expected to be used as input for the warning criteria development of early warning system lahar flow disaster on the slopes of Mount Merapi, particularly in the area of Gendol River.

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The subduction-related Sunda-Banda arc hosts several giant and major Cu–Au–Mo porphyry and epithermal Au systems, making it one of the most important magmatic-related metallogenic belts in Indonesia. They are accompanied by a number of smaller systems, one of which is the recently discovered Randu-Kuning porphyry Cu-Au deposit on Java Island. The present study investigates the geochemical characteristics of this deposit through whole-rock and mineral geochemistry and mineral geothermobarometry, focusing on three sequential dioritic intrusions that make up the host igneous complex, two barren and the third mineralized. Moreover, a comparative analysis is performed between other porphyry deposits in the Sunda-Banda arc and with Grasberg in Papua. This study shows that the older porphyry deposits have mostly similar geochemical characteristics to the younger deposits, suggesting the same magma source, which is mantle-derived oxidized I-type magma. Amphibole geothermobarometry shows that the formation of syn-ore intrusion in the older porphyry was higher in temperature and pressure than those at the younger porphyry. The halogen and oxygen fugacities inferred from biotite and amphibole chemistry indicate an oxidized, water- and halogen-rich melt. Our study shows that combining amphibole and biotite chemistry and whole-rock geochemical data is useful to fingerprint the magmatic-hydrothermal processes, especially where multiple magmatic phases occur. This research also provides valuable insights into the magmatic-hydrothermal physiochemical conditions during the formation of the mineralized system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to find out the provenance, paleo weathering, tectonic environment, sediment maturity, and economic value of beach sand deposits in two study areas. The study areas were located on south coast of Purworejo-Kebumen and Cilacap, respectively. Ten representative samples were collected by hand auger and dried to reduce their water content, manually separating the magnetite concentrate using a 300-gauss magnet. The mineral composition and fraction were observed using a binocular microscope. Major oxide and trace elements concentrations were measured using the X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, respectively. The mineral assemblage consisted of pyroxene, amphibole, heavy minerals (hematite, ilmenite, and magnetite) and the light minerals found were quartz, plagioclase, and lithic fragments. The geochemical plot showed that all samples could be classified as greywacke, derived from mafic igneous provenance and were tectonically formed within an arc setting. The Chemical Index of Alteration showed an intensity of weathering as expected from tropical climates with weak weathering and the sediments are close to their source rock location. Fe2O3 had a positive correlation with TiO2 and V2O5; the iron sand from both areas has potential to be extracted, with iron, titanium, and vanadium as main commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]