Characteristics and Potential of Rare Earth Elements in Alluvial Tin

Deposit Mining Activities in Penganak Village, Partitiga District, West

Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, as well as
Government Strategic Policies.

1
Ramadhan, Vicho Febri, 2Maulidita, Alisha, 3Saputra, Reza, 4Sukmana, Hendra Dodi
1)2)
Mine Plan Department, PT. Refined Bangka Tin, Bangka.

Abstrak
Logam Tanah Jarang (rare earth mineral / rare erath element) atau sering disebut LTJ
merupakan logam strategis yang termasuk kedalam’’Critical Mineral’’ berguna sebagai bahan
baku sumber energi yang ramah lingkungan sehingga berpotensi menjadi unggulan masa depan
yang harus dicanangkan Indonesia. Di Provinsi Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Logam Tanah
Jarang (REE) merupakan hasil samping dari produk penambangan timah alluvial yang
terbentuk dari sisa larutan magma mengandung gas – gas unsur logam berkomposisi tertentu
berumur Trias – Jura, yang menerobos batuan metasedimen – metamorf Perm – Karbon
maupun pada batuan granit itu sendiri. Pada penambangan timah alluvial, Logam Tanah Jarang
(REE) selalu berasosiasi dengan lapisan mineral Cassiterite karena mempunyai berat jenis yang
hampir sama.
Pemanfaatan Sumber daya Logam Tanah Jarang (REE) yang belum optimal
berhubungan dengan tata kelola pengusahaan Logam Tanah Jarang (REE) yang masih belum
memadai. Salah satu penyebab utamanya karena belum adanya regulasi khusus yang mengatur
tentang pengelolaan atau pengusahaan Logam Tanah Jarang (REE). Izin usaha yang
dikeluarkan dalam penambangan mineral bukan izin usaha yang langsung berkaitan dengan
Logam Tanah Jarang (REE). LTJ hanya sebagai mineral ikutan dari penambangan mineral
utama seperti halnya LTJ yang ditemukan dalam penambangan mineral timah alluvial.
Berkenaan dengan hal ini, penelitian dilakukan bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi karakteristik
dan potensi LTJ serta menganalisis langkah strategis yang perlu dilakukan dalam perencanaan
penambangan LTJ. Secara administratif, daerah penelitian terletak di Desa Penganak,
Kecamatan Parittiga, Kabupaten Bangka Barat, Provinsi Kepulauan Bangka Belitung. Secara
geografis daerah penelitian terletak pada koordinat 105° 25’ 0.10“ BT, -1° 30’ 51.72“ LS ke
105° 25’ 0.10” BT, -1° 31’ 37.09” LS. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode analisis
laboratorium untuk mengetahui karakteristik LTJ dan dilanjutkan dengan analisis kualitatif
terhadap potensi serta strategi yang perlu dilakukan dalam perencanaan penambangan.
 Berdasarkan hasil analisis laboratorium pada sisa hasil penambangan timah alluvial
daerah penelitian yang diambil secara acak di lima lokasi penambangan dan ditemukan adanya
14 unsur kimia yang termasuk ke dalam kategori Lantanida. Unsur Logam Tanah Jarang dalam
kandungan timah alluvial daerah penelitian diketahui berasosiasi dengan mineral monasite dan
xenotime. Hasil peninjauan terhadap potensi LTJ yang dilakukan pada daerah penelitian dinilai
prospek dan perlu penanganan lebih lanjut. Adapun beberapa rekomendasi kebijakan yang
perlu dilakukan guna menunjang kemajuan pengelolaan LTJ, di antaranya: 1) Perlu dilakukan
kegiatan eksplorasi yang berfokus pada logam tanah jarang tersebut. 2) Pengadaan teknologi
yang mumpuni untuk menunjang kegiatan eksplorasi Logam Tanah Jarang. 3) Penerapan
regulasi dari pemerintah yang khusus mengatur tentang Logam Tanah Jarang. 4) Penerapan
Smelter yang berfokus untuk pemurnian Logam Tanah Jarang.
Keywords : Rare Earth Element, Karakteristik, Potensi, Timah Alluvial, Kebijakan

Abstract
Rare earth minerals (rare earth minerals / rare earth elements) or often called LTJ are
strategic metals that are included in the category of ''Critical Minerals'' they are useful as raw
materials for energy sources that are environmentally friendly so that they have the potential
to become a future flagship that Indonesia must proclaim. In the Bangka Belitung Archipelago
Province, Rare Earth Metals (REE) is a by-product of alluvial tin mining products which are
formed from residual magma solution containing gaseous metal elements with a certain
composition of Triassic - Jurassic age, which penetrates Permian - Carbon metamorphic rocks
as well as in the granite rock itself. In alluvial tin mining, Rare Earth Metals (REE) are always
associated with Cassiterite minerals because they have almost the same specific gravity.

The utilization of Rare Earth Metal (REE) resources that have not been optimal is
related to the management of rare earth metal (REE) exploitation which is still inadequate.
One of the main causes is the absence of specific regulations governing the management or
exploitation of Rare Earth Metals (REE), Business permits issued in mineral mining are not
business permits directly related to Rare Earth Metals (REE). LTJ is only a secondary mineral
from the main mineral mining as is the case with LTJ which is found in alluvial tin mineral
mining. In this regard, the research was conducted to identify the characteristics and potential
of rare earth elements and analyze the strategic steps that need to be taken in the planning of
rare earth mines. Administratively, the research area is located in Penganak Village, Parittiga
District, West Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province. Geographically the study
area is located at coordinates 105° 25' 0.10" E, -1° 30' 51.72" S to 105° 25' 0.10" E, -1° 31'
37.09" S. The research was carried out using laboratory analysis methods to determine the
characteristics of rare earth and followed by a qualitative analysis of the potential and
strategies that need to be implemented in mining planning.

Based on the results of laboratory analysis on the residue from alluvial tin mining in
the study area, which was taken randomly at five mining locations, it was found that there were
14 chemical elements belonging to the lanthanide category. Rare earth elements in the alluvial
tin content of the study area are known to be associated with monazite and xenotime minerals.
The results of the review of the potential of the REEs carried out in the research area were
assessed as prospects and needed further treatment. Several policy recommendations need to
be made to support the progress of rare earth management, including 1) It is necessary to carry
out exploration activities that focus on these rare earth metals. 2) Procurement of qualified
technology to support Rare Earth Metal exploration activities. 3) Implementation of
regulations from the government that specifically regulates Rare Earth Metals. 4) Application
of Smelters that focus on refining Rare Earth Metals.
Keywords: Rare Earth Element, Characteristics, Potential, Alluvial Tin, Policy