CHARACTERIZATION OF MINERALOGY, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LATERITE ZONE AT THE EVEREST MINE, KOLAKA REGENCY, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

• Main Author: Nauli, Tampan
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/39435
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The research was conducted at the open nickel mine of PT. ANTAM Unit Geomin Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi. The observation was conducted at the Everest mine which is one of the largest nickel production fields in Pomalaa. The mineralogy formed in each mine has different characteristics, so it needs a further study that focuses on mineralogical characterization which is related to physical and mechanical properties in the laterite zone. This characterization is expected to be a reference in the activity of laterite nickel mining. The constituent rock of the Everest Mine is peridotite of Late Cretaceous Ultramafic Complex Formation. This peridotite rock was attacked by weathering and erosion which result in a lateritic zone with a thickness of 10-25. Weathering that occurs in peridotite rocks divides the zone into three, namely bedrock, saprolite zone and limonite zone. The analysis was conducted to reveal the characteristics of mineralogy by observing the surface outcrop like scanline, ten drill cores, ten petrographic analyses, XRD and XRF analysis. The tests of the engineering properties in the laterite zone include physical property test, uniaxial compressive strength test, and direct shear test. The methods used for finding closeness among mineralogical, physical and mechanical properties were regression and correlation analyses. These analyses proved that the relationship got closer if the correlation value was -1?0?1. The obtained engineering properties of the laboratory test results were effective porosity (ne), density (?), specific gravity (SG), void ratio (e), compressive strength (qu), cohesion (c) and internal friction angle (?) in each laterite zone. The correlation values were around 0.63 to 0.83. These values proved that the closeness between variants was very high. The results of these analyses proved that weathering in peridotite rock has an influence on physical and mechanical properties.