Geochemical Characterization Of Bedrock And Distribution Of Enrichment Of Rare Earth Elements And Scandium In Nickel Laterite Within The Wulu Area, Central Buton District, Southeast Sulawesi Province Faried Ardian P (a*), Adi Tonggiroh (b), Ulva Ria Irfan (b)
a*) Master Student Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University
b) Department of Geological Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Abstract
The Wulu area has an abundance of nickel laterite mineral resources, and based on fluctuations in the chemical values of saprolite limonite zoning, it is evident that further research is needed, especially regarding the presence of REE (Rare Earth Elements) in limonite. This research aims to examine the chemical changes of ultramafic rocks from fresh conditions to the process of enriching laterite elements and their relationship to REE, particularly scandium. To achieve the research objectives, ED-XRF and ICP-MS methods were employed on several samples representing ultramafic and laterite zonation. The research results indicate that the ultramafic source of the wehrlite type has the potential to increase REE production to 0.91 ppm, compared to lherzolite at 0.27 ppm and harzburgite at 0.20 ppm. The high REE production from wehrlite is further supported by laterization in the limonite zone, resulting in a concentration increase to 42 ppm, which is higher than that of harzburgite and lherzolite, namely 18 ppm. The difference in REE production from the ultramafic types is attributed to an imbalance in laterization, causing the distribution of REE enrichment to be inversely proportional to the ultramafic type. High REE levels will influence the REE concentration resulting from laterization.
Keywords: Geochemistry, REE, Scandium, Ultramafic, Nickel laterite, Kabaena, Sulawesi, Indonesia
