Towards the challenging REE exploration in Indonesia

Global Colloquium on GeoSciences and Engineering 2017

Setiawan, Iwan^1

Research Center for Geotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Kompleks LIPI, Gedung 70, Jl. Sangkuriang, Bandung

40135, Indonesia^1

关键词: High technology;    Hydrothermally altered rocks;    Mineralogical characterization;    Potential sources;    Residual tin;    Rock-forming minerals;    Trivalent cations;    Weathering crust;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/118/1/012075/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1755-1315/118/1/012075

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Rare earth elements (REE) are the seventeen elements, including fifteen from 57La to 71Lu, in addition to 21Sc and 39Y. In rock-forming minerals, rare earth elements typically occur in compounds as trivalent cations in carbonates, oxides, phosphates, and silicates. The REE occur in a wide range of rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. REE are one of the critical metals in the world. Their occurrences are important to supply the world needs on high technology materials. Indonesia has a lot of potential sources of REE that are mainly from residual tin mining processes in Bangka islands, which are associated with radioactive minerals e.g. monazite and xenotime. However, the REE from monazite and xenotime are difficult to extract and contain high radioactivity. Granitoids are widely distributed in Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Papua. They also have a very thick weathering crusts. Important REE-bearing minerals are allanite and titanite. Their low susceptibilities during weathering result an economically potential REE concentration. I-/A- type granitoids and their weathered crusts are important REE sources in Indonesia. Unfortunately, their distribution and genesis have not been deeply studied. Future REE explorations challenge are mainly of the granitoids their weathered crusts. Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of type of granitoids and their weathered crusts, the hydrothermally altered rocks, and clear REE regulation will help discover REE deposits in Indonesia.