ORIGINAL PAPER
Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of the ion adsorption type REE in West Sulawesi, Indonesia; its exploration and potential utilization implications
1
Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Poros Malino KM 6, Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Submission date: 2025-11-27
Final revision date: 2026-04-30
Acceptance date: 2026-05-15
Publication date: 2026-06-14
Corresponding author
Irzal Nur
Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Poros Malino KM 6, Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Poros Malino KM 6, Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2026;42(2):159-179
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
- Scientific background of mineral resource management
- Optimization of resources and reserves management
- Rational and efficient development and utilization of mineral resources
- Effective mineral deposits exploitation
- Strategy and methodology of mineral prospecting and exploration
- Economics of mineral industries
ABSTRACT
This study characterizes ion adsorption-type rare earth element (REE) deposits in West Sulawesi, Indonesia, derived from the weathering of local granitoid bedrock. The investigation focuses on granite in Polewali Mandar and quartz monzonite in Mamasa as the primary host rocks. The research integrated fieldwork by systematic sampling of weathering profile zones and laboratory analyses, including petrography, XRD, XRF, and ICP-MS. The weathering profile is typical of ion-adsorption deposits, comprising four distinct layers from bottom to top: bedrock (C), saprolite (B), limonite (A), and topsoil (O). Mineralogical analysis identified key REE-bearing minerals such as monazite, xenotime, and zircon within the weathered layers, alongside associated radioactive minerals. Chemically, a high Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW: 96–98%) confirms intense weathering conditions. Results reveal significant REE enrichment, particularly in the limonit (Horizon A), with total REE+Y+Sc concentrations reaching up to 453.37 ppm in Mamasa. The deposits are characterized by a pronounced enrichment of Light REEs (LREE) over Heavy REEs (HREE), attributed to factors including the presence of biotite and the influence of Fe-Mn elements. While the total REE concentrations are approximately double those found in comparable deposits on Bangka Island (70–180 ppm), they are at the lower end of economically mined grades in China. Despite this, the LREE-enriched resources from West Sulawesi hold potential for various technological applications, including the manufacture of magnets, electric vehicles, catalysts, and batteries. This study underscores the regional potential of these deposits and provides a foundation for further exploration and utilization assessment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to express a deepest gratitude to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Indonesia, for the financial support through the Basic Research Scheme (Fundamental Basic Research and Cooperative Research Between Higher Education 2025).
FUNDING
Fundamental Basic Research and Cooperative Research Between Higher Education 2025
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Charakterystyka mineralogiczna i chemiczna pierwiastków ziem rzadkich typu adsorpcyjnego w zachodniej części wyspy Sulawesi w Indonezji; implikacje dla poszukiwań i potencjalnego wykorzystania
geochemia, mineralogia, pierwiastki ziem rzadkich, glinki adsorbujące jony
W niniejszym badaniu scharakteryzowano złoża pierwiastków ziem rzadkich (REE) typu adsorpcji jonowej w zachodniej części wyspy Sulawesi w Indonezji, powstałe w wyniku wietrzenia lokalnego podłoża granitoidowego. Badania skupiają się na granicie w regionie Polewali Mandar oraz monzonicie kwarcowym w regionie Mamasa jako głównych skałach macierzystych. Badania obejmowały prace terenowe polegające na systematycznym pobieraniu próbek z poszczególnych stref profilu wietrzenia oraz analizy laboratoryjne, w tym petrografię, XRD, XRF i ICP-MS. Profil wietrzenia jest typowy dla złóż typu adsorpcji jonowej i składa się z czterech odrębnych warstw od dołu do góry: podłoża skalnego (C), saprolitu (B), limonitu (A) oraz wierzchniej warstwy gleby (O). Analiza mineralogiczna pozwoliła zidentyfikować kluczowe minerały zawierające pierwiastki ziem rzadkich, takie jak monacyt, ksenotym i cyrkon w warstwach zwietrzałych, a także towarzyszące im minerały radioaktywne. Pod względem chemicznym wysoki wskaźnik zwietrzenia (CIW: 96–98%) potwierdza intensywne warunki zwietrzenia. Wyniki wskazują na znaczne wzbogacenie w pierwiastki ziem rzadkich, szczególnie w limonicie (horyzont A), gdzie całkowite stężenie REE+Y+Sc osiąga nawet 453,37 ppm w Mamasie. Złoża charakteryzują się wyraźnym wzbogaceniem w lekkie pierwiastki ziem rzadkich (LREE) w stosunku do ciężkich pierwiastków ziem rzadkich (HREE), co przypisuje się czynnikom takim jak obecność biotytu i wpływ pierwiastków Fe-Mn. Chociaż całkowite stężenia pierwiastków ziem rzadkich są około dwukrotnie wyższe od tych występujących w porównywalnych złożach na wyspie Bangka (70–180 ppm), plasują się one w dolnej granicy ekonomicznie opłacalnych zawartości w Chinach. Mimo to złoża bogate w pierwiastki ziem rzadkich z Zachodnim Sulawesi mają potencjał do wykorzystania w różnych zastosowaniach technologicznych, w tym do produkcji magnesów, pojazdów elektrycznych, katalizatorów i akumulatorów. Niniejsze badanie podkreśla regionalny potencjał tych złóż i stanowi podstawę do dalszych poszukiwań oraz oceny możliwości ich wykorzystania.
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