ANALYSIS OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS (REE) CHARACTERIZATION IN GRANITOID WEATHERING: CASE STUDY OF SUKADANA AND MEMPAWAH REGIONS, WEST KALIMANTAN

• Main Author: Hidayah, Hilvi
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/85522
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of lanthanide+Y+Sc elements which currently have a very critical role in several modern technology industries. REE exploration activities have increased due to the great potential that Indonesia has. REE can form in granitoid weathering areas, especially weathered granite rocks. REE deposits are enriched in clay minerals, especially kaolinite and halloysite. Therefore, this research was carried out as a preliminary study which aims to identify minerals bearing Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the Sukadana and Mempawah areas, West Kalimantan using petrographic analysis methods, reflectance spectroscopy, X-Ray Fluorences (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscop with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Petrographic analysis shows the potential of granitoid as a REE carrier with the presence of REE-bearing minerals such as zircon in thin sections of the sample. The reflectance spectroscopy test showed that the soil samples taken contained kaolinite and halloysite group clays, and also showed an abundance of kaolinite and halloysite group clay minerals. The results of the X-Ray Fluorences (XRF) test show the chemical composition in the form of the presence of major REE-bearing element such as ZrO2. The SEM-EDS test results show the structure and mineral-forming elements in the polished incision. Through this research, it can be indicated that there are REE-bearing minerals in granitoid weathering in the Sukadana and Mempawah areas, West Kalimantan which carry REE mineralization.