TUNGSTEN CHARACTERISTICS AND MINERALIZATION GENESIS IN SUB-DISTRICT OF SIJUK, BELITUNG REGENCY, PROVINCE OF BANGKA BELITUNG

• Main Author: RIZKA RAHMATIA (NIM : 12113044), FARAH
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/22077
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Today, the development of industrial technology also increases the use of metal materials, including the use of tungsten. However, data and information related to tungsten deposit resources and reserves are still limited. The study is conducted in order to provide insight related to the characteristics and the genesis of tungsten deposit that could encourage tungsten exploration in the future. Samples of research area, the small scale tungsten mine, are divided into tungsten ore body, concentrate and granitic igneous rock. The research was conducted by several methods, including macroscopic observation, microscopic observation, XRD examination, SEM-EDS and SEM-Mapping examination. From the result of laboratory analysis, mineralogy characteristics and mineral composition of sample could be obtained. The tungsten ore body of the research area consists of wolframite ± feldspar, cassiterite, mica and quartz. Mica mineral which identified by XRD examination is zinnwaldite and muscovite. This sample of tungsten ore body is characterized by its coarse mineral grains. The concentrate sample consists of wolframite and cassiterite which is granular and medium to fine. Whereas, granitic igneous rocks are dominated by quartz and muscovite present with ore minerals (wolframite and cassiterite), topaz, iron oxide mineral, clay mineral and mica mineral (zinwaldite). Minerals’ grains within the granitic igneous rocks are relatively finer than tungsten ore body. Through comparison of mineralogy characteristic of rock samples with literature study, it is assumed that tungsten ore sample is part of quartz body, concentrate sample is allegedly the result of tungsten ore body and its wall rock processing, and granitic igneous rocks is allegedly part of greisen rock which is in Tanjungpandan pluton that undergoes greisenization mineralization. Based on SEM analysis, tungsten ore bearing mineral within tungsten ore body samples (sample code : SP-3) is wolframite having mixed Fe and Mn compositions. Rare earth elements are also identified within the sample SP-3, they are Eu (Europium), Tb (Terbium) and Th (Thorium). However, the elements are found as elements scattered within other minerals (wolframite, cassiterite, and chlorite) instead as rare earth minerals.