ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) noted that Indonesia has the potential for rare earth metals located in the Bangka Belitung Islands.
Rare earth is a group of 17 elements that are very important in modern technology, but their resources are limited and most of their supply is monopolized by certain parties.
“More than 20 locations in South Bangka have been analyzed by the Geological Agency. This area is divided into several belts based on the dominant type of granite,” said Researcher at the BRIN Geological Resources Research Center, Armin Tampubolon, in a statement in Jakarta, Thursday, August 22 2024.
Armin said that rare earths in Indonesia are often found as associated minerals in tin deposits, granitoid accessories, polymetallic veins, and the results of granitoid weathering.
Although until now it has not been explored in detail, the Bangka Belitung Islands region is known to have great potential for primary rare earths, especially granite which is widespread in the region. One of them is in the Toboali region, Bangka Belitung, which contains various rare earths, including alanite, parisite, bastnasite, and others.
“rare earth comes from groundwater decomposing minerals in granite bedrock and rare earth resulting from oxidation that settles down from the horizon above,” he said.
Therefore, Armin emphasized that this research is an important basis for exploring rare earth resources in the Bangka Belitung region.
According to him, the enrichment of rare earths in granite weathering, whether dominantly clay or laterite, has great potential considering the wide distribution of granite in the Bangka Belitung region.
“We must study this potential more deeply to make optimal use of our natural wealth,” he added. (AT Network)
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