Delineation of Nickel Laterite Based on Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) Method at Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi

Arya Raihan Nugroho Ruslan, Yatini Yatini, Muhammad Arief Wicaksono

Abstract


Fulfillment of nickel laterite needs for various industrial purposes has become a government plan that must be realized immediately. The sustainability of the nickel laterite supply is the main reason for increasing exploration activities in various nickel laterite-producing areas in Indonesia. Nickel laterite explorations have been carried out in several areas, one of which is in Pomalaa District, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography) method combined with drilling and geochemical data is very suitable for delineating nickel laterite in the subsurface in three blocks. The purpose of this study was to obtain the distribution of nickel laterite in the subsurface and analyze its characteristics. This study used the Wenner configuration and 19 exploration drill points with geochemical assay data. The results of the study showed that there were three zones based on their resistivity values, namely the saprolite zone with a low resistivity value (<35 Ωm), the saprolitic rock to boulder zone with a medium resistivity value (35 - 65) Ωm, and the bedrock zone in the form of peridotite rocks with a relatively high level of serpentinization, fracture and weathering, with a high resistivity value (> 65 Ωm). For characterization, the research area is divided into three blocks, namely West, Central and East Block. West block has low Ni content (<0.96%) for the saprolite zone and (0.32 - 1.27) % for the saprolitic rock zone, and high (1.65 - 3.24) % for the saprolite zone and (1.35 - 2.27) % for the saprolitic rock zone. In the Central block, the Ni content is low in the saprolite zone of (0.27 - 1.37) % and the saprolitic rock zone of (0.26 - 1.30) %. While in the East Block, the Ni content is low (0.48 - 1.25) % for the saprolite zone, (0.03 - 1.29) % for the saprolitic rock zone, and high (1.34 - 2.94) % for the saprolite zone and (1.31 - 2.84) % for the saprolitic rock zone.

Keywords


Nickel Laterite Deposits, Electrical Resistivity Tomography, Wenner Configuration, Resistivity

Full Text:

PDF

References


Burger, P. A. (1996). Origins and Characteristic of Lateritic Deposits. Proseding Nickel’96 PP 179 – 183, The Australisian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne.

Cahit, H., Selahattin, K., Necip G, Tolga Q, Ibrahim G, Hasan S, & Osman P. (2017). Mineralogy and Genesis of The Lateritic Regolith Related Ni-Co Deposit of The Çaldağ Area (Manisa, Western Anatolia), Turkey. Canadian Journal of Earth Science.

Cardwell, R. K., Isacks, B. L. & Karig, D. E. (1978). The Spatial Distribution of Earthquakes, Focal Mechanism Solutions, and Subducted Lithosphere in The Philippine and Northeastern Indonesian Islands. In:

Hayes, D.E. (Ed.), The Tectonic and Geologic Evolution of Southeast Asian Seas and Islands, American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monograph 23, pp. 1±35.

Choi, Y., Lee, I. & Moon, I. (2021). Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Garnierite from The Morowali Ni-Laterite Deposit in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Front, Earth Sci. 9:761748.

Colmenar-Santos, A., Gomez, A. M. M., Rosales, E. & López-Rey, Ã. (2019). Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy to Support Renewable Energy Sources in Europe 2050 Low-Carbon Scenario. Energy 183, 10.1016 (2019) 06.118.

Darman, H. & Sidi, F. H. (2000). An Outline of The Geology of Indonesia. Jakarta: Publikasi Ikatan Ahli Geologi Indonesia

Diantoro, R. T. (2017). Identifikasi Penyebaran Mineral Mangan (Mn) Menggunakan Metode Geomagnetik di Dusun Kliripan Desa Hargorejo Kecamatan Kokap Kabupaten Kulonprogo. Fisika, FMIPA, Universitas Negeri Semarang.

Fitch, T. J. (1970). Earthquake Mechanisms and Island Arc Tectonics in The Indonesian-Philippine Region. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 60, 91 – 565.

Garrard, R. A., Supandjono, J. B. & Surono. (1989). The geology of the Banggai-Sula Microcontinent, Eastern Indonesia. Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association, 17th Annual Convention, h. 23 – 52.

Golightly, J. P. (1979). Nickeliferous Laterites: a General Description. In: Evans DJI, Shoemaker RS, Veltman H (eds) International Laterite Symposium, Society of Mining Engineers, New York, pp 3 – 23.

Hall, R. & Wilson, M. E. J. (2000). Neogene Structures in Eastern Indonesia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 18, 781 – 808.

Hamilton, W. (1979). Tectonics of the Indonesian Region. U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper, 1078.

Katili, J. A. (1971). Large Transcurrent Faults in Southeast Asia with Special Reference to Indonesia. Geol. Rundsch. 59, 581 – 600.

Katili, J. A. (1979). Past and Present Geotectonic Position of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tectonophysics 45: 289 – 322.

Katili, J. A. (1989). Evolution of the Southeast Asian Arc Complex. Indonesian Geology 12: 113 – 143.

Kusuma, R. A. I., Kamaruddin, H., Rosana, M. F. & Yuningsih, E. T. (2015). Geokimia Endapan Nikel Laterit di Tambang Utara, Kecamatan Pomalaa, Kabupaten Kolaka, Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara. Jurnal Geologi dan Sumberdaya Mineral, Vol. 20 No. 2, hal 85 – 92.

Loke, M. H., Chambers, J. E., Rucker, D. F., Kuras, O. & Wilkinson, P. B. (2013). Recent Development in The Direct-Current Geoelectrical Imaging Method. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 95: 135 – 156.

McCaffrey, R., Silver, E. A. & Raitt, R. W. (1983). Crustal Structure of The Molucca Sea Collision Zone, Indonesia. In: Hayes, D. E. (Ed.), The Tectonic and Geologic Evolution of Southeast Asian Seas and Islands, American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monograph 23, pp. 161±177.

Robb, L. (2004). Introduction to Ore Forming Processes. Blackwell Scences Ltd, Coarnwall, UK

Rusmana, E., Sukido, D. Sukarna, E., Haryono & Simandjuntak, T. O. (1993). Peta Geologi Lembar Lasusua-Kendari, Sulawesi Tenggara. Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Geologi, Bandung.

Rusmana, E., Sukido, D., Sukarna, E., Haryono & Simandjuntak, T. O. (1993b). Geological Map of Lasusua-Kendari Quadrangle, Sulawesi. Geological Research and Development Centre, Bandung.

Salsabila, F. H. (2021). Pemodelan 2D Endapan Nikel Laterit di Daerah Pomalaa, Kolaka, Sulawesi Tenggara Menggunakan Metoda Geolistrik Resistivitas. Program Studi Fisika, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.

Silver, E. A., McCaffrey, R. & Smith, R. B. (1983b). Collision, Rotation and the Initiation of Subduction in the Evolution of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal of Geophysics Research 88B: 9407 – 9418.

Silver, E. A., McCaffrey, R., Joyodiwiryo, Y. & Stevens, S. (1983a). Ophiolite Emplacement by Collision Between the Sula Platform and the Sulawesi Island Arc, Indonesia. Journal of Geophysics Research 88B: 9419 – 9435.

Simandjuntak, T. O. (1986). Sedimentology and Tectonics of the Collision Complex in the East Arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Unpubl. PhD Thesis RHBNC University of London, UK.

Simandjuntak, T. O., Rusmana, E., Supandjono, J. B. & Koswara, A. (1993a). Geological Map of Bungku Quadrangle, Sulawesi. Geological Research and Development Centre, Bandung.

Situmorang, B. (1982). The Formation and Evolution of The Makassar Basin, Indonesia. Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, unpublished.

Sukamto, R. (1975). The Structure of Sulawesi in The Light of Plate Tectonics. Proceedings of the Regional Conference on the Geology and Mineral Resources in South East Asia, p. 1 – 25.

Sukamto, R. (1975a). Geological Map of the Ujungpandang Sheet, Scale 1 : 1.000.000. Geological Survey of Indonesia, Bandung.

Sukamto, R. (1982). Geological Map of Pangkajene and Western Part of Watampone Quadrangle, Sulawesi. Indonesian Geological Research and Development Centre, Bandung, Indonesia.

Sundari dan Woro. (2012). Analisis Data Eksplorasi Bijih Nikel Laterit Untuk Estimasi Cadangan dan Perancangan PIT pada PT. Timah Eksplorasi Di Desa Baliara Kecamatan Kabaena Barat Kabupaten Bombana Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara. Universitas Nusa Cendana: Kupang.

Surono. (2013). Geologi Lengan Tenggara Sulawesi, Edisi II. Pusat Survei Geologi Badan Geologi Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral dan LIPI Press, Menteng, Jakarta.

Syafrizal. (2011). Karakterisasi Mineralogi Endapan Nikel Laterit di Daerah Tinanggea Kabupaten Palangga Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara. JTM. XVIII (4/2011).

Telford, W. M., Geldart, L. P & Sheriff, R. E. (1990). Applied Geophysics, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press, New York Port Chester, Melbourne, Sydney.

Van Bemmelen, R. W. (1949). The Geology of Indonesia. Government Printing Office, Nijhoff, The Hague. 732 pp.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37905/jgeosrev.v7i1.22109

Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2025 Y Yatini, Arya Raihan Nugroho Ruslan, Muhammad Arief Wicaksono

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.