CHARACTERISTICS STUDY OF COBALT (CO) IN NICKEL LATERITE DEPOSITS IN THE NORTH POMALAA, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

• Main Author: Sumargono, Duduk
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Geologi, hidrologi & meteorologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/84326
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Research on cobalt (Co) characteristics in laterite nickel deposits in the North Pomalaa area aims to identify the types of minerals associated with cobalt (Co) enrichment in the limonite zone, determine the type of cobalt (Co) deposits in ultramafic rocks of the dunite and harsburgite types and determine cobalt (Co) exploration targets. The analysis method in this study uses petrographic analysis and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, geochemical analysis uses the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis method, while the statistical analysis method uses histograms and scatter diagrams. Based on the results of observations and data processing taken in the North Pomalaa area, cobalt (Co) element enrichment is related to several factors such as laterite zones, bedrock, mineral associations, and geochemical associations. Cobalt (Co) elements in the North Pomalaa area have a higher average content value in the limonite zone compared to other zones, the average cobalt (Co) content in the limonite zone with weakly serpentinized dunite bedrock is 0.108%, weakly serpentinized harzburgite is 0.123%, and moderately serpentinized harzburgite is 0.122%. The average thickness in the limonite zone is 12 m in the moderately serpentinized harzburgite bedrock. In this study, it can be concluded that the enrichment of cobalt (Co) elements in the North Pomalaa area is in the lower limonite zone at a depth of five to eight meters. The mineral association related to cobalt (Co) enrichment is goethite minerals, so it can be grouped as type two cobalt. Cobalt (Co) elements in the limonite zone are strongly positively correlated with manganese (Mn), moderately positively correlated with iron (Fe) and weakly positively correlated with chromium (Cr).