Radiometric Signatures of Gold Mineralization Zone in Pongkor, West Java, Indonesia: A Baseline for Radiometric Mapping Application on Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit

Heri Syaeful (), Roni Cahya Ciputra, Tyto Baskara Adimedha, Agus Sumaryanto, I Gde Sukadana, Frederikus Dian Indrastomo, Fadiah Pratiwi, Sucipta Sucipta, Hendra Adhi Pratama, Deni Mustika, Kurnia Setiawan Widana, Susilo Widodo, Muhammad Burhannudinnur, Ildrem Syafri and Bronto Sutopo
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Heri Syaeful: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Roni Cahya Ciputra: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Tyto Baskara Adimedha: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Agus Sumaryanto: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
I Gde Sukadana: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Frederikus Dian Indrastomo: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Fadiah Pratiwi: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Sucipta Sucipta: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Hendra Adhi Pratama: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Deni Mustika: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Kurnia Setiawan Widana: Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Susilo Widodo: Research Center for Safety, Metrology, and Nuclear Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
Muhammad Burhannudinnur: Geological Engineering Department, Trisakti University, Jakarta 11440, Indonesia
Ildrem Syafri: Faculty of Geological Engineering, Padjadjaran University, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
Bronto Sutopo: Geomin Unit of PT. Antam Tbk., Jakarta 12530, Indonesia

Resources, 2023, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Radiometric mapping could play a prominent role in locating the host rock or alteration that leads to gold mineralization. Nevertheless, in low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits, the radiometric signatures have to be priorly characterized due to their geometry. It is comprised of a small ore vein system within the large alteration zones. The Pongkor gold mine is a low-sulfidation epithermal deposit and was selected for this purpose. The method started with the surface identification of radiometric signatures on altered and unaltered rocks near Pongkor using portable spectrometers. They are followed by the characterization of the underground mining front, which is comprised of different types of veins and host rocks. The results show that the altered rocks were characterized by a high K% and a low eTh/K ratio. Vice versa, the mineralized veins show low radioelement concentrations. Following the characterization of the geometry of alteration zones and mineralized veins, a study of the relationship between radioelements detected by radiometric mapping and gold pathfinder elements was conducted. Gold pathfinders of Mn, Fe, Zn, As, and Pb were selected for correlation studies with the radioelement. The pathfinders and radioelements were more significantly correlated in veins compared to the host rock. Based on this study, radiometric mapping has the potential and benefit of being applied in the exploration of low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. An alteration zone could be delineated by K or eTh/K as an anomaly indicator, and the vein bodies could also be delineated using low K or eTh as an anomaly indicator.

Keywords: radiometric mapping; gold deposit; pathfinder; Pongkor; low-sulfidation epithermal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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