Mineralogical Studies of the Tanjung Iron Mine in the Bone, South Sulawesi: Implication for AMD Generation

The iron ore of abandoned iron mine at the Tanjung Arae in Bone Regency has been investigated with the aim to analyze mineralogical characteristics and its potential for generating acid mine drainage (AMD). Mineralogical properties of the iron ore were analyzed using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Results of analysis reveal that the samples are dominated by iron oxide minerals such as magnetite, hematite and goethite. Other minerals are also present such as quartz, birnessite, pyrite and chalcopyrite. Mostly pyrite [FeS₂] and chalcopyrite [CuFeS₂] have been undergoing alteration which are characterized by weathering rims of those crystals and transformed into goethite and hematite. It is shown that the existence of pyrite [FeS₂] and chalcopyrite [CuFeS₂] may have significant roles in triggering the generation of AMD.