GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TAILING AND GROUNDWATER AT LOW-SULPHIDATION GOLD MINE IN MIRAH KALANAMAN VILLAGE, CENTRAL KATINGAN DISTRICT, KATINGAN REGENCY, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN PROVINCE

• Main Author: Muhammad Naufal, Vieri
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/57800
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In Mirah Kalanaman Village, Central Katingan District, Katingan District, Central Kalimantan Province, lies a low-sulphidation gold mine that has been on operation for the last several years. This mine has generate tailing dumps, that can produce further chemical elements dispersion. This study aimed the objective to determine geochemical characterization of tailing and groundwater at the aforementioned gold mine. Samples used in this study consists of two types, which is solid tailing and groundwater solution taken in the study area. Both samples undertook preparations before analyzed. Tailing samples were analyzed using XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). Groundwater samples were analyzed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry). The results of the study shows that tailing composition is dominated by SiO2, both in the Lebar as well as Mirah dump. The dominant minerals are Quartz and K-Feldspar, that have negative correlation throughout the tailing depth. Differences of concentrations in tailing are controlled by differences of processing and tailing-dumping episodes. Lebar dump has a fairly high amount of calcite concentration (above 30%) and has the ability to self-neutralize its acid drainage forming potential from the pyritic sulfur. On the contrary, Mirah dump is more prone to developing acid mine drainage based on the calculation of MAP (Maximum Acid Producing Potential) value. Groundwater in the research area has been undergoing geochemical changes, according to the differences of elements’ relative mobility. There are six elements that could be calculated its each relative mobility, and the elements Ca, Mg, and K have the high relative mobility. The element Ca has been enriched from the quartz vein zones, while Fe is possibly enriched from the dissolution of pyrites.