ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The results of research by the Center for Coal and Geothermal Mineral Resources (PPSDMB), Geological Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, revealed that several areas in Grobogan Regency, Central Java have the potential for strategic lithium and boron minerals.
“In 2023, our team together with Eramet will undertake a field trip to Grobogan, Central Java. The field visit is aimed at sharing knowledge about how to collect samples for lithium analysis. During the field trip, water and mud samples were also taken at five locations, namely: Bledug Kuwu, Bledug Cangkring, Crewek, Jono, and Bledug Kesongo,” said Head of PPSDMB Agung Pribadi while talking with a group of representatives of the Regional Government of Grobogan Regency, Central Java, in Bandung, Friday, May 17 2024.
Agung said that the water samples taken in Bledug Kuwu and Bledug Cangkring came from water coming out of a mud volcano that had only been deposited for a day, had been deposited for two days, and the remaining water that had not crystallized became salt.
“After examination, the water from the Bledug Kuwu mud volcano had a lithium content of 103 – 111 ppm and boron 464 – 534 ppm. Meanwhile, the waste water from the salt mine had a lithium content of 1059 – 1110 ppm and boron 2660 – 2781 ppm. In the mud samples, “Lithium levels are 115 ppm,” explained Agung.
Meanwhile, water from the Bledug Cangkring mud volcano contains 21 – 49 ppm lithium and 177 – 339 ppm boron. Meanwhile, waste water from salt mines has lithium levels reaching 266 – 612 ppm and boron 1341 – 1928 ppm. In the mud sample, the lithium content was 113 ppm.
Furthermore, water samples from the Crewek area had levels of 26 – 27 ppm and boron 165 – 182 ppm, water samples from the Jono area, namely from the water well which is the source of the community’s salt mine, had a lithium content of 4 ppm and boron 163 ppm. Then from the Bledug Kesongo area, the lithium level in the water sample was 56 ppm and boron 17 ppm. In the mud sample, the lithium level was 94 ppm.
“Our team concluded that there was a significant increase in lithium and boron levels after the salt crystallized, so that it could become a new source of lithium and boron. These high lithium levels are a recommendation for the next stage of investigation, namely exploration with geophysical studies,” concluded Agung. (AT Network)
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