Convention Bandung 2004 (CB2004) The 33^rd Annual Convention & Exhibition 2004

Indonesian Association of Geologist Horizon Hotel, 29-30 Nov, 1 Oct 2004, Bandung

TUNGSTEN AND GOLD MINERALIZATION IN THE LATUPA AREA, LUWU DISTRICT, SOUTH SULAWESI

Bambang Nugroho Widi* ), Sudarsono**)

*) Direktorat Inventarisasi Sumber Daya Mineral, Bandung
**)Puslitabang Geo-Teknologi LIPI, Bandung

Abstract

Tungsten mineralization occurrences in the Suguntu area, Latupa form an unique mineralization to study, particularly in the Indonesia Archipelago geological setting. It is usually occurred commonly in the continental or cratonic environment granitic rock. The presence of gold and a number of other sulfide- oxide minerals such as arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and mangan as mineral association make the mineralization become more interesting and important in this region. Mineralization in this area is indicated by the presence of tungsten mineral (wolframite) bearing quartz vein intruding the granitic and metasediment host rocks. The vein trend is generally of about N 170 ° E to 190° with dip of about 70° to 90° with thickness from few centimeters to nearly 20 centimeters. Altered rocks type present in this area involve argil itization, propyl itization, seritization (phyll ic). Silicification found locally, particularly near to the vein. Based on the physical appearrence on the specimens, minerals association recognized are cahalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite, hematiti and mangan. It seem mineralization formed in the mesothermal environment, at depth lower than epithermal zone (more than 500 meters below the paleosurface) with temperature formation > 300°. However, in order to ensure this suggestion, study on geochemistry, ore microscopy, fluid inclusion, petrography, pima, etc, are hughly needed to obtain an imagination clearly in connection to know the relationship between tungsten (wolfram) and gold mineralization.