Jurnal RISET Geologi dan Pertambangan
Vol 32, No 1 (2022)

Characterization of Thorium-bearing Minerals Using Micro-XRF in Metamorphic Rocks of Harau, West Sumatera

Tyto Baskara Adimedha (Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia)
Heri Syaeful (Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia)
Frederikus Dian Indrastomo (Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia)
Ngadenin Ngadenin (Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia)
Windi Anarta Draniswari (Research Center for Geological Disaster, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2022

Abstract

In 1974, BATAN conducted a survey to review the potential of radioactive minerals in Harau, West Sumatra. The survey shows that there are radiometric anomalies in several locations in the area. However, the survey has not been able to show the radioactive elements and minerals found in Harau. This study aims to identify and characterize radioactive elements and minerals in Harau. To prove that detailed geological mapping, radiometric mapping with Gamma Spectrometer RS-125, and analysis using Micro-XRF "M4 Tornado Plus®". The results of geological and radiometric mapping show that there are high thorium contents in the metamorphic rocks of the Kuantan Formation reaching 2300 ppm eTh. Identification of thorium-bearing minerals using a micro-XRF instrument resulted in thorium-bearing minerals found in the Harau area are thorite (ThSiO4), yttrialite (YThSi2O7), and monazite ((Ce,Nd,Th)PO4) with thorium levels within 2.75 - 42.75% ThO2 but experiencing a significant increase in Fe. In principle, micro-XRF analysis can identify minerals well, but this analysis can be supported by other analyzes so that it can provide much more precise results. This research is expected to provide information about the occurrences of thorium-bearing minerals in Harau, West Sumatera.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JRISGEOTAM

Publisher

Subject

Earth & Planetary Sciences

Description

RISET (Indonesian Journal of Geology and Mining) welcomes article submissions dealing with Geology; Applied Geophysics; ...