Mineralogical and geochemical

characterization of the mine wastes

stored under a shallow water cover in
Mirah, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Andy Yahya Al HAKIM1,*, Irwan ISKANDAR1, Sudarto

NOTOSISWOYO1, Cipto Purnandi SEPTIANTO1, Andi FAJRIN2,
Nugroho FEBRIYANTO2, Yerie NARANG2
1Facultyof Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Institute of Technology Bandung,
Indonesia
2PT Kasongan Bumi Kencana

Link for online poster

bit.ly/TailingEMC2020
Introduction Kalimantan (Borneo)
Indonesia

The formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) in Tailings

Storage Facility (TSF) can be prevented by establishing
a shallow water cover to prevent oxidation of sulphides
under anaerobic conditions.
• The Mirah and Lebar TSF contains silicates,
carbonates, and sulphides tailings deposited from
2012 to 2015.
• Epithermal Au-Ag mines located at the Central
Kalimantan, Indonesia TSF Mirah (03/2019)

• Mine tailings, groundwater, and surface water

were collected and evaluated to a range of
mineralogical, stable isotope and geochemical
evaluations.
• Aims: description of the weathering process of
reactive mineral phases and oxidation mechanism
in Mirah gold-silver mine tailings.
Field work and data collection

• Oct-Nov 2019 (trip 1) and Feb 2020 (trip 2)

• Measurement of physical/ chemical parameter of groundwater,
surface water, seepage water, pore water, and TSF water (TDS, DO,
EC, eH, redox potential, pH, temperature, oxidation reduction
potential)
• Samples: tailing (oxidised, fresh), rocks, soil
TSF Mirah

Analytical methods

• Optical petrography and electron microscopy (SEM-EDS)

• Rare-earth elements of dissolved water and solid samples (ICP-MS)
• Stable isotope of 2D - 18O Oxidised layer
(30-50cm)
• Anion-cation of water samples
• X-ray diffraction Fresh tailing
• X-ray fluorescence (below 50cm)
• PHREEQC
Samples distribution
Results – mineralogy of tailings

• Quartz (20-60%) , calcite (~20% vol) , K-feldspar are dominant

mineral phases in tailings
• Minor constituents: mica, albite, chlorite
• Sulphides: pyrite, minor galena and sphalerite
• Ore minerals (trace): electrum, argentite
• Some pyrite oxidized to form limonite
 SAI (scale 10) Reflected light
Sulphides Alteration Index Electron image

Score 2-4 Py
Features
(/10)
0-1 Only a few grains of pyrite are weakly altered along
edges and fracturing is minor; >95% of the grains
have sharp, fresh margins
2-4 Pyrite grains have rims emerging and fracturing is 5-6
minor Py
5-6 Pyrite grains have narrow alteration rims with a
higher degree of fracturing
7-8 Appearance of secondary minerals, increase in Lim
abundance of fracturing and subsequent altering. 7-8 Py
9 <30% pyrite remaining, dominated by alteration
around rims and fractures
10 Only traces of pyrite remains
Modified from Blowes and Jambor, 1990 Py
9-10 Lim
Geochemical distribution of metals and rare-earth elements

1 5

TSF Mirah Pit Bakam Office and

1 3 5 accomodation
Historic tailing Inactive pit

TSF Lebar Process

2 4
Fresh tailing plant
 Surface water TSF Mirah

Piper diagram (green circle=surface water,

Groundwater red circle=groundwater)

Surface water is enriched with calcium,

chloride, and sulphate, by contrast those
ligands are low in groundwater.
• Groundwater and rainwater have higher bicarbonate
concentration than the surface and TSF water.
Results and discussion

Stable isotope of oxygen and

hydrogen, as well as dissolved
rare-earth elements data do not
support contamination between
surface and groundwater.

PHREEQ modelling used 3

scenarios

• final pH 7 – 9
• Some mineral phases (i.e. iron oxide,
sulphides) remained stable over the
time, while some other dissolved (i.e.
carbonate minerals)
Conclusion

Geochemical modelling using three

scenarios between surface water and
minerals within TSF confirmed that the
final pH remained neutral (pH>7).

The potential of a sulphate reducing

bacteria, organic carbon, and shallow
water cover provides effective
environmental risk, especially acid
metalliferous drainage generation due
to oxidation and may be an effective
strategy for long-term closure of the
TSF.

Low SAI measurements (e.g. <2/10)

indicate that between 0.30 m and 0.50
m the combined organic and water
cover limit the existence of oxygen and
pyrite oxidation.