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26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Geology and Arc Magmatism of the Eastern Sunda Arc, Indonesia


Lucas Donny Setijadji1 and Adi Maryono2
1

Department of Geological Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281


2
PT Buena Sumber Daya, Jl Radin Inten II No 2, Buaran Duren Sawit Jakarta Timur
ABSTRACT

The Eastern Sunda Arc of Indonesia that consists of the islands of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa represents one
of the most complex arc magmatism settings in the world. Cenozoic magmatism associated with a subduction
along the Java trench started since Eocene in west Java to Pacitan section, Oligocene for the easternmost Java to
probably west Lombok, and Miocene for most of Lombok and Sumbawa. Cenozoic volcanoes demonstrate
common features of island arc magmatism, such as a wide variation in SiO2 contents, high A12O3, with low TiO2,
Na2O and MgO contents. Magma alkalinity increased towards younger volcanoes and towards the backarc-side. On
the other hand, the arc also demonstrates several unique features that differ to idealized temporal and spatial
schemes of subduction zone magmatism. For example, the region holds the widest range of K2O contents among
all subduction-related magmatic arcs in the world. Volcanic centers and arc have also experienced migrations
towards the backarc-side during its Cenozoic history, which is different from a typical trench-side migration of a
subduction zone.
Along the whole section, there are at least two distinctive petrochemical (or lithochemical) arc sectors to be
present, i.e. west Java and east Java to Sumbawa. Such differences are products of different crustal types and
source components for the magma generation that may produce different mineralization styles. West Java is
dominated by low-sulfidation Au-Ag epithermal system associated with Neogene-Quaternary high-K to shoshonitic
volcanism at continental crust setting. Meanwhile, eastern Java to Sumbawa sector is dominated by porphyryrelated Cu-Au mineralization system associated with middle Tertiary-Neogene, low- to moderate-K magmas with
high Sr/Y affinity, suggesting immature arc magmas with minimum crustal contamination.

INTRODUCTION
The Eastern Sunda Arc of Indonesia (Java, Bali,
Lombok and Sumbawa islands) is part of the
Sunda-Banda Arc that represents one of the
most complex arc magmatism settings in the
world. As early as 1954, Rittman (in Foden and
Varne, 1980) has recognized that the erupted
Quaternary lavas in the Sunda Arc show
increasing alkalinity with increasing distance
from the trench, leading to the formulation of
the k-h rule. More recent studies even reveal
greater diversity of island-arc rock types, range
from tholeiitic through calc-alkaline and
shoshonitic to leucititic, which is the widest
compositional span of magmatism known from
an active arc setting (Wheller et al., 1987).
Some sections in the Sunda Arc also differ to
the idealized temporal and spatial schemes that
have been proposed for subduction zone
magmatism (e.g. Foden and Varne, 1980).

Generalized arc-trench models may be too


simplistic to account for the whole magmatic
history of Sunda-Banda Arc. For example, a
model on the subduction zone magmatism (e.g.
Tatsumi and Eggins, 1995) cannot explain the
origin of backarc volcanoes of Muria and Lasem,
which are formed more than 300 km above the
subducting oceanic crust. An exceptional
phenomenon of migration of volcanic arcs
towards the backarc side during the Tertiary to
Quaternary period is another unique case in the
Eastern Sunda Arc. Additionally, differences on
crust compositions and subducting oceanic
slabs from west to eastern parts of the arc have
complicated the scheme.
The uniqueness of the Sunda-Banda Arc system
has
attracted
much
interest
among
volcanologists and igneous petrologists. Early
studies focused heavily on Quaternary
volcanoes (e.g. Wheller et al., 1987). Studies on
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PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Tertiary volcanoes and arcs started lately (e.g.


Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994; Setijadji et al.,
2006; Smyth et al., 2006; Bronto, 2010),
affecting the overall poor understanding on the
Cenozoic magmatic history. Studies on relating
arc magmatism and mineralization are even
fewer, including Carlile and Mitchell (1994),
Garwin (2002) and Setijadji et al. (2006).
This paper is intended to summarize current
understandings on the tectonic setting,
magmatic history and petrogenetic aspects of
the Eastern Sunda Arc that consists of the
islands of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The Sunda-Banda Arc extends from the
northern tip of Sumatra island through Java to
east of Damar island with a total length of
about 4,000 km (Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and
Mitchell, 1994). This long arc progressively
developed from west to east since the
Mesozoic, and can be divided in three
segments: the Western Sunda Arc (Sumatra),
the Eastern Sunda Arc (Java to Sumbawa or
Flores islands), and the Banda Arc for the
islands east of Flores. The boundary between
Eastern Sunda and Banda Arcs are still
debatable, but here we use the recent tectonic
regime factor as a boundary, i.e. subduction
setting for Eastern Sunda Arc vs. collision
setting for Banda arc. The Eastern Sunda Arc is
formed by the subduction between the Indian
Ocean oceanic crust and SE margin of
Sundaland, while Banda Arc is the site of arc
continent collision zone between Banda
volcanic arc and Indian-Australia plate. By this
term, we define the boundary between Eastern
Sunda and Banda Arc is located between the
islands of Sumbawa and Flores (Figure 1). The
westernmost uplifted forearc island of Sumba is
located south of Flores, suggesting that collision
is going on from Flores eastwards (e.g. Hall and
Wilson, 2000; Elburg et al., 2005). There is also
evidence of reversal polarity of Quaternary
volcanism between Sumbawa and Flores.
Recent volcanism lies along the north coast of
the Sumbawa island but along the south coast
of Flores. The strait between Sumbawa and
Flores also coincides with a change in the

character of their fore-arc, from the welldefined Java Trench to the west to a series of
shallow troughs and emergent outer-arc ridges
in the east.
The Indian oceanic crust is being subducted
northward, more or less perpendicular, to the
Eastern Sunda Arc at a rate of about 6-7 cm/yr
(Hamilton, 1979; Simandjuntak and Barber,
1996). Between the trench and island there is a
high submarine forearc ridge and a continuous
forearc basin. The subducted oceanic plate is
gently dipping to beneath the forearc basin,
before it steepens gradually to a depth of a little
over 100 km beneath the volcanic arc, beyond
which its dip is steeper than 60o. The Benioff
seismic zone currently extends to depths of
more than 600 km in Java to Sumbawa
(Hamilton, 1979; Puspito and Shimazaki, 1995).
Tomographic imaging survey beneath the Sunda
arc further suggested that the lithospheric slab
penetrates to a depth of at least 1500
kilometers (Widiyantoro and Van der Hilst,
1996).
SUBDUCTION ZONES AND VOLCANIC ARCS
During Cretaceous, a subduction trench is
believed to exist from Sumatra, central Java to
southeastern Kalimantan (Meratus Mountains),
with the associated Cretaceous arc stretched
along Sumatra island, northwestern Java, to
southeastern Kalimantan (e.g., Hamilton, 1979;
Carlile and Mitchell, 1994; Metcalfe, 1996).
There are abundant granitic and acid igneous
rocks older than 80 Ma exposed throughout the
area. In contrast, there is almost no evidence
for subduction-related volcanism during most of
the Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene, except in
West Sulawesi and Sumba (Clements and Hall,
2011) and probably the Jatibarang Volcanic
Formation (JVF) in west Java (Soeria-Atmadja
and Noeradi, 2005) that may represent
evidence for a short-lived Late Palaeocene to
Early Eocene subduction system arc (Clements
and Hall, 2011).
The paucity of volcanic rocks is interpreted to
indicate the termination of Cretaceous
subduction and a period from the Late
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Figure 1. Geological framework of the Eastern Sunda Arc (Java to Sumbawa islands). Note differences in crust types
and ages of subducted oceanic crusts. Most publications consider the subducted Indian oceanic crust is cold and
old, with increasing ages from west (Cretaceous) to east (Jurassic), but Hall (2002) suggested the presence of a Late
Createceous-Early Eocene MORB south of eastern Java (shown here). Boundary between Eastern Sunda Arc and
Banda Arc is located between Sumbawa and Flores islands, as suggested by location of westernmost uplifted
forearc island of Sumba, reversal polarity of Quaternary volcanoes, and the boundary of Indian oceanic crust and
Australian continental crusts entering the subduction zone.

Cretaceous to c. 45 Ma the Sundaland margin


was considered inactive (Hall, 2009 in Clement
and Hall, 2011). At c. 45 Ma subduction
recommenced along Java trench, with the
resulting magmatic arc was located along the
edge of Sundaland from Sumatra through Java,
Sumba and Western Sulawesi (Hall, 2002). Later
on, collision between West Sulawesi and micro
continents about in the Middle Miocene (e.g.
Hall and Wilson, 2000) caused a jump in the
subduction system to a more southerly
position. The following volcanic activity then
gave rise to the islands of Bali, Lombok and
Sumbawa, formed the complete section of
Eastern Sunda Arc. An extension in the Flores
Sea started about 10 Ma caused movement of
the island of Sumba to its current fore-arc
position (Honthaas et al., 1998 in Elburg et al.,
2005).

At the current setting, the Indian oceanic crusts


are being subducted more or less perpendicular
to the Eastern Sunda volcanic arc at a rate of
about 6-7 cm/yr (Hamilton, 1979; Simandjuntak
and Barber, 1996). To the east of Flores island
(around Sumba island), the subducting crust
changes from the Indian oceanic crust into the
Australian continental crust. In this case, the
northward movement of the Australian plate
beneath the Eastern Sunda Arc has led to a
collision setting between the eastern portion of
the arc and the Australian continent. This event
has terminated magmatism in the section of
Alor to Romang islands. Termination of
magmatism first affected Wetar, Lirang and
Atauro islands about 3 Ma and then spread to
Romang, Alor and the Pantar Strait islands
(Elburg et al., 2005).
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Figure 2. The principal crustal blocks in SE Asia according to Hall and Sevastjanova (2012). The crust of Eastern
Sunda Arc is composed of three Australian blocks separated by two ophiolitic/arc sutures. The SW Borneo and East
JavaWest Sulawesi blocks are interpreted to have been rifted from western Australia and added in the Late
Cretaceous. The block beneath South Sulawesi, Flores and Sumba is considered part of the East JavaWest
Sulawesi block. The suture interpreted on the northwest side of this block is based on evidence from South
Sulawesi and its extension to the southwest is very speculative.

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COMPOSITIONS OF CRUST AND SUBDUCTED


SLAB
The crust underneath the Sunda Arc
thins eastward, from approximately 30 km
beneath the Sumatra island, 20-25 km thick
beneath Java and Bali, to 15 km thick beneath
the Flores Sea (Ben-Avraham and Emery, 1973;
Curray et al., 1977 in Hamilton, 1979 and Foden
and Varne, 1980). The western segment of
Eastern Sunda (i.e., west Java and perhaps
central Java) is underlain by a continental
basement of the Sundaland stabilized since the
Cretaceous. Hall and Sevastjanova (2012)
consider the block underneath west Java as the
continuation of the SW Borneo block (Figure 2).
The crust underneath eastern Java is
traditionally considered to be an island arc crust
(Hamilton, 1979; Simandjuntak and Barber,
1996; Setijadji et al., 2006) (Figure 1). However,
recent studies suggest that eastern Java is also
underlain by a micro continent derived from
Australia (Smyth et al. 2006), which is recently
named as the Argo block that extends from east
Java to west Sulawesi (Hall and Sevastjanova,
2012, Figure 2). An ophiolitic suture zone is
found between the west and east Java blocks
(Figure 2).
The crust beneath Bali and Lombok has
intermediate crust type, whose seismic
velocities are similar to those of oceanic crust.
Curray et al. (1977 in Foden and Varne, 1980)
suggested that this crust is old, trapped oceanic
crust that may have been thickened by reverse
or thrust faulting, but Hamilton (1979)
considered it to be the edge of a continental
shelf that underlies eastern Java and the Java
Sea and which was built largely of subduction
melange during the Cretaceous and Early
Tertiary. Hall and Sevastjanova (2012)
suggested that Bali and Lombok are underlain
by a suture zone as found in south Sulawesi,
although this interpretation is still very
speculative. Meanwhile, areas east of BaliLombok are interpreted to be underlain by an
island arc crust (Carlile and Mitchell, 1994;
Simandjuntak and Barber, 1996), but probably
also by another continental block (Hall and
Sevastjanova, 2012, Figure 2).

Compositions of the subducted slabs along the


Java trench are generally considered to be cold
Indian oceanic crust with ages increasing
eastwards at approximately 80-140 Ma
(Whitford, 1975; Cloetingh and Wortel, 1986;
Packham, 1996). However, regional geodynamic
reconstruction by Hall (1996, 2002) suggested
that the oceanic floor south of Java contains
Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary mid-oceanic
ridges basalts (MORB) between the Cretaceous
and Jurassic oceanic crusts (Figure 1). The
Indian and Australian plates were supposed to
be two different plates during Early Eocene (5040 Ma), bound by a N-S spreading center that
continued to the north. This hot MORB was
then being subducted somewhere along the
Java trench (Hall, 2002). After the period of
about 45 Ma the rate of northward motion of
Indian Plate reduced significantly and Indian
and Australian Plates became a single plate.
CENOZOIC ARC MAGMATISM
The discussion on the Eastern Sunda Arc here
covers only the Cenozoic magmatism and
volcanic arcs produced by subduction along the
Java trench that started since the Eocene.
Among all islands, Java is the best studied,
followed by Sumbawa, due to the existence of
active mines and longer history of exploration.
On the other hand, almost no published data
are so far available for Tertiary volcanoes in Bali
and Lombok. This situation clearly affects an
incomplete interpretation of the whole arc
system. We will start our discussion with an
overview of arc magmatism in each island
including Sumba, followed by interpretation on
the petrogenesis of arc magmas and possible
links between magmatism and mineralization.
Java Island
Java island is currently populated by
approximately fifty (50) Quaternary volcanoes
that occupy the median line of the island. With
regards with its volcanic configuration, Java
island is segmented into several parts, in which
different styles of volcanoes are observed in
different sections, ranging from single volcanic
chain, double volcanic chain (that consists of
volcanic front, trench-side, and backarc-side
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Figure 3. Quaternary volcanoes in Java, with volcano-type terminology follows Tatsumi and Eggins (1995). Note the
presence of several segments of volcanic configuration (Setijadji, 2005).

volcanoes), and backarc magmatism (Figs. 3,


4C). Backarc volcanoes are present in Central
Java that consists of Muria (1.1-0.4 Ma), Lasem
(1.6-1.1 Ma) and the basalt field of Bawean
island (0.8-0.3 Ma) (Bellon et al., 1989).
Tertiary paleo-volcanoes and associated
magmatic arcs in Java have been studied by
several researchers (Soeria-Atmadja et al.,
1994; Setijadji et al., 2006; Bronto, 2010). Most
researchers agree that Cenozoic Eastern Sunda
Arc started in Paleocene(?)-Eocene, but some
studies suggested the presence of Cretaceous
to pre-Eocene volcanic centers in Eastern Sunda
Arcs, such as in Bandung and Yogyakarta
regions (e.g. Bronto, 2010). In this paper we do
not accept this argument due to the lack of
supporting geological and radiometric data.
Therefore here we discuss only the subductionrelated igneous rocks which are younger than
Paleocene.
Paleocene(?)-Eocene volcanic centers are
identified in few places in Java. These include

Bayah dome (Cikotok Formation) and Jatibarang


Volcanic Formation (JVF) in west Java. The
Cikotok Formation is composed of submarine
volcanic breccia which was reported to be Late
Eocene-Late Oligocene in age (Sujatmiko and
Santoso, 1992). Meanwhile, the JVF has been
dated as Late Cretaceous-Oligocene in age
(Arpandi and Suyitno, 1975; Martodjojo, 1984 in
Soeria-Atmadja and Noeradi, 2005). Other
locations of possible Paleogene volcanics
include the volcaniclastic tuff and gabbro in
Ciletuh, west Java (50.1-50.9 Ma, PertaminaITB, 2002), dioritic dyke in Karangsambung,
central Java (37.6 Ma, Soeria-Atmadja et al.,
1994), and basaltic pillow lava (42.7 Ma, SoeriaAtmadja et al., 1994), 40 Ma volcanic zircon
within Eocene sedimentary rocks in Yogyakarta
region (Smyth et al., 2005) and andesite
intrusion (38.7 Ma, JICA-JOGMEC, 2004) in the
Pacitan area (east Java). No Eocene volcanic
rock is so far identified east of Pacitan area. The
Palaeocene to Eocene volcanics may be related
with the presence of a short-lived subduction
system that extends from east Java to south
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Sulawesi (Clements and Hall, 2011; Hall and


Sevastjanova, 2012).
The Oligocene volcanics are more widespread
all over southern parts of Java island and they
already form a complete magmatic arc all over
the island (Figure 4A). In west Java, Oligocene
volcanics are represented by the Cikotok and
Jampang Formations, and the Cihara
granodiorite. Radiometric data include a tuff
sample (33.92.0 Ma or Lower Oligocene,
Pertamina-ITB, 2002), a dacite intrusion
(32.30.3 Ma, Pertamina, 1989), a basalt dyke
(28.1 6.2 Ma, Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994) and
a volcanic breccia (33.63.8 Ma, Lemigas, 2001).
In central Java, Oligocene volcanics are mapped
as the Totogan Formation, from which a dioritic
dyke was dated 26.51.9 Ma (Soeria-Atmadja et
al., 1994). Surrounding the Yogyakarta region,
volcanic rocks are identified as the Kebo-Butak
Formation, with radiometric dates from the
Kulon Progo dome complex give ages of Upper
Oligocene (25.4-29.6 Ma, Soeria-Atmadja et al.,
1994). At Bayat region a diorite was dated
33.21.0 Ma (Lower Oligocene), while a basalt
sill 24.30.6 Ma or Upper Oligocene (SoeriaAtmadja et al., 1994). At Parangtritis beach, an
andesite intrusive was dated 26.4 and 26.55 Ma
or Upper Oligocene (Soeria-Atmadja et al.,
1994). In eastern Java, the Oligocene volcanic
units are knows as the Arjosari, Mandalika,
Panggang, and Watupatok Formations. At
Pacitan, pillow lavas of Mandalika Formation
(33.6 Ma, Lower Oligocene) are intruded by a
281.5 Ma (Upper Oligocene) basaltic dyke
(Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994). A hornblende
dacite intrusion was also dated as 30.82.9 Ma
(Saefudin, 1994). At Trenggalek, an andesite
lava has been dated 29.44.5 Ma and at
Lumajang an andesite intrusive has been dated
23.73.5 Ma (JICA-JOGMEC, 2004). At
easternmost Java, the Merubetiri Formation
(Sapei et al., 1992) represents the OligoceneMiddle Miocene volcanic breccia within the
Merubetiri plutonic-volcanic complex.
Volcanic rocks of Lower Miocene are widely
identified nearby or overlapping the Oligocene
units (Figure 4A); they are mainly products of
subaerial volcanism. In west Java, such volcanic

units are represented by the Cimapag and


Citarete
Formations,
and
the
Cihara
granodiorite (22.40.4 Ma, Wikarno et al.,
1993). Andesitic lavas at Cirotan are dated at
15.30.7 Ma (Marcoux and Milesi, 1994). To the
east the breccia of the Jampang Formation are
exposed at Ciletuh-Ciemas and Pangandaran
area, from where a quartz andesite was dated
22.41.5 Ma (Pertamina-ITB, 2002). In addition
a quartz diorite porphyry has an age of 17.8 and
16.8 Ma (McInnes et al., 2004), with lava flows
at 17.60.6 and 17.90.9 Ma (Soeria-Atmadja et
al., 1994). In central Java, volcanic units are
named as the Waturanda and the Gabon
Formations. Members of Gabon Formation
were dated as 19.11.1 Ma on a breccia and
17.21 Ma based on an andesite intrusion
(Lemigas, 2001). In the Yogyakarta region (e.g.
Kulon Progo, Selogiri, and Wonosari) the Lower
Miocene volcanic rocks consist of the upper
part of Kebo-Butak and the Semilir Formations
which are dominated by submarine lapili tuff
(Rahardjo et al., 1995). The Semilir Formation
represents a major eruptive phase at 19-20 Ma,
similar in scale to the Pleistocene eruptions of
Toba (Smyth et al., 2005). At Kulon Progo dome
area, systematic dating on different tuff layers
gave results of 17.02.0 to 16.02.2 Ma
(Wikarno et al., 1993). Meanwhile, at Selogiri a
microdiorite intrusion within an extinct caldera
was dated 21.71.9 Ma (JICA-JOGMEC, 2004). A
small andesite intrusion at Wonosari area was
dated 19.70.9 Ma (JICA-JOGMEC, 2004). A
dacite intrusion at Wediombo beach, dated to
be 13.220.62 Ma (Setijadji and Watanabe,
2009) is here classified into the Lower Miocene
system. In east Java, Lower Miocene volcanic
rocks consist of Besole Formation that spread
out from Pacitan to Tempursari (Lumajang)
area. At Pacitan, many andesitic to basaltic
volcanic necks are dated 17.32.0 and 19.51.8
Ma (Saefudin, 1994), 18.21.7, 20.90.7, and
17.31.5 Ma (JICA-JOGMEC, 2004).
East of Pacitan at Trenggalek and Ponorogo
regions, two radiometric data from an
intrusion-volcanic complex gave results of
17.10.8 and 21.02.6 Ma (JICA-JOGMEC,
2004). The volcanic unit continues further east,
and three radiometric dates from an intrusion7

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Figure 4. Reconstructed Cenozoic volcanic centers in Java island, overlain on regional gravity data from Geological
Agency (Setijadji, 2005). Note regional stuctural features associated with volcanic centers belong to major metal
districts in Bayah, Pacitan (and Trenggalek) and Merubetiri.

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volcanic complex west of Lumajang give ages of


19.61.3, 17.82.5, and 18.21.5 Ma (JICAJOGMEC, 2004). At the easternmost part of
Java, the Merubetiri subvolcanic complex may
also contain volcanic units of Lower Miocene
age, although there is no radiometric data
available to confirm this. The reconstructed
volcanic centers in western Java are very similar
in location when compared to the Oligocene
ones. In central Java, a double chain volcanic arc
formed at Karangbolong (trench-side) and
Karangsambung (backarc-side) volcanoes. At
east Java volcanism was very active during the
Lower Miocene time, and double chain
volcanoes are recognized at WediomboNgalang-Selogiri and Tulungagung-Ponorogo.
The volcanic center locations at easternmost
Java are virtually the same as the Oligocene
ones. In Merubetiri district, there are scattered
stocks and sub batholithic bodies with
granodioritic compositions considered to be
middle Miocene in age (Sapei et al., 1992).
These represent the largest exposures of
granitoid intrusions in Java and were referred as
the Ngrawan Granite by Van Bemmelen (1949).
Upper Miocene volcanic rocks are abundant
throughout the island (Figure 4B). In
westernmost Java the Honje Formation was
dated 11.40.8 Ma (Harijoko et al., 2004). In the
Bayah dome area, Marcoux and Milesi (1994)
reported several radiometric dates of Upper
Miocene from Ciawitali (andesitic pyroclastics,
5.70.4 Ma) and Cirotan (rhyolite ignimbrite,
9.60.3 Ma). Soeria-Atmadja et al. (1994)
reported an age of 13.71.8 Ma for basaltic lava
south of Bayah dome near the beach. At
Ciletuh-Ciemas, McInnes et al. (2004) reported
an age of 7.2 Ma for a quartz diorite intrusion.
At Cianjur there are many exposures of
andesitic intrusions, some of which have an
Upper Miocene age (e.g., 6.00.7 Ma, Lemigas,
2001). Soeria-Atmadja et al. (1991) reported
12.1 Ma for andesite lava from the base of
Wayang volcano. At Cineam in west Java, Widi
and Matsueda (1998) reported ages from 13.5
to 8 Ma for hydrothermal activities related with
volcanism and epithermal mineralization in this
area. In central Java, stocks at Karangkobar
district were dated 7.91.0 and 8.90.8 Ma
(Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994). Consistent ages

were reported from Kulon Progo to Borobudur


region, such as the age of an andesite intrusion
(13.01.0 Ma, Lemigas, 2001), tuff (121.1 Ma,
Wikarno et al., 1993), and a hornblende dacite
intrusion (12.40.7 Ma, Setijadji et al., 2006).
The continuity of Upper Miocene volcanic
centers towards the east consists of the ages of
12.50.9 Ma for an andesite intrusion at
Wonosari area, 11.90.7 Ma for a hornblende
tuff at Selogiri area, and 9.60.3 Ma for a
hornblende dacite intrusion complex at
Ponorogo area (Setijadji et al., 2006; Setijadji
and Watanabe, 2009). In east Java the Upper
Miocene volcanic units are represented by
Wuni Formation which is widespread at Blitar
and Lumajang area. There is only one
radiometric date for the Wuni Formation, i.e.
10.10.5 Ma for a dacite intrusion (JICAJOGMEC, 2004). At easternmost Java, the
Mandiku Formation and parts of the Ngrawan
Granite intrusive complex at Merubetiri area
are also considered Upper Miocene in age
(Sapei et al., 1992). A new phenomenon in
Upper Miocene that is not observed in earlier
ages is the presence of volcanic rocks (lavas) in
the backarc basin (Java Sea), i.e., at
Karimunjawa islands (Parang island) which are
reported to be 5.60.3 and 6.50.3 Ma (SoeriaAtmadja et al., 1985). Upper Miocene volcanism
was very active especially in western and
central Java, from which many new volcanic
centers existed such as the Ujung Kulon and
Cianjur in west Java, and Majenang,
Karangkobar, and Borobudur in central Java.
Several older volcanic centers such as the
Bayah, Ciletuh-Ciemas, and Jampang were still
exist but the new volcanic centers had moved
northward from the older ones.
Double
volcanic chains were likely to develop at Bayah,
Ciemas-Cianjur (western Java), and KebumenMajenang-Karangkobar (central Java). In
eastern Java the volcanic arc developed as a
single volcanic chain and occupied the site of
backarc-side volcanic chain of Oligocene time
(i.e., Selogiri and Ponorogo). The Upper
Miocene volcanic centers in eastern Java did
not seem to shift far from their Oligocene sites.
Backarc magmatism started to develop in the
Java Sea, especially at Parang island of
Karimunjawa.
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Exposures of Pliocene volcanic rocks are so far


very limited to be identified, and western Java
contains more significant ones (Figure 4C). The
most important Pliocene rock units are those
located in the Bayah dome region that host the
majority of gold mineralization (Marcoux and
Milesi, 1994). Other Pliocene volcanics in west
Java are concentrated around the Bandung
Basin. A lava dome in Cianjur area was dated 2
Ma (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994). Near the
Saguling dam and Kromong mountain, several
dacitic intrusions and andesitic lava were dated
at 3.07 to 4.08 Ma (Sunardi and Kimura, 1998).
To the southeast of Bandung Basin, Pliocene
volcanic rocks are concealed beneath the
Quaternary volcanic units of MalabarPapandayan group of volcanoes. These were
intercepted during drillings for geothermal
projects. Soeria-Atmadja et al. (1991) reported
K-Ar ages of 3.9 to 2.7 Ma for andesite lava
within
Papandayan-Galunggung
volcanic
complex. We also suggest that Pliocene
volcanism may also occur at Kuningan area,
where remnants of crater are observed just
south of the Quaternary Ceremai volcano. In
central Java, dated Pliocene volcanics are found
at Banjar (5.10.4 Ma) and Karangkobar
(3.00.3 and 3.00.2 Ma). These are related to
andesitic intrusions (Soeria-Atmadja et al.,
1994). Andesite lava flows as the substratum of
Dieng geothermal field are also reported to be
Pliocene (3.6, 2.6, and 1.8 Ma, Soeria-Atmadja
et al., 1991), and are considered to be part of
the Petungkriyono volcanic center. At the
basement of the Quaternary Ungaran volcano,
there is an intrusive complex thought to be
Mio-Pliocene (Thanden et al., 1996). In
Yogyakarta region, tephra deposits are found
within Pliocene sedimentary rocks (Rahardjo et
al., 1995). Additionally, the volcanic edifice at
the Gendol hills SW of Merapi volcano is
interpreted by several authors (e.g. Newhall et
al., 2000) as Pliocene volcano based on one
radiometric age of 3.44 Ma. In east Java, the
only data concerning Pliocene volcanism is the
reported radiometric ages of the basement of
the Lamongan, Iyang Argopuro, Ringgit, and
Beser volcanoes (1.8-2.1 Ma, Soeria-Atmadja et
al., 1991). In general, the Pliocene volcanic

centers show significant northward shift from


those of Upper Miocene. Double volcanic chains
occurred
at
Papandayan-Malabar-Cianjur,
Banjar-Kuningan, and perhaps the LumajangRinggit-Beser. In the backarc basin of Java,
backarc magmatism took place at Genting
island of Karimunjawa islands, where basalt is
dated 2.50.1 to 1.80.3 Ma (Soeria-Atmadja et
al., 1985).
Bali Island
The oldest-known Balinese volcanic rocks are
Late Tertiary pillow basalts and tephra of the
Ulakan Formation, only exposed at the SE coast
of Bali (Purbo-Hadiwidjojo, 1971 in Wheller and
Varne, 1986) (Figure 5). Wheller and Varne
(1986) further said that its age is Late Pliocene.
Most of Bali island is composed of subaerial
volcanic sequences which, in the eastern half of
the island, were erupted from the extinct
Quaternary volcanoes of Bratan, Batukau, and
Seraja, and the two active volcanoes of Batur
and Agung (Wheller and Varne, 1986). The
southern parts of Bali are covered by upraised
limestone reefs of Pliocene--Pleistocene age
(Kadar, 1977 in Wheller and Varne, 1986).
Lombok Island
The oldest volcanic rocks exposed are probably
Miocene in age and limitedly exposed along the
southern coastal area of the island (Figure6).
However, report by Southern Arc Minerals Inc.
(http://southernarcminerals.com)
suggested
Late Oligocene age as the oldest volcanic
activity in west Lombok. Similarly, Pusat
Lingkungan Geology (2007) reported that the
oldest exposed rocks are the Pengulung
Formation (Late Oligocene - Lower Miocene)
which represents undersea volcanic rocks of
breccia, lavas and tuffs with limestone
intercalation. This formation as well as younger
Tertiary volcanics and intrusions form a series
of eroded, overlapping predominantly andesitic
volcanic centers and intermediate intrusions
make up the Tertiary arc along the southern
parts of the island (Figure 6). Intrusive rocks
include diorite, dacite, diatreme breccia and
tonalite.

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Figure 5. Geological sketch map of Bali (Purbo-Hadiwidjojo, 1971 in Wheller and Varne, 1986).

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Figure 6. Geological map of Lombok island (Mangga et al., 1994, in http://psg.bgl.esdm.go.id)

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Younger Tertiary to Early Quaternary volcanics


are exposed to the central and northwestern
parts of the island, which are collectively named
the Lombok Volcanics (Upper Pliocene-Early
Pleistocene). This volcanic rock group consists
of the Kalipalung Formation, Kalibabak
Formation and Lokopiko Formation.
The Quaternary volcanic activity in Lombok
occurs further north with Rinjani is now the
only active volcano of the island. Besides the
Rinjani, there are also two extinct Quaternary
volcanoes, i.e. Punikan (west of Rinjani) and
Sembalun (east of Rinjani). About 10 km to the
east of the summit of the active Gunung Rinjani,
there is the extinct Sembalun volcano which
forms an older Quaternary dacitic-rhyolitic
caldera on the flanks of the Rinjani volcano. This
volcano now becomes a target for geothermal
exploration.
Sumbawa Island
Sumbawa island consists of an early Miocene to
Holocene volcanic arc succession (e.g. Garwin,
2002) (Figure 7). Neogene calc-alkaline volcanic
and sedimentary rock sequences form the
geologic basement of Sumbawa. The oldest
rocks recognized on the island occur in the
south and west and are gently folded Miocene
sequences of limestone, sandstone and
conglomerate with some acid and intermediate
volcanic and intrusive rocks. Above these are
flat-lying Pliocene to Holocene deposits of
limestone, sandstone and conglomerate with
intercalated volcanic rocks and large volcanoes.
At Batu Hijau district, where the Neogene
igneous rocks succession has been well studied,
the oldest rocks of an Early to Middle Miocene
andesitic volcaniclastics has been cut by several
phases of hypabyssal andesite (Middle-Late
Miocene) to Late Miocene to mid-Pliocene (5.9
to 3.7 Ma) of felsic intrusions and late andesitic
diatreme and dike complex (Garwin, 2002).
Both the volcaniclastic rocks and intrusions are
of low K, calc-alkaline affinity, with the
exception of the late-stage tonalite to
granidiorite dikes which indicate a medium K,
calc-alkaline affinity (Garwin, 2002).
Same as the other eastern Sunda Arc islands,
Quaternary stratovolcanoes in Sumbawa occur

along the northern part of the island and


indicate a progressive change from calc-alkaline
to shoshonitic affinities with time (Fiorentini
and Garwin, 2009). Quaternary volcanic rocks
show wide-ranging compositions from highly
undersaturated very K20-rich types through to
oversaturated calc-alkaline examples (Foden
and Varne, 1980). The Quaternary volcanic
rocks of Tambora and Sangeang Api belong to a
potassic
trachybasalttrachyandesite
association. Extinct Quaternary centres occur
south of the active volcanoes on Sumbawa. Two
of these centres, Soromundi and Sangenges,
erupted markedly leucitites together with
andesites, dacites and trachybasalts.
Sumba Island
Sumba island has records of three distinct calcalkaline magmatic episodes have been recorded
during Cretaceous-Paleogene, all of them
characterized by similar rock assemblages, i.e.
pyroclastic rocks, basalticandesitic lava flows
and granodioritic intrusions (Abdullah et al.,
2000). They are: (i) the Santonian-Campanian
episode (86-77 Ma) represented by volcanic and
plutonic rock exposures in the Masu Complex in
Eastern Sumba; (ii) the Maastrichtian-Thanetian
episode (71-56 Ma) represented by the volcanic
and plutonic units of Sendikari Bay, Tengairi Bay
and the Tanadaro Complex in Central Sumba;
and (iii) the Lutetian-Rupelian episode (42-31
Ma) of which the products are exposed at
Lamboya and Jawila in the western part of
Sumba. No Neogene magmatic activity has been
recorded, except as volcanic ash within the
sedimentary rocks of Mio-Pliocene Kananggar
Formation (Effendi and Apandi, 1993). These
igneous rocks were interpreted by Abdullah et
al. (2000) as products of subduction at the
Sundaland margin.
SPATIAL EVOLUTION OF CENOZOIC
VOLCANOES
The timing of subduction shifting from the
Cretaceous Sumatra-west Java-Meratus into
Cenozoic Java trench is still controversial, in
which Hall (2009 in Clements and Hall, 2011)
indicated to be 45 Ma. Clements and Hall (2011)
suggested that during the Late Cretaceous13

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Figure 7. Simplified geologic map and chronology of map units for Sumbawa island (Garwin, 2002).

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Paleogene there was probably a short-lived


subduction along the west Java to west
Sulawesi that resulted the Jatibarang Volcanics
Formation in west Java (Soeria-Atmadja and
Noeradi, 2005) and Masu Formation in Sumba
(Abdullah et al., 2000).
The Eastern Sunda Arc formed since Eocene and
it shows younger ages towards the east. Eocene
volcanoes are likely to occur only in Java island
(especially from west Jawa to Pacitan area in
east Java) suggesting the presence of another
short-lived subduction along the east Java to
west Sulawesi during the Paleocene-Eocene.
During the Oligocene, magmatism and
volcanoes were built up to the easternmost of
Java and probably west Lombok. Meanwhile,
Sumbawa island only shows the presence of
volcanoes since the Miocene. From the Tertiary
into Quaternary, the volcanic centers have
dominantly shifted northward (towards the
backarc-side). In this case, the Tertiary volcanic
arcs occupy the southern coast of the islands,
while the Quaternary volcanoes are located in
the northern parts of the islands (Figs. 1, 3 and
4). This is an extraordinary case and probably
the only case in the world.
Backarc magmatism only took place in centraleast Java since the uppermost Miocene to
Quaternary. With recent physiography as
reference, there are two main locations of
backarc magmatism, i.e., onland Java where the
current depth of subducted slab is around 320350 km (Quaternary Muria and Lasem
volcanoes) and offshore Java where the current
depth of subducted slab is around 600 km
(Quaternary Bawean island).
PETROCHEMISTRY OF CENOZOIC VOLCANOES
The petrochemistry (or lithochemistry) of
Cenozoic volcanoes in the eastern Sunda Arc
demonstrates common features of island arc
magmatism. Similar with other subduction zone
settings in the world, volcanic rocks of the
eastern Sunda Arc are characterized generally
by a wide variation in SiO2 contents, high
amounts of A12O3 (mostly 16-22 wt.%), low TiO2
contents (mostly < 1.3 wt.%), and low Na2O and

MgO contents compared with most basalts


from mid-ocean ridge and ocean island settings
(Wheller et al., 1987). The particular interest in
on the wide range of K2O contents which is the
widest known from any subduction-related
tectonic setting. The full range of rock
compositions can be observed on just two
neighboring islands of Sumbawa and Flores.
A common feature is increase in alkalinity of
erupted lavas towards the younger volcanoes.
In the case of Java, Paleogene volcanoes are
dominated by low-K, tholeiitic affinity, and they
move towards more dominant medium-K and
high-K, calk-alkaline lavas during the Neogene
(Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994; Setijadji et al.,
2006) (Figure 8). The Quaternary volcanoes of
Java demonstrate an increase of magma
alkalinity from trench to backarc-side, i.e.
dominant medium-K calk-alkaline for volcanic
fronts (e.g. Merapi), high-K calk-alkaline for
backarc-side volcanoes (e.g. Ungaran), and
shoshonitic to leucicitic for backarc volcanoes
(Muria, Bawean) (Figure 9). However, backarc
volcanoes including Muria and Bawean show
different trend compared with those typical of
subduction zone magmatism (Figure 9) that
strongly suggest that Muria and Bawean
volcanic field have different petrogenesis of
magma compared with other volcanoes in Java.
Similar pattern is demonstrated in Sumbawa
island, in which the oldest andesitic
volcaniclastics (Early to Middle Miocene) and
felsic intrusions (Middle-Late Miocene to midPliocene) are of low-K, calc-alkaline affinity.
Alkalinity increases into a medium-K, calcalkaline affinity for the late-stage tonalite to
granidiorite dikes (Garwin, 2002). As for the
Quaternary volcanoes, they indicate a
progressive change from calc-alkaline to
shoshonitic affinities with time (Foden and
Varne, 1980; Fiorentini and Garwin, 2009).
Petrochemistry of Quaternary volcanoes can be
used to elucidate the different controlling
factors of arc magmas in the whole parts of
Sunda Arc, as all islands recently erupted
Quaternary lavas and volcaniclastic rocks.
Wheller et al. (1987) found that based on K2O
contents (after normalization to SiO2 contents,
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Figure 8. Cenozoic igneous rocks in Java show a clear trend of


increasing K2O (alkalinity) contents towards younger ages

Figure 9. Variation diagram of Rb/K ratios for Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic rocks in Java.

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Figure 10. Ksi values against longitude in 80 Sunda-Banda volcanic suites showing definition of geochemical arc
sectors (Wheller et al., 1987).

Figure 11. The gridded map of 87Sr/86Sr radioisotope anomaly for Quaternary lavas in Java island (Setijadji, 2005).

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or Ksi), the eastern Sunda Arc and Banda Arc is


divisible into the West Java, Bali, Flores and
Banda arc sectors (Figure 10).
In Eastern Sunda Arc, two important sector
boundaries are located at approximately
longitudes of 112oE (between Merapi and Lawu
volcanoes) and 120oE (west Flores) (Wheller et
al., 1987). Each sector comprises volcanoes
which become progressively more K-rich
eastwards, culminating in the leucitite
volcanoes of Muriah (Java), Soromundi and
Sangenges (Sumbawa). Especially in Java, such
phenomenon is coincident with increasing
87
Sr/86Sr values from west Java to central Java
(Merapi) before becomes low again to the east
(Figure11). On the other hand, high Sr/Y
magmas are found only at the eastern half of
Java island (Setijadji et al., 2006) (Figure 12). We
consider that magmatism in the Eastern Sunda
Arc can be divided into two major parts: west
Java to central Java section and east Java to
Sumbawa island section. Each section has
different characteristics in their magmas due to
different petrogenetic factors and processes
that affect the magmatism. In turn, such
different factors may determine different styles
of metallic mineralization between these two
sectors.
CLUES ON LINK BETWEEN ARC MAGMATISM
AND MINERALIZATION
Metallic occurrences in Eastern Sunda Arc are
numerous and dominated by Cu-Au, magmatichydrothermal
systems
associated
with
subduction-related volcanic centers (Figure 12).
However, important mineral districts are
located within long-lived (overlapping) volcanic
centers, such as in Bayah dome region (Lower
Miocene to Pliocene volcanic events), PacitanTrenggalek
(Oligocene-Upper
Miocene),
Merubetiri (Oligocene-Upper Miocene) and
Batu Hijau (Miocene-Pliocene). These clusters
are coincident with locations of narrow zone of
high gravity anomalies bound by sharp gravity
gradient suggesting major fractures (Figs 4A and
4B).

There is no direct relationship between the age


of volcanic field and mineralization type, i.e.
epithermal deposits are not necessarily young
while porphyry not only found in older volcanic
centers. Gunung Pongkor and some other AuAg epithermal deposits within the Bayah Dome
are dated to be young (Pliocene to Pleistocene):
2.05 Ma for Gunung Pongkor (Milesi et al.,
1999), Cikidang (2.40.1 Ma; Rosana, 2004),
Cipangleser (2.10.6 Ma; Marcoux and Milesi,
1994), and Cirotan (1.70.1; Marcoux and
Milesi, 1994). However, the nearby Cibaliung
Au-Ag low sulfidation epithermal deposit is
dated to be much older, i.e. 11.140.06 to
11.10.09 Ma or Upper Miocene (Harijoko et
al., 2004). Even older is the newly emerging
Trenggalek district, east Java, in which a very
shallow level of epithermal Au-Ag deposits are
dated to be 16.290.56 Ma or Middle Miocene
(Takahashi et al., 2011). On the other hand,
porphyry-related deposits are also not
necessarily found within old volcanoes. The
Selogiri Cu-Au prospect seems to be quite old,
i.e. Lower to Middle Miocene (between 21.7 Ma
from pre-ore diorite and 11.9 Ma for post-ore
acid tuffs) (Setijadji, 2005; Setijadji et al., 2006;
Imai et al., 2007). However, Batu Hijau deposit
is merely 3.7 Ma (Garwin, 2002). It is clearly
evident that the tectonic and erosion rates are
not uniform in all parts of the Eastern Sunda
Arc. Additionally, many volcanic fields in the
Southern Mountains of east Java are covered by
pyroclastic rocks and sedimentary rocks
(including limestone), such as in the Wonosari,
Pacitan and Tulungagung areas. These cover
rocks may have survived the epithermal gold
system in Trenggalek area despite of its old age.
While geological ages are probably not very
critical, we observe a more consistent pattern
between styles of mineralization and volcanic
arc sector. The west Java sector is dominated by
high-grade Au-Ag low sulfidation epithermal
system of Upper Miocene to Pliocene age, such
as Gunung Pongkor (Milesi et al., 1999;
Warmada, 2003), Cikidang (Rosana and
Matsueda, 2002; Rosana, 2004), and Cibaliung
(Angeles et al., 2002; Harijoko, 2004). On the
other hand, the east Java to Sumbawa sector is
dominated by porphyry-related mineralization
associated with Oligocene to Pliocene volcanic
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Figure 12. Different styles of mineral deposits in Eastern Sunda Arc (represented by Java island) as functions of
different arc magmas between west and east Java.

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centers. These include porphyry Cu-Au (Selogiri,


Tumpang Pitu, Batu Hijau, Elang and Huu),
high-sulfidation epithermal (Tumpang Pitu), and
low-sulfidation epithermal (Trenggalek and
southern Lombok).
Such differences in mineralization style
between west Java (epithermal only) and east
Java-Sumbawa (porphyry-related) might be
attributed by different geological settings and
petrogenetic models of these two sectors. The
presence of two petrochemically different arc
sectors, i.e. west Java and east Java to
Sumbawa, is believed to be the result different
setting, crust composition and petrogenesis of
arc magmas.
Along the Eastern Sunda Arc there are at least
three geochemically and isotopically distinct
components in the source regions of the arc
magmatism, as firstly identified from
composition of Quaternary volcanoes by
Wheller et al. (1987). The first and dominant
source component with a low K content and a
low 87Sr/86Sr value is probably peridotitic
mantle. A second component, with low K
content but high 87Sr/86Sr, appears to be crustal
material, which is most apparent in the Banda
sector, but it is also present to lesser extents in
the west Java and Flores sectors. The third
component, which is rich in K-group elements
but has relatively low 87Sr/86Sr values, appears
to be mantle-derived and is least overprinted by
crustal material (Wheller et al., 1987).
In Eastern Sunda Arc, porphyry-related systems
are typically associated with low- to moderate-K
magmas with high Sr/Y affinity, while
epithermal gold mineralization tends to be
associated with high-K to shoshonitic volcanism
(Figure12). The porphyry-related mineralization
in east Java-Sumbawa sector seems to be
contributed by mantle source with limited or
absence of crustal contamination. The best
study comes from Batu Hijau, from which
Fiorentini and Garwin (2009) concluded that CuAu bearing magmas have a mantle source which
is enriched by deep, asthenospheric mantle
erupted along a slab break and was facilitated
by regional across-arc crustal fractures or faults.
High Sr/Y magmas may be sourced from partial

melting of underplating oceanic crust located


underneath the east Java-Sumbawa sector.
Meanwhile, low-sulfidation epithermal system
in west Java seems to have a crustal source. For
example, some petrochemical evidence is given
by Pb and Re-Os isotope analysis on volcanic
and ores from Bayah Dome district show
contributions of crustal materials (Marcoux and
Milesi, 1994; Alves et al., 1999).
CONCLUSIONS
Arc magmatism at the Eastern Sunda Arc of
Indonesia represents one of the most complex
arc magmatism settings in the world. Cenozoic
magmatism started since Eocene in west Java to
Pacitan region in east Java, Oligocene for the
easternmost Java to probably Lombok, and
Miocene for Lombok and Sumbawa. Cenozoic
volcanoes demonstrate common features of
island arc magmatism, but also show unique
features that differ to the idealized schemes of
subduction zone. At least two distinctive
petrochemical arc sectors are identified, i.e.
west Java sector and east Java to Sumbawa
sector, due to different types of crust, magma
source components and arc maturity. These
result in different mineralization styles: (1) lowsulfidation Au-Ag epithermal system associated
with a mature arc, Neogene high-K to
shoshonitic volcanism at continental crust
setting in west Java and (2) porphyry-related
Cu-Au mineralization system associated with
immature, middle Tertiary-Neogene low- to
moderate-K magmas with high Sr/Y affinity in
east Java to Sumbawa sector.
Better understandings on arc segmentation,
petrogenesis of arc magmas, uplifting and
erosion level of different arc sectors, as well as
better exploration strategies under sedimentary
covers will likely play critical roles for future
discoveries of economic deposits in the Eastern
Sunda Arc.
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Java subduction zone lavas. Earth and


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arc magmatism and associated earth
resources: A case study of Java island, Sunda
arc, Indonesia. Doctoral dissertation at
Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu
University, Japan, 120 pp.
Setijadji, L.D., Kajino, S., Imai, A., and
Watanabe, K. (2006) Cenozoic Island Arc
Magmatism in Java Island (Sunda Arc,
Indonesia): Clues on Relationships between
Geodynamics of Volcanic Centers and Ore
Mineralization, Resource Geology 56 (3),
267-292.
Simandjuntak, T.O., and Barber, A.J. (1996)
Contrasting tectonic styles in the Neogene
orogenic belts of Indonesia. In Hall, R. and
Blundell, D.J.(Eds.), Tectonic evolution of
Southeast Asia, Geological Society Special
Publication, 106, 185-201.
Smyth, H., Hall, R., Hamilton, J., Kinny, P., 2005.
East Java: Cenozoic basins, volcanoes and
ancient basement. Proceedings of the
Indonesian Petroleum Association, 30th
Annual Convention & Exhibition, 251-266.
Soeria-Atmadja, R., Maury, R. C., Bellon, H.,
Pringgoprawiro, H., Polves, M., and Priadi,
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B.1994Tertiary magmatic belts in Java.


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Distribution of Early Tertiary volcanic rocks
in south Sumatra and west Java. The Island
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Takahashi, R., Imai, A., Shingo, Y., Watanabe, K.,
Harijoko, A., Warmada, I.W., and Idrus, A.
(2011) Mineralogical description and oreforming condition at the Trenggalek gold
prospect, east Java, Indonesia. Proceedings
of the 1st Asia africa Mineral Resources
Conference 2011, Fukuoka, pp. 121-125.
Wheller, G.E. and Varne, R. (1986) Genesis of
dacitic magmatism at Batur volcano, Bali,
Indonesia: Implications for the origins of
stratovolcano
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363-378
Wheller, G.E., Varne, R., Foden, J.D. and Abbott,
M.J. (1987), Geochemistry of Quaternary
volcanism in the Sunda-Banda arc,
Indonesia, and three-component genesis of
island-arc basaltic magmas. In: Weaver, S.D.
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Whitford, D. J. (1975) Strontium isotopic studies
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(1981) Neodymium isotopic composition of
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Gold, Silver and Copper Metallogeny of the Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc Indonesia
Adi Maryono1), Lucas Dony Setijadji2), Johan Arif 3), Rachel Harrison4) and Elang Soeriaatmadja 3)
1). PT Buena Sumber Daya, Jl. Radin Inten II No 2, Buaran Duren Sawit Jakarta Timur,
Corresponding author: adi.maryono@buena.co.id.
2). Geology Department University of Gadjah Mada, Bulak Sumur, Yogyakarta
3). Newmont Asia Pacific, #388 Hay Street Subiaco Perth Western Australia
4). Independent Geologist, Sading Sempidi Badung Bali
ABSTRACT
With the recent discovery of another world class gold-silver-copper deposit at the Tujuh Bukit Project (30.1 million
ounces of gold and 19 billion pounds of copper), the Eastern Sunda Arc has continued to prove itself as an
emerging economically important magmatic belt. This paper provides a general description of the metallogeny of
the Eastern Sunda Arc, covering a wide spectrum of topics, from its tectonic setting, general geology, magmatic
evolution, metal endowment and prospectivity, mineralization styles and implications towards exploration.
The Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc is constructed on thinner island arc crust, bounded by the margin of Sundaland
to the west and by the Australian continental crust to the east. As one of five different ages of magmatic belts
defined along the Arc, the Neogene magmatic belt is considered to be important as an overwelming number of
gold, silver and copper deposits and prospects are spatially associated with Late Miocene-Pliocene age intrusions.
The metallogeny of the Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc is dominated by gold, silver and copper which are
predominantly contained in porphyry and epithermal deposit types. With a world class gold-silver-copper
endowment of 92.44 million ounces of gold, 279.17 million ounces of silver and 61.92 billion pounds of copper, the
Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc has emerged as one of the most prospective gold-copper belts in the world. Porphyry
gold-copper and epithermal gold-silver mineralization styles in the Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc share similarities
to those in typical island arc settings, e.g. the Philippines. They also display some unique characteristics that are
spatially and genetically associated with ore and its environment and provide selection criteria for prospective
regions and a further basis for construction of exploration models.
District and deposit exploration models are refined on the basis of shared key features of the deposits in the region
as guides during exploration. These key features provide vectors to ore, applicable in identifying the central,
proximal and distal parts of mineralized systems during exploration activities. Keys to exploration success include
understanding the characteristic features of ore systems, observing key geological features in the field and
determining vectors to ore.

INTRODUCTION
With the recent discovery of another world class
gold-silver-copper deposit at the Tujuh Bukit
Project, Banyuwangi, East Java, in addition to
another two known world class deposits, the
Eastern Sunda Arc has continued to prove itself
an emerging economically important magmatic
belt. Despite legal and social concerns, recent
positive exploration drilling results in Java,
Lombok and Sumbawa have reinforced the
prospectivity of the arc.

This paper provides a general description of the


metallogeny of the Eastern Sunda Arc with an
emphasis on gold, silver and copper. The
description of the arc covers a wide spectrum of
topics from its tectonic setting, general geology,
magmatic evolution, metal endowment and
prospectivity,
mineralization
styles
and
implications to exploration.
The general description of regional and local scale
geology of the arc, given here, aims to define the
shared key geological features related to criteria
important for exploration area selection, and
construction of a gold-silver-copper deposit
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model for the region. This paper provides


exploration criteria for this region and other
regions with similar tectonic and geologic settings
to the Eastern Sunda Arc. In addition, much
recent understanding of the gold and gold-copper
deposit systems in the region relies on
publications on individual deposits; this paper
provides the first comprehensive deposit
compilation for the region.
REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVITY
The islands of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa
constitute an east-west trending Eastern Sunda
Magmatic Arc with a total length of about
1,800km, part of the 3,940 km-long Sunda-Banda
Arc extending from the northern tip of Sumatra
island through Java to east of Damar island
(Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and Mitchell, 1994;
Setijadji et al., 2006).
The Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc was
constructed on thin island arc crust, transitional
with the margin of Sundaland in the west and
bounded by Australian continental crust in the
east (Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and Mitchell, 1994;
Hall, 2002). It consists of a chain of islands that
have undergone a similar geodynamic history
from Java to Sumbawa. These islands share
similarities in tectonic setting, regional geology
with dominantly Neogene and Quaternary
volcanic rocks, magmatic evolution since the Late
Oligocene, and consistent northward magmatic
migration.
The Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc is
predominantly composed of Oligocene to
Quaternary magmatic rocks with widespread Late
Miocene and Pliocene intrusions exposed along
the southern part of the belt. The belt is
considered to be prospective with several fertile
districts identified along the islands on the basis
of lithogeochemical studies (Setijadji et al., 2006;
Loucks, 2009).
The Eastern Sunda Arc ranks among the most
endowed magmatic belts in the Southwest Pacific
region. The region contains more than 15
magmatic belts in 15 countries with a total strike
length of more than 21,050 km and total gold

endowment of 744.8 million ounces. About


45.1% or 321.2 million ounces are hosted in
Neogene magmatic arcs and 42.6% or 317.3
million ounces have been discovered in
Indonesia. The Eastern Sunda Arc contains 92.44
million ounces of gold, second to the Papuan Fold
Belt on Papua island (Maryono and Power, 2009).
For explorers, the competitive advantages of the
Eastern Sunda Arc include a proven record of
exploration successes including the recent
discovery of another world class gold-copper
deposit at Tujuh Bukit, existing infrastructure
with the presence of an active world-class
operating mine at Batu Hijau on Sumbawa, and a
copper-gold smelter at Gresik East Java.
REGIONAL TECTONICS AND GEOLOGY
The Eastern Sunda Arc is located along the
tectonically active zone that marks the
convergence of three major tectonic plates:
Eurasian, Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates
(Hamilton, 1979). The western segment of the arc
(West to East Java) developed on thick
continental crust on the southern margin of
Sundaland, whereas the eastern segment (East
Java to Sumbawa) was constructed on thinner
island arc crust bounded by Australian continent
crust further east (Sumba and Timor; Hamilton,
1979; Carlile and Mitchell, 1994; Hall, 2002;
Setijadji et al., 2006).
The geology of the islands of the Eastern Sunda
Arc is characterized by island arc-type volcanosedimentary successions of Oligocene to
Quaternary age (Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and
Mitchell, 1994; Suratno, 1995; Metcalfe, 1996;
Garwin, 2002; Setijadji et al., 2006). Igneous
rocks of Paleocene-Eocene age are thought to be
present locally along the southernmost parts of
Java at Bayah dome (Cikotok Formation), and at
the Cikotok Formation and Jatibarang Volcanic
Formation (JVF) in west Java (Hutchison, 1982;
Sujatmiko and Santoso, 1992; Setijadji et al.,
2006). The earliest magmatic activities can be
traced, scattered toward east of Java as far as
Pacitan, western part of East Java (JICA-JOGMEC,
2004; Setijadji et al., 2006).
24

Figure 1. Gold-copper deposits and mineralization systems in the Southwest Pacific Region including the Eastern Sunda arc as one of most
prospective magmatic belts in the region.
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While the Paleocene-Eocene volcanic centers are


poorly defined and restricted in area, Late
Oligocene to Middle Miocene magmatic rocks are
widespread and continuously distribution along
the whole belt. Volcaniclastic rocks of Late
Miocene to Pliocene age are more abundant than
the older volcanic rocks, following the southern
margin of the belt with a relative northward shift
over time. Low-K calc-alkaline to weakly alkaline
andesitic volcanic and interbedded volcaniclastic
rocks, associated low-K intermediate intrusions
and minor shallow water marine sedimentary
rocks extend from Java to Bali, Lombok and
Sumbawa (Meldrum et al., 1994; Suratno, 1995;
Maula & Levet, 1996; Sjoekri, 1998; Garwin,
2002; Setijadji et al., 2006).

image data. Tectonic factors appear to have


localized volcanic centers along the arc-normal
structures

The islands display progressively younger volcanic


complexes of Pleistocene to Quaternary age
towards the north, with recently active
volcanoes, Mt. Krakatau in westernmost Java, Mt.
Agung in Bali, Mt. Rinjani in Lombok and Mt.
Tambora and Mt. Sangeangapi in Sumbawa
islands. In total there are more than fifty-six
Quaternary volcanoes along the belt from Java to
Sumbawa.

Earliest volcanism in the Eastern Sunda Arc is


poorly understood and restricted to Java. It is
thought to have developed during the initiation
of the Java Trench in the Paleocene-Eocene as
older volcanic rock units are restricted to a belt
from West to East Java as far as Pacitan. The
earliest magmatism resulted from the
development of the Western Sunda Arc
(Sumatra) that migrated to the east, in which the
resulting magmatic arc was located along the
edge of Sundaland, from Sumatra through Java,
Sumba and western Sulawesi (Hamilton, 1979;
Carlile and Mitchell, 1994; Hall, 2002).

Numerous Eocene to Pliocene (50.9 Ma to 2.7


Ma) intrusions occur scattered along the belts
from Java to Sumbawa. Gabbro in Ciletuh, west
Java is dated at 50.1-50.9 Ma (Pertamina-ITB,
2002), a dioritic dyke in Karangsambung, central
Java at 37.6 Ma (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1994), an
andesitic intrusion in the Pacitan area at 38.7 Ma
(JICA-JOGMEC, 2004). Miocene felsic intrusions
recognized include quartz diorite at CiletuhCiemas (13.7 Ma) and rhyolite at Cirotan (9.6Ma).
At Cineam in west Java, Widi and Matsueda
(1998) reported ages from 13.5 to 8 Ma for
hydrothermal activity related to magmatism and
epithermal mineralization in this area. Further
east, late stage quartz diorite to tonalite dykes at
5.0 to 2.7 Ma have been reported from East Java,
Lombok and Sumbawa where they are associated
with gold and gold-copper mineralization (Clode
et al., 1999; Garwin, 2002, Maryono et al., 2005).

MAGMATIC EVOLUTION
In total the Eastern Sunda Arc consists of five
different ages of magmatic belts: pre-Tertiary,
Paleocene-Eocene, Oligocene-Middle Miocene,
Late
Miocene-Pliocene
(Neogene)
and
Quaternary (Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and Mitchell,
1994; Hall, 2002; Setijadji, 2006). The Arc is
defined by a similar tectonic setting, constructed
on thinner island arc crust, bounded by the
margin of Sundaland in the west and by
Australian continent crust in the east.

The spatial evolution of the volcanic arcs since


the Oligocene is better understood and can be
reconstructed. Collision between West Sulawesi
and micro continents in the Miocene led to
changes the location of the subduction system to
a more southerly position. The following volcanic
activity then gave rise to the islands of Bali,
Lombok and Sumbawa. During the Oligocene to
Pliocene, the volcanic centers have shifted
northward (towards the back arc-side). The
shifting distances increase relatively eastwards,
and such this spatial movement may have
resulted from counter-clockwise rotation of the
volcanic arcs, with westernmost Java (around
Bayah dome) as the rotational pole.

The Eastern Sunda Arc is segmented by a series of


north-northeast trending arc-normal structures
that are evident in topographic and satellite
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Figure 2. Regional geology of the Eastern Sunda Arc, summarised from Hamilton, 1979;
Carlile and Mitchell, 1994; Hall, 2002; Setijadji et al., 2006.

Figure 3. Five magmetic belts of the Eastern Sunda arc that show consistent northward migration from
Early Tertiary to Quaternary (Hamilton, 1979; Carlile and Mitchell, 1994; Hall, 2002; Setijadji et al., 2006).
Figure 1. Research area located in PT. SMR tenement area at Supul, Timor Tengah Selatan regency, East
Nusa Tenggara province
27

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The Early Tertiary volcanic arcs occupied the


southern coast of the island, and perhaps also
offshore to the south, as indicated by a high
gravity anomaly. In the Late Miocene significant
northward migration of volcanic centers was
noteworthy in the eastern part of West and
Central Java, but not in East Java. Again during
the Pliocene, volcanic centers shifted northward.
The back arc-ward volcanic shift ended after the
Pliocene, and the trench-ward volcanic shift
started in the Quaternary. The trench-ward shift
is demonstrated by the invasion of Late Tertiary
volcanic centers by Quaternary volcanoes in West
and Central Java, and the missing Pliocene
volcanoes in most of east Java. This may be due
to their being completely covered by Quaternary
volcanoes. Radiometric data from the Quaternary
cross-arc volcanic chain of Merapi-MerbabuTelomoyo-Ungaran also suggest that the
Quaternary volcanism gradually moved trenchward (Kohno et al., 2005). An exception occurs at
westernmost Java, where Quaternary volcanism
(Krakatau and Danau) migrated back arc-ward
due to the Sunda Strait opening (Nishimura et al.,
1986).
Back arc magmatism only took place since the
latest Miocene to Quaternary. With recent
physiography as reference, there are two main
locations of back arc magmatism, i.e., on Java
where the current depth of the subducted slab is
around 320-350 km (Quaternary Muria and
Lasem volcanoes), and offshore Java where the
current depth of the subducted slab is around
600 km (Quaternary Bawean island). Analogous
to the volcanic arc trench-ward shift after the
Pliocene, the locations of back arc magmatism
seem also to shift trench-ward from the
Karimunjawa islands to the Muria-Lasem
volcanoes.
GOLD-COPPER ENDOWMENT AND
PROSPECTIVITY
Total metal endowment of the Eastern Sunda Arc
is dominated by gold, silver and copper with very
insignificant other metals (iron, lead and zinc).
The arc contains 92.44 million ounces of gold,
279.17 million ounces of silver and 61.92 billion

pound of copper from 14 deposits and prospects.


This large metal endowment is mainly
contributed from three world class gold-copper
deposits at Batu Hijau, Elang and Tumpangpitu.
The gold endowment of the Eastern Sunda Arc
accounts for 26.1 % of the total gold endowment
of Indonesia (317.3 million ounces; Maryono and
Power, 2009).
In the regional context, the Eastern Sunda Arc
stands among the top in the Southwest Pacific
region (Maryono and Power, 2009). The region
covers 15 countries and hosts 15 magmatic arc
belts with total of more than 21,050 km strike
length of magmatic arc belts and total gold
endowment of 744.8 million ounces. The Eastern
Sunda arc contains 11.1 % of total region gold
endowment, second to the Papuan Fold Belt
(281.0 million ounces). A similar rank is seen in
the Indonesian context that the arc contains
26.1% of the total Indonesian gold endowment
(317.3 million ounces), second to the Indonesian
part of the Papuan Fold Belt.
For such a short extent of magmatic arc length
(1,800km), with world-class gold, silver and
copper endowment the Eastern Sunda arc ranks
it as one of worlds most prospective magmatic
belts, with potential similar to that of the Papuan
Fold Belt and the Solomon-Lihir Magmatic Arc in
the region. With remarkable known metal
endowment and potential for new discoveries,
the Eastern Sunda Arc has high prospectivity. On
that basis the arc is considered to be one of the
worlds emerging gold-copper belts.
Almost 100% of the metal endowment in the
Eastern Sunda Arc is related to the Neogene
magmatic stage, one of 5 stages of magmatic
activities identified along the belt. Dating of
mineralization age and/or related intrusion age
shows similar features to the magmatic host
rocks where mineralizing intrusions have been
dated as Neogene in age (3.6 3.8 Ma) at Batu
Hijau, 2.7 Ma at Elang, 7.5 Ma at Selodong, 2.5
Ma at Pongkor and 3 Ma at Arinem. This is
consistent with the Western Pacific region where
the largest gold endowment (about 45.1% or

28

Figure 4. The Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc with three world class-porphyry Cu-Au deposits discovered along the belt, making it one
of worlds most fertile and prospective magmatic belts.
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321.2 million ounces) is hosted in Neogene


magmatic arcs (Maryono and Power, 2009).
Three of 26 gold deposits containing >5 million
ounces of gold in the western Pacific region occur
along the belt in the form of porphyry Cu-Au
deposits. These three world-class Cu-Au deposits
are Batu Hijau (19.9 million ounces of gold and
19.6 billion ounces of copper; Clode et al., 1999;
Newmont Annual report, 2009), Elang in
Sumbawa (25.4 million ounces of gold and 16.3
billion ounces of copper; Newmont Mining
Corporation, 2012) and at Tumpangpitu in East
Java (27.4 million ounce of gold and 15.4 billion
pounds of copper; Intrepid Mines Ltd, 2012).
Active mine operations along the belt that are
major contributors to Indonesias gold and
copper production include gold mines Pongkor,
Cibaliung, and Cikotok in West Java, and Batu
Hijau Cu-Au mine in Sumbawa, NTB Province.
Recent intense exploration programs have
delineated another world-class porphyry coppergold deposit at Tumpangpitu, the Tujuh Bukit
Project, recently discovered through intense
drilling programs by Intrepid Mines Ltd since
September 2007. Other recent intense
exploration drilling programs have been carried
out at Huu and Pangulir in Sumbawa, Brambang,
Pelangan and Mencanggah in Lombok and
Selogiri and Trenggalek in Java; they have all
intersected significant copper and gold
mineralization of porphyry and high sulfidation
epithermal styles.
GOLD-SILVER-COPPER MINERALIZATION STYLES
Porphyry Cu-Au mineralization style is a prime
metal source for gold and sole source for copper
in the Eastern Sunda Arc, contributing about
90.3% of total gold or 74.5 million ounces and
100% of copper endowment or 53.1 billion
pounds. Epithermal mineralization styles are
second with 8 million ounces of gold endowment
or about 9.7%. This endowment is similar to that
for the Western Pacific region in that about 88%
of total gold endowment or 655.1 of 744.5 million
ounces of total gold endowment are contributed
by porphyry mineralization. Other deposit types,
e.g. skarn and sediment-hosted, are insignificant.

In the eastern segment of the arc, significant


porphyry deposits or districts are spaced
approximately every 100 km along the east-west
trending arc from Empang/Huu in the east,
Elang,
Batu
Hijau
in
Sumbawa,
Selodong/Brambang in Lombok and Tumpangpitu
in East Java, to the west. A long gap is seen
further west to Selogiri in Central Java. Paucity of
significant porphyry occurrences in the west
segment of the arc is in marked a contrast to the
east segment.
Three world class porphyry deposits at
Tumpangpitu, Batu Hijau and Elang are thought
to be restricted in the eastern segment on thin
island arc crust. In contrast the western segment
is dominated by low to intermediate sulfidation
epithermal gold-silver deposits at Pongkor,
Cikotok, Cikondang, Cibaliung and Arinem, with
no significant porphyry copper-gold deposits. As
for porphyry deposits, high sulfidation epithermal
deposits/prospects are also confined to the
eastern segment at Empang, Sane/Rinti, Pangulir,
Ladam/Elang, Sabalong/Lantung in Sumbawa,
Pelangan and Mencanggah in Lombok and Zone
A, B. C (Tumpangpitu) in east Java.
Porphyry and epithermal mineralization styles in
the Eastern Sunda arc have their own distinctive
characteristics that have developed across the
arc, resulting from their specific tectonic setting
and host lithologies. Porphyry and epithermal
deposits in the Eastern Sunda Arc share many
characteristics with those in other island arcs in
the Western Pacific region e.g. Philippines,
Solomon Islands, PNG, Fiji. They display
significant differences to the Lamaride porphyry
systems in continental margin and cratonic
settings in the eastern Pacific region.
Characteristics of gold-silver-copper mineralization systems along the Eastern Sunda Arc can
be seen from regional, district to deposit scale.
At a regional scale porphyry Cu-Au and
epithermal Au-Ag deposits are located along
active convergence plate boundaries.
Strong conjugate northwest (NW) and northeast
(NE) fault systems are the dominant structural
features of the islands, both at regional and
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district scales. North-west and north-eastern


trending lineaments are evident from air photo
analysis
and
satellite-airborne
image
interpretation and are thought to be cross
structures, related to the emplacement of
intrusions, and consequently to formation of
major porphyry Cu-Au deposits. Major NE
trending structures can be seen in the
mineralized districts at Batu Hijau, Elang, Empang
and Huu (Garwin, 2002; Maryono et al., 2005),
whereas NW trending major structures are
observed at Tumpangpitu, Selodong and
Brambang. Some deposits, e.g. Batu Hijau and
Elang, are localized at fault intersections (arcparallel and NE trending major structures).
The deposits are spatially associated with
Neogene intrusive bodies with low-K calc-alkaline
to weakly alkaline, dioritic to tonalitic
composition (Garwin, 2000; Maryono et al., 2005;
Setijadji, 2006; Hartono et al., 2007; Roe, per
comm., 2012). Intrusion ages range from 2.7 Ma
at Elang, 3.7 Ma at Batu Hijau to 7.5 Ma at
Selodong. The causative intrusions generally form
a series of nested, small dioritic to tonalitic
intrusive complexes.
Mineralizing intrusive
bodies consist of multiple phases, mostly early,
intermediate and late tonalite intrusions. These
multiphase intrusive complexes are generally part
of remnant volcanic centers or stratovolcanoes
with dioritic to andesitic batholiths/stocks as premineralization intrusions.
Intrusive bodies are elongate, with pencil-like
apophyses 200m to 500m in diameter with >2km
vertical extent. The apophyses rise within or from
the margins of coarse-grained, equigranular
stocks/batholiths.
The depth of porphyry
intrusions ranges from 1 to 2 km below the paleo
surface and extend a further 5 km depth. The
intrusions are characterized by porphyritic
textures, with 30 to 60% phenocrysts consisting
of abundant plagioclase, minor alkali feldspar,
hornblende and quartz.
Host stratigraphy is generally characterized by
Miocene volcanic rocks and associated
volcaniclastic rocks as a volcanic edifice. The
volcaniclastic rock sequence contains thin
calcareous sedimentary rocks and limestone,

which form thin skarn mineralization, e.g. at


Elang, Batu Hijau and Tumpangpitu.
Structural fabrics at district scale are dominated
by strong conjugate systems of NW and NE faults
that are apparent in some mineralized districts.
NW-trending structural corridors exist at
Pelangan, Mencanggah and Brambang in
Lombok, and Tumpangpitu in East Java. A series
of ore-bearing quartz ledges of intermediate to
high sulfidation epithermal character with NW to
NNW orientation are developed at Pelangan,
Mencanggah and Tumpangpitu. A similar NW
alignment of mineralized porphyry centers is
seen at Brambang and Tumpangpitu.
NE
alignment of porphyry prospects or intrusion
centers occurs further east in the eastern
segment of the arc at Batu Hijau, Elang, Rinti and
Gapit in Sumbawa, where porphyry Cu-Au
prospects and other Cu-Au mineralized centers in
the district are aligned along a NE trending
structural corridor with different levels of
exposure.
DISTRICT MINERALIZED SYSTEM AND
EXPLORATION MODEL
District mineralized systems as illustrated by
conceptual deposit models in Figures 5 and 6, are
zoned with a spatial association of a central
porphyry and overprinting high sulfidation
epithermal, marginal low sulfidation epithermal
veins, skarn and sediment-hosted gold-silver
mineralization. Intermediate to high sulfidation
epithermal mineralization forms a telescoped
system above or adjacent to underlying porphyry
systems, e.g. Elang, Gapit and Tumpangpitu. Low
sulfidation systems are developed further away
from the porphyry centers.
Most significant porphyry and related epithermal
mineralization occurrences are associated with
diatreme breccia bodies. The breccia is developed
at the margin or adjacent to the porphyry
systems, resulting in disruption to the
mineralized bodies, e.g. Rinti, Elang, Batu Hijau,
Selodong, Brambang and Tumpangpitu. Major
disruption can be observed at Selodong, SW
Lombok where the Motong Botek porphyry
mineralization system has been fragmented by
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late diatreme breccia. Rootless porphyry mega


fragments occur within large breccia bodies.
An example showing the full spectrum is the
Elang district, Sumbawa, in a telescoped system
where a high-sulfidation system at Ladam occurs
on top of porphyry Cu-Au mineralization (25.4
million ounces of gold and 16.3 billion pounds of
copper; Newmont Mining Corporation, 2012).
Gold-bearing quartz vein sets of low sulfidation
epithermal character is developed 1 km to the
south at Sebu and 1.5km north-northeast at
Kokar Ika within the diatreme body (Maryono et
al., 2005). Insignificant skarn mineralization with
calc-silicate alteration is developed in thin
calcareous intercalations in the host volcaniclastic
sedimentary sequence of Miocene age.
Another good example occurs in the
Tumpangpitu district in East Java. An overlying
high-sulfidation epithermal deposit (2.4 million
ounces Au and 80 million ounces Ag) in Zones A,
B and C penetrates as deep as 1 km below the
current surface over a porphyry Cu-Au deposit
(28.0 million ounces Au and 19.0 billion pounds
Cu; Intrepid Mines Ltd, 2012). Low sulfidation
epithermal mineralization is developed at
Gunung Manis approximately 3 km east of the
main porphyry Cu-Au deposit. Minor skarn
mineralization occurs in thin beds of calcareous
sedimentary rocks and limestones in the Miocene
volcaniclastic host rocks.
Alteration systems at district to deposit scale with
underlying porphyry Au-Cu systems and
peripheral intermediate to high sulfidation
epithermal Au-Ag systems are generally
manifested at surface by large lithocap alteration
bodies (Figure 7). Low sulfidation epithermal
systems have limited alteration envelops at the
surface, confined to quartz vein selvages.
Large surface lithocap features more than 20 km2
in area with barren to very weak stream
geochemical signatures can be seen at Huu
Sumbawa and Brambang Lombok, where the
porphyry Au-Cu systems are totally concealed.
Mineralized overlying lithocap bodies with
obvious surface geochemical signatures occur at
Tumpangpitu (Zones A, B and C) and Elang

(Ladam) where high sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag


mineralization styles overprint porphyry Cu-Au
systems at depth. The lithocap bodies are
composed of central mineralized vuggy and
pervasive quartz ledges. They are zoned outward
to peripheral advanced argillic, argillic and
outermost propylitic alteration zones.
The
advanced argillic alteration is composed of acid
clay minerals, dominant kaolinite-dickite at
shallow levels and dominantly phyrophyllitediaspore-topaz at depth. Argillic alteration zones
are made up of neutral clay minerals illite, and
montmorillonite with little kaolinite. Alunite in
the form of crystals or pervasively dispersed is
observed in the central quartz ledge and residual
vuggy quartz zones.
A gradual alteration change to the underlying
porphyry system can be seen with the presence
of abundant illite, quartz veins and relict
magnetite/hematite. Shreddy chlorite (after
hydrothermal
biotite)
and
hydrothermal
magnetite increase downwards, giving way at
depth to preserved early porphyry alteration
(biotite-magnetite-actinolite-plagioclase
and
potassium feldspar assemblages).
Porphyry
alteration types and zones recognized on a
district scale include early, transitional, late and
very late assemblages. Early biotite-actinoliteoligoclase-magnetite alteration is overprinted by
retrograde chlorite-magnetite to form a chloriteactinolite-biotite-magnetiteoligoclase alteration
assemblage. Zones of early alteration contains
porphyry vein types A, EB/EDM, and Afamily of Gustafson and Hunt (1975) and
Brimhall (1977) with dominant chalcopyrite and
bornite mineralization. Early porphyry alteration
is spatially associated with porphyry Cu-Au ore
which measures more than 1.5 km in diameter at
the three world-class porphyry systems, Batu
Hijau, Elang and Tumpangpitu. Dominance of
biotite alteration, a lack of potassium feldspar
alteration, and the presence of significant
actinolite are marked differences compared to
porphyry Cu-Au systems in other parts of the
world (Lowell and Gilbert, 1975; Sillitoe and
Gappe, 1984).
Transitional
widespread

porphyry
zones

alteration produced
of
chlorite-sericite32

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Figure 5. Conceptual district scale exploration deposit model in section view showing central porphyry
gold-copper deposit with peripheral epithermal, skarn and sediment-hosted deposits.

Figure 6. Conceptual district scale exploration deposit model in plan view showing centralporphyry
gold-copper deposit with peripheral epithermal deposits and diatreme breccia body.
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Figure 7. Large surface lithocap alteration footprints with underlying porphyry gold-copper systems at some
porphyry gold-copper deposits/prospects along the Eastern Sunda Arc.

magnetite+clay assemblages overprinting early


porphyry alteration. This transitional alteration
tends to form an alteration shell and is closely
associated with early chlorite-actinolite-biotitemagnetite alteration. Typical characteristics of
this transitional alteration are marked by the
presence of shreddy chlorite, green sericite and
hematite.
Weak
sericite-claychlorite+magnetite assemblage is associated
with the late Echo Tonalite intrusion (Maryono
et
al.,
2005).
The
sericite-chloritemagnetite/hematite+clay
assemblage
is
thought to be comparable to the sericitechlorite-clay zone (SCC) of Sillitoe and Gappe,
1984 and pale green mica assemblage of Clode
et al., 1999. Porphyry type veins, especially B
and C veins, are associated with transitional
alteration.
Late alteration overprints involve broad zones
of advanced argillic and argillic alteration. A
broad argillic zone (sericite-illite-kaolinite)
extends for 5 km along the NNE trending
alteration corridor from Ladam to Sepekat.

Three main zones of advanced argillic alteration


(pyrophyllite-dickite-kaolinite-alunite) occupy
high topography at Elang, Gerbang and south
Sepekat. High sulfidation (quartz-enargitetennantite) and intermediate sulfidation
(quartz-base metal) epithermal veins are
associated with late advanced argillic and
argillic alteration respectively. Very weak argillic
alteration
(weak
sericite-claychlorite)
associated with the diatreme breccia and postmineralization dacite porphyry is considered to
be a product of a very late alteration stage.
Similarly, narrow sericite -kaolinite selvages on
quartz-base metal veins are related to a very
late hydrothermal stage. Copper and gold orebearing alteration is intense biotite-magnetite
alteration
(lacking
potassium
feldspar)
measuring from 1 to more than 1.5 km in
diameter (Maryono et al., 2005).
Porphyry mineralization in the Eastern Sunda
Arc is typified by gold-rich porphyry systems,
similar to those in island arc settings in the
Philippines. Copper-gold mineralization is
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formed during emplacement of cogenetic


porphyritic intrusion. Hypogene mineralization
at three world-class deposits at Batu Hijau,
Elang and Tumpangpitu is typical of porphyry
Cu-Au deposits. It is associated with a series of
small multiphase porphyry intrusions (early,
intermediate and late tonalite phases)
emplaced close together in space and time in an
area 1.5 km by 1 km. The mineralized zone, as
marked by 0.3 % Cu zones in surface projections
of drill hole data, measures on average more
than 1 km in diameter, centered at small
porphyritic dioritic to tonalitic mineralizing
intrusions. Porphyry mineralization forms an
annular or inverted shell that lies within and
around the margins of deep tonalite intrusive
bodies.
Significant supergene copper enrichment is
developed beneath advanced argillic alteration
only at Batu Hijau and Elang. A weak chalcocite
blanket averaging 40m thick and 0.5 to 0.7 % Cu
has been intercepted in drill holes. The copper
enriched zone measures in excess of 500m by
750m in plan with variable thickness and is
characterized by an overlying goethite-hematite
leached cap at the surface. Very thin supergene
copper mineralization (0.3 to 0.5% Cu, 10 to
20m thick) intersected at Brambang does not
form a significant chalcocite blanket.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS TO
EXPLORATION
The metallogeny of the Eastern Sunda
Magmatic Arc is dominated by gold, silver and
copper which are predominantly contained in
porphyry and epithermal deposit types. With
world class gold-silver-copper endowment of
92.44 million ounces of gold, 279.17 million
ounces of silver and 61.92 billion pounds of
copper, the Eastern Sunda Magmatic Arc has
emerged as one of most prospective goldcopper belts in the world.
Porphyry gold-copper and epithermal goldsilver mineralization styles in the Eastern Sunda
Magmatic Arc share similarities to those in
typical island arc settings, e.g. the Philippines,
and display some unique characteristics. At

district scale the mineralized system is zoned


with a spatial association of central porphyry
and overprinting high sulfidation epithermal
mineralization, and marginal low sulfidation
epithermal, skarn and sediment-hosted goldsilver
mineralization.
Post-mineralization
diatreme breccia bodies are common,
developed at the margin or adjacent to the
porphyry systems, and disrupt the mineralized
bodies.
At regional to district scales, key deposit
features can be summarised to include an
association of deeply eroded volcanic centers,
NNE and NW trending major structures,
Oligocene to Miocene volcaniclastic host rocks,
Neogene multiple small nested intrusive
complexes, a spatial association of central
porphyry and distal epithermal systems and
large surface lithocap footprints. At deposit
scale key deposit features include gold-copper
ore bearing intense biotite-actinolite-magnetite
alteration, gold-silver bearing vuggy and
pervasive quartz alteration, gold-silver bearing
quartz veins, porphyry veining types and
patterns, sulfide species and pattern, hypogene
Fe-oxides, supergene Fe-oxides, mineralization
forms and textures, and detailed alteration
types and patterns. These key deposit features
are spatially and genetically associated with ore
and its environment that provide selection
criteria for prospective regions. Exploration
area selection is based on the presence or
absence of these specific geological features,
and
geochemical,
geophysical
and
geomorphological features which reflect
underlying geological features.
District and deposit exploration models can be
further refined on the basis of shared key
features of the deposits in the region as guides
during exploration. These key features provide
vectors to ore, applicable in identifying the
central, proximal and distal parts of mineralized
systems during exploration activities. Keys to
exploration success include understanding the
characteristic features of ore systems,
observing key geological features in the field,
and determining vectors to ore.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper benefitted from contributions from
many colleques during work on several projects
along this magmatic arc. The authors would like
to thank site exploration/geology teams at Batu
Hijau, Elang, Selodong, Tujuh Bukit and
Brambang for their work, site assistance and
contribution. Noel White is specially thanked
for constructive review and editing.
The
authors would also like to thank the
Management of PT Buena Sumber Daya in
particular Bambang Irianto and Rayes Sembiring
for the support to publish this paper.

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Geology and Exploration for Low Sulfidation Epithermal


Gold-Silver Mineralization in Kerta, Banten
Hasbi Lubis *, Sukmandaru Prihatmoko *, Yerri Heryunanto*
*) PT AGC Indonesia (Turqouise Hill Resources)
ABSTRACT
Kerta which is located in the western flank of Bayah Dome, a geological district with numerous known Au
deposits and mineralizations, somehow has never been systematically explored until PT AGC Indonesia started the
exploration works in 2007. Intensive and systematic exploration programs included stream sediment prospecting,
ground magnetic survey, soil sampling, CSAMT survey, trenching and detailed mapping and core drilling. These
programs have delineated numerous geochem anomalies and mineral prospects associated with Au and Ag. The
exploration works have been focused on several best prospects including Cisadang and Leuwikopo which are
becoming the main subject of this paper.
The studied area is occupied by a thick sequence of flat lying pyroclastics, volcaniclastics, and sediments, including
Clastic Sediment, Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic, Tuffaceous Sediment, and Rhyolite Lava-Breccias, intruded by
Dacite (Quartz Feldspar Porphyry/ QFP and Andesite. Although Sujatmiko and Santosa (1992) considered these
rocks sequence to be the Early Miocene Cimapag Formation, the field evidence is not obvious since the rocks are
flat lying, homogene and lack of deformation. Based on the similarity on rock composition, it is considered that all
of these sequences could be belong to the Pliocene Cipacar Formation or part of the Malimping Tuff.
Both in Cisadang and Leuwikopo, Au mineralization is confined in the quartz veins and breccias, hosted by
hydrothermaly altered rocks including the QFP intrusive. At least three main trends of veining were defined, i.e.
NW-SE trending steep veins, NE-SE trending steep veins, and NE-dipping flat lying veins. All of them have quite
similar vein and breccias textures including crustiform-colloform banding, fine graned quartz to chalcedony in
composition, associated with silca-adularia as envelop, black sulphide (pyrite, marcasite, and arsenopyrite)
commonly occurred as dissemination and filling vein bands, multiple brecciation, pseodomorph bladed carbonates
in places, and associated with As, Sb and Hg in the upper part (near surface). Sinters (at least 3 layers) are also
identified near surface indicating the hydrothermal process occurred in several events.
All of the evidences indicate that Kerta area has experienced highly dynamic paleo-geothermal system responsible
for low-sulfidation adularia-sericite type gold-silver mineralisation at its highest hot-spring level of exposure.
Multiple lines of evidence exist for fully preserved neutral water-dominated hydrothermal upflow zones, complete
with siliceous sinter horizons. High Au grades were intercepted in both Leuwikopo (hole KL-03) and Cisadang (hole
CSD-03) in association with Ag. However, the extensions of the high grade zones have not been justified yet.
The exploration works to date, although have been involving all possible techniques of exploration, from
conventional stream sediment prospecting, soil sampling, geophysical surveys (ground magnetic and CSAMT),
detailed mapping and thousands meters of drilling have not been conclusive yet to define the economic potential
of the project. High grade quartz veins and breccias have been discovered but the thickness and extension have
not been sufficient.

INTRODUCTION
Kerta project is administratively located in Lebak
Regency, Banten Province. Exploration works
have been conducted by PT Suma Heksa Sinergi
in cooperation with PT AGC Indonesia, a
subsidiary of Turqouise Hill Resources (formerly

Ivanhoe Mines). The exploration campaign has


been carried out since 2007, including stream
sediment prospecting, regional mapping, ground
magnetic survey, soil sampling, trenching, CSAMT
survey, and drilling in some of the prospects. This
paper is written to document the exploration
works results that led to the discovery of low
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sulfidation epithermal gold mineralizations in


some of the prospects.
EXPLORATION HISTORY
The presence of the mineralized quartz/silica
veins with disseminated pyrite related to the
andesitic and basaltic stocks (was reported within
the Cimapag Formation) had been recognized
and attracted several groups of exploration
companies to conduct exploration work in the
area since the 80s. Field visit and geological
review by BHP Minerals (Utah International) in
1986 reported some indications of lowsulfidation epithermal system with the
occurrences of quartz veins and silica sinter
containing gold, silver, arsenic and antimony
(Wilson, 1986).
In 1995, 15 KP (Kuasa Pertambangan) blocks were
issued over the Kerta region, and 4 of them had
been reviewed by Indo China Goldfields (Kirwin,
1995). Field prospecting and mapping were
carried out collecting rock samples for assay and
XRD analyses. Indo China Gold suggested that
Kerta had a good potential for low-grade
replacement style gold deposits and epithermal
veins.
In the period of 1997 - 1998, PT. Java Gold
Indonesia conducted exploration works for gold
over Kerta area, and carried out stream
sediments prospecting, soil and rock geochemical
sampling and flew airborn magnetic coinciding
with geology mapping, that were subsequently
followed up by scout-diamond drilling
programmes (Java Gold, 1998). Five diamond
drill-holes totalling 919.2 metres were completed
in 1998. Java Gold identified mineralized/ altered
zones in several areas that are known as Pasir
Gember, Pasir Karang, Cisadang, Leuwikopo,
Gunung Batu, Gunung Kendeng, Parakan Lima,
and Cipariuk. The Cisadang prospect was rangked
as high priority target and 2 drill holes were
collared. Due to the Bre-X/ Busang saga and
further economic crisis in 1998, as other junior
explorers, Java Gold could not continue the
exploration work in Kerta.

In 2006, the area was visited and checked by


Sukmandaru Prihatmoko and Alistair Findlay of
Asia Gold Corp., a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines
(turned out later as PT AGC Indonesia). This field
review recommended Kerta as having good
potential for low-sulfidation epithermal gold
system similar to Pongkor, Cikotok, Cikidang
deposits which are located in the Bayah Dome
Complex to the east of Kerta area (Prihatmoko,
2006). The exploration license (Ijin Usaha
Pertambangan, formerly Kuasa Pertambangan)
was granted to PT Suma Heksa Sinergi in early
2007, and systematic exploration works have
been conducted in cooperation with PT AGC
Indonesia.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Kerta is located in the western edge of the Bayah
Dome Complex (Figure 2). The regional geology
description in this chapter is referring to
Sujatmiko and Santosa (1992) and Sudana and
Santosa (1992). Bayah Formation is the oldest
(Eocene) formation identified in the Bayah Dome
Complex, composed of siltstone, marl and
limestone. Stratigraphically, the Bayah Formation
is overlain by Upper Eosen of Cicarucup
Formation composed of conglomerate with
andesitic-basaltic fragments, quartz sandstone,
siltstone and limestone. Volcaniclastic sequence
of
Cijengkol
Formation
comprised
of
conglomerate and breccia with andesite
fragments, tuffaceous sandstone, tuffaceous
siltstone and marl covering the Bayah and
Cicarucup
Formations.
Further
younger,
tuffaceous limestone, conglomerate and breccia,
sandstone and marl of Citarate Formation cover
conformably the above three formations.
The above formations are conformably overlain
by Cimapag Formation of Early-Miocene that is
composed of volcanic basaltic-breccia, polymictic
conglomerate, andesitic to dacitic volcaniclastic
interlayered with conglomerates and limestone.
The Cimapag Formation is unconformably
overlain by the Sareweh Formation consisted of
limestone, marl, sandstone and tuffs.

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Figure 1. Location map of Kerta

Figure 2. Bayah Dome Complexes and known deposits (from various sources)
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The known mineralizations in Bayah Dome


Complex have been considered to be related to
the intermediate intrusives (granodiorite and
quartz diorite) associated with volcanic activity
during the formation of the Cimapag and
Sareweh Formations or purely related to shallow
level low sulfidation epithermal systems (Milesi
et al, 1994; Milese et al, 1999; and Greffie et al,
2002). Gold deposits have been known in the
district including Gunung Pongkor, Cibaliung,
Cikotok and Cikidang (Figure 2).
Kerta and surrounding area is considered to be
part of a large back-arc resurgent caldera
complex of Early Miocene (?) to Late Pliocene age
(Panther, 2010). Intra-caldera and late calderafill facies observed represent cyclical explosive
transitional dacitic to andesitic through to
rhyodacitic eruptive events, typified by air-fall
and base-surge deposition, and inter-eruption
periods of quiescence characterized by basinal to
sub-basinal lacustrine sediment and active
riverine
conglomerate
and
volcanogenic
sediment deposition and re-working. Late-stage
localized domal uplift associated with several
phases of rhyodacitic, dacitic and andesitic
endogenous dome and stock emplacement is also
evident, with associated crystal-lithic tuff, lava
and reported though not observed laharic cap
sequences of large areal extent.
A regional correlative study of lithological units
within the Kerta area indicates that the lowsulfidation epithermal mineralisation may be
Early Pliocene in age and correlatable to the 4.95
Ma Cibaliung Tuff eruptive event (Angeles et. al.,
2002).
Underlying
andesitic
to
dacitic
volcaniclastic sediments, tuffs and conglomerates
representative has been describe to be part of
the Cimapag Formation of Early Miocene age,
however looking at deformation affect which is
almost none, and the bedding is horizontal, the
sequence could be part of the Pliocene Cipacar
Formation and appear to be the main
mineralisation hosts at Kerta.
REGIONAL STRUCTURES
The geo-structural fabric at Kerta and therefore
mineralisation styles and distribution in the

region, are related to oblique northeast


subduction of the Indo-Australian plate below the
West Java segment of the Eurasian plate, which
can be traced back to the Early Cenozoic (cf.
Hamilton, 1979; Hall, 2002; Clements and Hall,
2007; Yulianto et. al., 2007). Four major structural
trends have been deduced from Malimping
Block off-shore seismic survey data and regional
surface geological mapping in West Java; these
consist of NE-SW, N-S, NNE-SSW, and E-W striking
fault structures, interpreted to represent
different tectonic episodes related to subduction
(Clements and Hall, 2007; Yulianto et. al., 2007).
Of these, the NE-SW, NNE-SSW, N-S and E-W
orientations are most likely a product of
pronounced Eocene to Late Pliocene north
oriented compression and related east-west
extension, interacting with a pre-existing
Cretaceous
Meratus
Trend
northeastsouthwest striking basement fabric (cf. Yulianto
et. al., 2007). These subduction-related structural
trends and the north-south axis of compression
which characterizes West Java on a regional
scale, is inferred to control the orientation of
Pliocene low-sulfidation epithermal precious
metal vein mineralisation at Kerta (Panther,
2010).
EXPLORATION WORKS
Systematic exploration programs have been
conducted over the area including stream
sediment prospecting, geology mapping, soil
sampling, ground magnetic survey, CSAMT
survey, trenching and diamond drilling in some
prospects.
Stream Sediment Prospecting
Steam sediment sampling program over the area
has been carried-out in the early period of the
exploration work. This program was conducted to
detect the geochemical anomalous areas, and to
screen out the non anomalous areas.
The initial program of stream sediment sampling
was performed utilizing minus 80#, minus160#,
and minus 250# screen mesh sample fractions.
Sampling locations were designed on 1:25,000
scale topographic base-map, and located in the
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Figure 3. Regional geology of Kerta (Sujatmiko & Santosa, 1992 and Sudana & Santosa, 1992)

Figure 4. Stream sediment anomalies of Au in Kerta


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Figure 5. Stream sediment anomalies of As in Kerta

Figure 6. Stream sediment anomalies of Sb in Kerta


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field by using hand held GPS. A total of 334


stream sediment samples were collected over
the exploration license (IUP) area, and analyzed
for a comprehensive suite of elements,
including Au, Ag, base metals, and epithermal
pathfinder elements including As, Sb and Hg
using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses,
done by ALS-Chemex Laboratories in Cananda.
The results of this program, in the studied area,
indicated Au, As and Sb anomalies in the creeks
draining from Cisadang, Leuwikopo, Bulakan,
Gunung Batu and other areas (Figures 4, 5, and
6).
Soil Sampling
Soil sampling programs have been carried out
over most of the prospect areas identified from
the stream sediment prospecting and geological
mapping. Two types of soil sampling were
applied, i.e. (1) mobile metal ion (MMI) soil
sampling over Leuwikopo prospect and (2)
conventional soil sampling over the rest of the
prospect areas.
The MMI soil sampling program was conducted
initially covering the southern part of the area
including Leuwikopo, southeastern Cisadang,
and southern Gunung Batu. The samples were
taken from the top 20 centimetres of the soil.
Sample locations were designed in 25 m interval
within 200 NE-SW grid lines. A total of 1,421
samples were collected and analysed using MMI
technique in SGS Lab, Perth for Au, Ag, As, Sb,
Pb, Zn, Cu, and Te. The results indicated that
Au, As, and Sb anomalies appeared mainly
correspond with known exposed quartz veins
and altered areas.
The conventional soil sampling was performed
using hand auger, and the samples were taken
at the B-Horizon of soil. Sampling locations
were design in 100x100m grid system, but then
were followed up by 50x50m grid in some
prospect areas. This soil sampling had been
done covering the prospects areas of Cisadang,
Bulakan, Gunung Batu, Gunung Gundil, Cilimus
and Cilimus East. A total of 3,245 soil samples
were collected. All samples were analysed for a
comprehensive suite of elements, including Au,

Ag, base metals, and classical epithermal


pathfinder elements, including As, Sb and Hg by
low-detection limit-capable inductively coupled
plasma (ICP) analysis in ITS Laboratory, Jakarta.
As of MMI sampling, this conventional soil
sampling could also detect the soil anomalies
well in particular along the Cisadang and
Gunung Batu structural corridors. Figures 7 - 9
showed the soil assay image combined with
rock sample assay results.
Combined results of both MMI and
conventional soil samplings clearly indicate the
presence of NW trending anomaly corridor,
called as Cisadang Mineralized Trend (CMT),
extending from Leuwikopo in the southeast to
Cisadang, Cilimus East and Pasir Leungis to the
northwest. These anomalous areas are
coinciding with rock and stream sediment
geochemical anomalies. However, the soil
anomalies often appeared along the
topographic breaks where the silicified rock
with or without quartz veins exposed. In some
areas such as Cisadang, the mineralized vein
areas (known from the drilling program)
sometime are not reflected by soil anomalies
due to the post mineral tuff covers.
Ground Magnetic Survey
Ground magnetic survey has been conducted in
several stages between 2007 and 2011 covering
the entire IUP area. The data was processed to
produce Total Field Magnetic Intensity (TMI)
and Reduce to Pole (RTP) images. Additionally,
the data was also further processed using
company in house software that produce Vector
Residual Magnetic Intensity (VRMI) image. The
VRMI is considered better than TMI and RTP
because VRMI process theoretically will remove
the remanent magnetisation that may distort
the true location of the susceptibility
distribution in rocks, while it is not done in TMI
and RTP processing.
From the ground magnetic survey, a low
magnetic zone were identified in the areas of
Gunung Batu, Cisadang and Leuwikopo that
probably reflect low magnetic rocks, e.g. altered
sediments and volcaniclastics or felsic intrusive.
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Figure 7. Geochemical image of soil samples for Au and rock sample assays in Kerta

Figure 8. Geochemical image of soil samples for As and rock sample assays in Kerta
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Figure 9. Geochemical image of soil samples for Sb and rock sample assays in Kerta

Figure 10. VRMI image from ground magnetic survey indicating low mag zone over Cisadang,
Leuwikopo and Gunung Batu areas.
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High magnetic zones were defined surrounding


the low mag area, but the highest mag bodies
were in the east and west of Leuwikopo,
Gunung Gundil, and to the northwest of
Cisadang (see Figure 10).
CSAMT Survey
CSAMT (Controlled Source Audio-frequency
Magnetotellurics) was carried out to map the
high resistivity zones. Depth of investigation is
dependent on the resistive structure, but
generally, the higher the resistance of the rocks,
the higher the frequencies requirements to
resolve the resistivity.
The CSAMT survey in the studied area has been
conducted along mainly 200m spacing plus
some parts in 400m spacing. This covered the
prospects of Leuwikopo, Cisadang, Cisadang
West, Cilimus, Cilimus East and Gunung Batu.
The survey result indicated the presence of
resistive zone along 2.4 km along Cisadang
prospect and resistive clusters in Gunung Batu
and Cisadang West (Figure 11). The high
resistive zones (CSAMT anomalies) are very well
correlated with the quartz vein intercepts in the
drill holes as well as with the presence of sinter
in the surface.
Trenching and Mapping
Detailed geological mapping along the creeks
and outcrops were carried out, while on the
ridges/ spurs with possible quartz veins,
trenches were dug. Intensive trenching has
been conducted in Leuwikop oand Cilimus East,
where quartz veins and silicified breccias were
identified. Rock sampling was carried out using
channel sampling technique in the trenches,
and grab/ chip sampling in the out crops. Some
of the rock sample assays are exhibited in
Figures 7 9 in combination with soil anomaly
images.
Drilling
Drilling programs have been conducted in
almost all prospects in the IUP block. However,
more focus has been directed in Leuwikopo and

Cisadang prospects because quartz veins and


mineralized breccias were identified more in
these prospects so far. For the whole Kerta
project, more than 16,000m have been drilled,
of which 14,500m were drilled in the studied
area in 44 holes, and mainly concentrated in
Cisadang, Leuwikopo and Gunung Batu (see
Figure 13 for drill locations). The drill depths are
varied from 100m to around 600m.
GEOLOGY
Lithology
The Kertas studied area is occupied by a thick
sequence
of
flat
lying
pyroclastics,
volcaniclastics, and sediments.
The oldest lithologic unit is composed of
intercalation of siltstone, mudstone and
sandstone (namely Clastic Sediment). Overlying
the Clastic Sediment unit is lapili tuff, tuff
breccias and volcaniclastic conglomerate with
some intercalation of tuffaceous siltstone,
sandstone and mudstone (namely Coarse
Grained Volcaniclastics). The upper sequence
identified in the drill holes is dacitic tuff and
tuffaceous sandstone, tuffaceous siltstone
(namely Tuffaceous Sediments). Above those
three units, Rhyolite Lava and Breccias rest, and
can be mapped in some parts of the area.
Quartz Feldspar Porphyry (QFP) and Feldspar
Quartz Porphyry (FQP), that could be classified
as dacite can be observed as intrusive, probably
sub-volcanic intrusions (or volcanic domes).
Andesite has been identified mainly in the drill
cores, interpreted to be sub-volcanic intrusive.
Although Sujatmiko and Santosa (1992) and
Sudana and Santosa (1992) included these rocks
sequence to be the Early Miocene Cimapag
Formation, the field evidence is not obvious
since the rocks are flat lying, homogeneous and
lack of deformation. Therefore based on the
similarity on rock composition, it is considered
that all of these sequences could be belong to
the Pliocene Cipacar Formation or part of the
Malimping Tuff.

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Figure 11. Resistive zones of CSAMT

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The stratigraphy of the area can be observed


best in the drill cores. They from old to young
are described in the following sections. Figures
12 and 13 show the stratigraphic column and
surface geology map of the studied area,
respectively.
Clastic Sediment
This unit is exposed in the south of Leuwikopo
and in the northwest of Cisadang outside the
studied area. The unit is also intersected in drill
holes of KDL01 (111.45 179.4m) and KL07
(200.85 -276.10m) at Leuwikopo prospect.
This lithologic unit consists of interbedded
greenish grey siltstone, dark grey carbonaceous
mudstone and grey sandstone. The rock is well
bedded to thinly laminated and generally has
sub horizontal beddings. There is no
unconformity sign recognised in the contact of
clastic sediments and overlying pyroclastics and
volcaniclastics, and it seems that they
conformably overlie the Clastic Sediment. This
unit is believed to be the lowest part of the rock
formation in the studied area.
Coarse Grained Volcanoclastic
The Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic unit is
dominated by volcaniclastic breccias and
conglomerate, lapilli tuff and agglomerate.
The lapilli tuff and agglomerate are clast to
matrix supported, subangular-subrounded
clasts, locally well bedded associated with clast
segregation. The fragments consisted of altered
andesite to altered dacite, and tuff, set in
tuffaceous matrix. In the surface, the lapilli tuff
is exposed in several places.
The volcaniclastic conglomerate is intercepted
in drill holes of Cisadang and only exposed in
limited area at surface such as at Cilimus area.
The volcanic conglomerate often appears with
intercalation of thin sandstone and accretionary
lapilli tuff layers. The conglomerate is clasts
supported, poorly sorted, polymictic, rounded
clasts, ranging from 5 mm to 15 cm (Photo 1).
Some of the conglomerates consisted of clasts
of silica-clay-chlorite plagioclase phyric andesite
to dacite, set in sandstone matrix.

The volcaniclastic breccias are exposed in


several areas and intersected in some dril holes
at Leuwikopo and Cisadang, characterized by
the presence of angular andesite to dacitic
fragments, set in tuffaceous matrix. The
fragments range in size from a few cm to 15
cm.
The sequence of lapilli tuff, volcaniclastic
conglomerate and breccias are always
intercalated with relatively narrow tuff,
mudstone, siltstone and sandstone with
various degrees of tuff contents.
The presence of intercalation fluviatil
volcaniclastic conglomerates with narrow
tuffaceous sandstone and mudstone in this
sequence indicate cyclical stages of volcanic
eruption and inter-eruption quiescence,
indicating sub-aerial environmental deposition.
Tuffaceous Sediment
The Tuffaceous Sediment unit comprises
dominantly tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone,
and mudstone with intercalation of tuff and
lapilli tuff, and widely exposed at surface along
the creeks. The tuff and lapilli tuff
intercalations in general sense are composed
of dacitic pumiceous tuff in the upper part,
welded tuff in the middle and accretionary
lapilli tuff in the lower part.
The main compositions of tuffaceous sediment
are brown-black mudstone interbedded with
pale grey massive tuffaceous mudstonesiltstone with common organic materials;
intercalated
with
bedded
tuffaceous
sandstone. They show minor cross-bedding,
coarser-grained tuffaceous sandstone with
2mm-4mm grain size, and soft sediment
breccia with clasts of black mudstone and grey
tuffaceous siltstone-mudstone that set in
siltstone-mudstone matrix. This unit is
predicted to be formed within lacustrine
environment.

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Figure 12. Stratigraphic column of Kerta

Photo 1. Volcaniclastic conglomerate at Cisadangs drill holes, cross cut by chalcedonic veins

51

Figure 13. Simplified geology map of Kerta, showing the location of Leuwikopo and Cisadang
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Sinter
The Sinter unit is interlayered in the Tuffaceous
Sediment unit, commonly within mudstonesiltstone sequence. The sinter is formed as a
product of the neutral-silicate hydrothermal
fluid injected to the surface. The textures seen
on the sinter are laminated, banded-colloform
like, ladder textures and locally associated with
organic rich such algae and twig remnants. The
sinter is also noted as a fragmental sinter
breccia that supported by sinter-silicified tuffsorganic materials clasts, set in sinter and
siliceous sediment matrix. All the sinter horizos
are flat lying.
Three siliceous sinter horizons crop out around
the contours of the high ground on both flanks
of Ciliman River valley (Marjoribank, 2011).
They are defined by mapping, soil anomalies
and drill intercepts. The horizons are horizontal
and appear at the same height on either side of
Ciliman valley. The lowest unit (Unit 1)
outcrops at around 160-170mRL and is best
exposed in Gunung Gundil and Cilimus. The
middle unit (Unit 2) forms the major cliff in
Gunung Batu, Leuwikopo and Cisadang. It crops
out at the 200mRL. The upper most unit (Unit
3) outcrops at the 250mRL and forms the upper
line of cliff at Gunung Batu. Unlike the lower
two units, Unit 3 is only present to on the NE of
the Ciliman valley, and presumably not as
extensive as the lower sinter horizons.
Geochemically, the sinters and siliceous
horizons are commonly anomalous in As, Sb
and Hg. Au and Ag will only be elevated in
where the sinter cross cut by later quartz
veins/ veinlets.
Thin layer of tuff was identified covering the
ridges/ spurs in Cisadang, Cisadang West and
Gunung Batu. It is clearly identified in the drill
holes that the tuff overlying the sinter layers.
The thickness of this tuff in general is less than
10m, but hindering the exploration efforts since
it is covering the targeted mineralized quartz
veins. The rock is weakly to moderately clay
(kaolinite) altered and often containing
anomalous Hg, Sb and As. It is postulated that
the alteration is mainly as results of steam
heated process. However, although the tuff

cover is altered, but the gold bearing quartz


veins are never been identified to be hosted by
this rock, therefore it is thought that this rock
sub-unit is deposited after the formation of the
quartz vein, in the later stage of hydrothermal
activities in the area.
The presence of the tuff cover can only be
distinguished in the drill cores, and very difficult
to be recognized at surface/ outcrops, as its
physical property is similar to the other
tuffaceous/ tuff units.
Based on drill hole data in Leuwikopo and
Cisadang this unit is conformably overlying the
Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic unit. The absence
of unconformity data (with its lower rock unit),
its horizontal/ sub-horizontal attitude, and the
similarity of rock composition, indicate that this
unit is still part of- and comparable with the
Pliocene Cipacar Formation.
Rhyolite Lava Breccias
Boulder of rhyolite Lava Breccias scattered at
Leuwikopo, Bulakan, Gunung Batu and at
Cisadang West (see Figure 12). This unit
composed mainly of rhyolite in the forms of
lava flows with some layering or banding
structures, and as autobreccias related to lava.
In places, some sinter clasts are identified
trapped (as inclusions) within the lava and
breccias fragments and it indicated that the
rhyolite is younger than the sinter. Based on its
closed proximity to the QFP (Quartz Feldspar
Porphyry) intrusions, it is postulated that the
rhyolitic lava could be the product of QFP
volcanic dome, particularly in Leuwikopo and
Cisadang West where QFP intercepted in the
drill holes.
Quartz-Feldspar Porphyry (QFP)
Quartz Feldspar Porphyry (QFP) is cropped out
at surface in Leuwikopo, and also intersected in
some of the drill holes of Leuwikopo and
Cisadang West. Petrographic study suggested
that this rock is dacite porphyry (Comstee,
2007). This unit is characterized by porphyritic
texture, 30% phenocrysts of quartz and
feldspar, and minor mafic minerals probably
mica-hornblende that set-in microcrystalline
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groundmass. This rock unit is known to host


several narrow epithermal veins and in places
underwent silica and clay alterations.
Based on the cross cutting relationship, the QFP
is interpreted to be relatively young, cross
cutting the Tuffaceous Sediment unit (lapilli
tuff, tuff, mudstone, and tuffaceous sandstone).
This intrusive rock is also postulated to be
responsible for the heat and hydrothermal
source of epithermal mineralization in the area.
In one place at Leuwikopo, the presence of
contorted and broken quartz veins inside the
OFP indicated that the intrusion is not fully
solidified when the formation of the quartz
veins taken place.
Feldspar-Quartz Porphyry (FQP)
Feldspar Quartz Porphyry is identified in the
drill holes of Leuwikopo. This rock is
characterized by the abundance of feldspar
phenocryst and less quartz, compared to that of
the QFP. It is obvious in drill cores that FQP cut
the QFP. Therefore, it considered that FQP is
representing the different phase of QFP
(magma differentiation product) and basically
they came from the same parent magma.
Andesite
Andesite is only identified in the drill holes (not
at surface so far) in Cisadang and Gunung Batu.
The rock is characterized by massive aphanitic
texture with flow banding in places, and in
some drill intervals it is associated with
abundant amigdules.
The Andesite underwent into various alteration
types and intensities, but the original textures
are mainly well preserved. The outer part of the
Andesite often appear as crackle to jigsaw
breccias and andesite fragments cemented by
silica-pyrite matrix. The initial thought during
exploration, the andesite was considered as
lava flow which should be competent host for
the quartz veining, compared with the
pyroclastic rocks. This Andesite unit has been
intercepted in several drill holes in Cisadang,
but there is no mineralized quartz vein
intercepted, and it is confirmed that the crackle

to jigsaw breccias with silica-pyrite matrix was


always barren.
Based on the presence of vertical bedding, the
absence of mineralized veins, it is interpreted
now that the andesite could be part of a
younger sub volcanic rock/dome cross cutting
the sedimentary-volcanic sequences.
Alluvium
Recent alluvial deposits were mapped along S.
Ciliman, composing of fluvial deposits ranging
from sand to cobble boulder size materials
and the rock is not lithified yet.
Structures
Geo-structural fabric observed at Kerta is
apparently related to the oblique northward
subduction, where the Indo-Australian plate
moving north below the West Java segment of
the Eurasian plate. However, at the project
scale, as the area is occupied at surface by
young (Neogene), flat-lying volcaniclastic
andesitic/dacitic units, interlayered with
sediment and tuffaceous sediments, and all the
rocks appear to belong to one Formation,
therefore no obvious major surface faults could
be identified.
The major structures in the area were mainly
localized based on the interpretation of
ground magnetic images, CSAMT survey
result, and combined with the structural data
from drill cores and few outcrops.
Interpretation of a ground magnetic image
divides the studied area into two magnetic
domains (see Figure 10). In the center of the
area, low magnetic rocks dominate, indicating
low mag sediment or felsic intrusive, covering
the prospect of Gunung Batu, Cisadang and
Leuwikopo. This low mag domain is
surrounded by high mag domain, in particular
in the area to east and west of Leuwikopo,
Gunung Gundil and NW of Cisadang. A
marked linear NNW or N striking grain,
probably the expression of steep faults is
obvious, that is called as Cisadang Structural
Corridor (CSC). Circular structures can also be
traced, and suggest caldera bounding faults.
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The CSC which is a significant NW-trending


linear magnetic low traverses the studied area;
it is matched at surface by the NW course of the
Liman River, and extending across Leuwikopo,
Cisadang, through Cilimus prospects. It is
associated in the surface with sinter horizons
and associated epithermal Au/Ag bearing veins
in Cisadang and QFP emplacement in
Leuwikopo. This trend is currently interpreted
as host or corridor of the Au-Ag mineralized
epithermal quartz veins, which is defined by the
localized exposures of series of parallel to
sheeted, NW-SE (in Cisadang) and NE-SW (in
Leuwikopo) trending quartz veins in drill holes
and in the surface outcrops. This linear
structure is interpreted, caused by a steepdipping basement fault zone (Marjoribank,
2011).
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
Similar to other low sulfidation epithermal
systems, the recognition and classification of
alteration assemblages are quite challenging.
Apart from the megascopic observation, studies
on petrography, XRD, and spectral (ASD) and
petrography have been carried out in both
outcrops and drill cores. Based on those studies,
a simplified alteration map was produced
(Figure 14).
Most of the studied area of Kerta has been
hydrothermally altered except in the
Quaternary Alluvium unit. All rocks intercepted
in the drill holes of Cisadang and Leuwikopo
have been altered to various degree to
silica+adularia, silica-clay+chlorite, clay+chlorite
(argillic)
and
chlorite-epidote-carbonate
(propylitic). Only very limited rock types are
unaltered, e.g. post mineral andesite dykes.
Silicaadularia
Silicaadularia altered zones often exposed in
several topographic breaks such as at Gunung
Batu, Cisadang, West Cisadang, North Bulakan
and Leuwikopo, and sub-surface (in drill holes)
of Gunung Batu. The alteration assemblage is
usually associated with siliceous sinter and cut
by several quartz veins and veinlets.

In the drilling intercepts, the silicaadularia


zone is developed in the central part near the
vein zones, presumably developed close to the
hydrothermal channel ways. The presence of
adularia within the silicified rock is not
recognized megascopically and they can only be
detected petrographically. The most intensive
Au bearing quartz or chalcedonic veins are
associated with this alteration, and commonly
enveloped by the silica-clay+chlorite zone
outward.
Silica-claychlorite
Silica-claychlorite zone is identified in both
surface and drill cores. It is characterized by the
presence of silica (quartz) associated with clay
(illite) and occasionally with chlorite. In drill
cores this alteration is often enveloping the
Silicaadularia and gradually changes to
claychlorite zone outward. In general sense
this alteration is very much look like a transition
zone between silicaadularia and claychlorite.
Few of Au bearing quartz veins is hosted within
this alteration zone.
Claychlorite
Claychlorite alteration is widely distributed
within the volcaniclastics and tuffaceous
sediments in the area. However the relationship
with the other alteration types of alteration can
be best recognized in the drill cores.
This alteration assemblage is developed in the
outer part of silicaadularia and silicaclaychlorite. At the deeper part (in drill holes)
the clay minerals are dominated by smectite
while in the upeer part, kaolinite is the
dominant caly mineral. Further outward, the
claychlorite alteration gradually changes to
chlorite - carbonate epidote (propylitic)
assemblage.
All of the alteration zones in Cisadang and
Leuwikopo present within the possible
dilational jog structure such as in Gunung Batu
prospect.
Chlorite-carbonateepidote
Chlorite-carbonateepidote (propylitic) zone is
identified in several narrow zones (un-mapable)
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in drill corer of at Cisadang and Leuwikopo.


Generally they occur outside or in the outer
zones of the claychlorite zone. At the surface,
this alteration assemblage is widely developed
in Pasir Gember prospect outside of the studied
area.
MINERALIZATION
BRECIATION)

(QUARTZ

VEINING

AND

that gradually decrease with depth indicates


that epithermal system at Kerta is still in high
level. The upper part of the Tuffaceous
Sediment unit consisted of dacitic tuff which is
mainly altered to kaolinite; indicate that the
alteration is related to steam heated
hydrothermal process after the deposition of
the Au bearing quartz veins.
MINERALIZATION AT LEUWIKOPO PROSPECT

Weak to strong gold mineralization in Kerta


occurred within the quartz veins and hydraulic
breccias veins, and weak gold mineralization
usually occurred within the silicaadularia and
silica-claychlorite altered zones around the
veins. The mineralized veins and vein breccias
were identified at surface ranging from quartz
veinlet (centimeter) to 1 meter wide with
various strikes and dip directions (from sub
vertical to sub-horizontal). The quartz veins are
composed mainly of chalcedony to fine grained
mesocrystalline quartz and rarely coarse
grained quartz. Crustiform-colloform banding
textures are very common in the solid veins, but
usually they are cross cut by late stage veining
and brecciation events.
The quartz veins were identified in wider size in
some of the drill holes (up to 2.8 m wide zones)
and carrying much more gold, e.g. in drill hole
CSD-03: 4.95m drill intercept, 2.85m true width
from 203.94m depth containing 24.24 g/t Au
and 113 g/t Ag. Interestingly, some of the
quartz veins and breccias cross cut the sinter
(can be identified in both outcrops and drill
cores), e.g. in hole CSD-21, indicating that the
veining/ brecciation event is post date the
sinter deposition event. Sulfide minerals
identified as filling along quartz bands, stringers
of disseminated in the veins dominated by
pyrite and marcasite. The presence of arsenian
pyrite and arsenopyrite can be confirmed from
petrographic study. Minor base metals
identified are chalcopyrite in the drill holes of
Leuwikopo and Gunung Batu plus sphalerite and
magnetite in Gunung Batu drill holes (Comstee,
2008 and Coote, 2009).
Geochemically, the presence of high mercury,
antimony and arsenic contents near surface

Leuwikopo prospect is located in the SE corner


of the studied area (see Figures 13 and 14). The
MMI soil program, consisting of sampling at
25m spacings along 200m -spaced, gave
significant gold response ratios and clearly
delineated a NW-SE trend of Au anomalies at
Leuwikopo, relatively parallel and contiguous
with that identified utilizing both MMI and
conventional B-horizon soil sampling at the
Cisadang prospect. Ground magnetic surveying,
completed on 100m spaced, similarly oriented
lines and reduced to pole (RTP) plotted, also
defines the anomalous trend at Leuwikopo and
Cisadang in general (which is obvious too in
VRMI magnetic image Figure 10). This trend
most likely represents a hydrothermal fluid
upflow zone with a typical associated
hydrothermal
demagnetization
signature,
surrounded by less permeable and less altered
sediments and volcaniclastics, cut by subvolcanic intrusive stocks and domes.
In general, the lithology of Leuwikopo is best
defined from drill cross section of KL-03, KL-07
& KL-08 (Figures 17 and 18). Based on this
section, the stratigraphy and alteration zonation
at Leuwikopo can be reconstrcuted. The
lithology in Leuwikopo can be divided in to
several units, including Clastic Sediment, Coarse
Grained Volcaniclastic, Tuffaceous Sediment,
and Rhyolitic Breccias/ Lava. Quartz-Feldspar
Porphyry (QFP) was observed in both outcrops
and drill holes intruding the first three units.
Figure 15 illustrates the geology of Leuwikopo.
The alteration zonations can be distinguished
into 3 assemblages including silicaadularia,
silica-claychlorite, and claychlorite (Figure
16). All lithology units in Leuwikopo have
56

Figure 14. Simplified hydrothermal alteration map of Kerta


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Figure 15. Geology of Leuwikopo

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Figure 16. Alteration map of Leuwikopo

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Figure 17. Interpretative geology of section KL-02, Leuwikopo

Figure 18. Interprettive alteration of section KL-02, Leuwikopo

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Figure 19. Geology of Cisadang

Figure 20. Alteration map of Cisadang

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Figure 21. Interpretative geology of section CSD-05, CSD-03 and CSD-10, Cisadang

Figure 22. Interpretative alteration of section CSD-05, CSD-03 and CSD-10, Cisadang

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experienced alteration in various intensities. It


is interesting that the silicaadularia cross cut
more or less in the middle of the QFP along the
NW-SE trend.
Gold mineralization at Leuwikopo has been
observed as quartz veins and vein breccias.
More than 80 trenches were dug to trace the
vein extension. In general there are 2 main
trends of veinings, i.e. NE-SW sub vertical veins
(steeply dipping either to NW or SE) and NW-SE
low angle (flat lying) veins dipping to NE (see
Figures 15 and 16). Most of the veins are hosted
by the QFP except few veins that were
intercepted in drill holes of KL-03 (hosted by
Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic unit specifically in
the black mudstone member).
The steep NE-SW trending veins are ranging in
thickness from < 1cm to 1m, which can be
identified in the trenches, and characterized by
massive to banded (crustiform-colloform)
chalcedonic textures (Photo 2). Black sulphides
(pyrite) are commonly identified along the vein
bands, and most of them oxidized and occurred
as limonite filling at surface. Pseudomorph
bladed carbonates can also be observed in
places. The chalcedonic veins at higher
elevation on the hill are less ordered and more
branching/ splay. These steep NE-SW veins are
exposed in the area of approximately 200m x
400m, where the longest traceable individual
vein is about 200m. Within the 400m span, the
average vein density is 1 vein per 10-15m.
The NW-SE flat lying veins (called as NEdipping flat laying veins) have quite similar
textures as of the steep NE-SW trending veins,
i.e. crustiform-colloform banding, chalcedonic,
with various thicknesses up to 1m. In the
trenches, these veins are commonly associated
with strong shear fabrics of significant widths
(up to 1m) on either side of the veins. It is quite
obvious that the shallow NE-dipping veins are
always cross cutting (later stage) the steep NESE trending veins (can be observed in some
trenches). These types of veins are traceable as
5 individual veins in the NE part of the area
(200m x 400m) where the NE-SW trending veins
exposed.

Geochemically, at surface both type of veins are


carrying gold ranging from 0.1 g/t up to 8.0 g/t,
and Ag from <10 g/t to 154 g/t. However, in the
drill holes, although the veins are traceable with
narrower widths, but the gold grades commonly
decrease (see Figures 19 and 20). In some
instances, the intercepted vein zones are turned
to become silicified breccias zones with sulfide
contents. The breccia clasts are usually made up
of tuffs, sediments, QFP and minor quartz vein
fragments with silica+sulfideclay in-fills and
local silica+sulfide (pyrite + marcasite) flooding
(e.g. in hole KL-03). Milled to jigsaw breccia
features were observed in places in the strongly
fractured zones. From the petrology study
(Comstee, 2007 and 2008; and Kavalieries,
2008) the sulfides associated with hydrothermal
breccias can be identified mainly as pyrite,
arsenian pyrite, arsenopyrite, and hematite.
Interestingly minor chalcopyrite was also
identified in the hydrothermal breccias in hole
KL-03 (Comstee, 2008).
The best Au intercept from Leuwikopo drill
holes is from hole KL-03, where the hole
intersected 5.6m @ 9.6 g/t Au and 23.0 g/t Ag
from 119.00m depth including 1m @ 34.0 g/t
Au and 59.0 g/t Ag. This mineralized zone is a
part of the wider hydrothermal zone (around
20m) that is cut by 2 - 3 narrow quartz veins (1
to 2 cm thick) parallel to the drill core axis. The
hydrothermal breccias are composed of various
fragments of QFP, black shale, and epiclastics
(pebble to boulder sizes), set in silica/
chalcedony clay matrix with fluidized pyritic
material in places. The quartz veins are fine
grained to crystalline showing crudely
crustiform banding with some pyrite localized in
the edge of the veins. Two selective/ character
samples in the quartz veins yielded 50.1 g/t Au
and 63.0 g/t Ag and 230.0 g/t Au and 299.0 g/t
Ag respectively. It is very likely that this high
grade zone is mainly contributed by those 12cm quartz veins, which are subparalel to the
drill core axis.
A NW-SE structural zone can be mapped
through the trench area, characterized by shear
deformation, strong silicification, and local
brecciation and is associated with quartz-sulfide
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stockwork hosted by the QFP (see Figure 15).


This NW-SE trending major structure can be
correlated with the deformation zone identified
to the NW in Ciliman River and even further NW
to Cisadang area. It is noted that the metal
contents in this zone is low.
MINERALIZATION AT CISADANG PROSPECT
Cisadang is located more or less in the centre of
the studied area (see (Figures 13 and 14) within
a broad mesa-like topography ranging from 150
metres to 230 metres above sea level. This
prospect was previously explored by Java Gold,
and 2 diamond drill-holes were completed (Java
Gold, 1998). This company reported high Au
zone associated with narrow quartz-sulfide
veinlets in the drill hole (84.5 g/t Au over 25
cm), hosted in volcanic breccias below the silicacap.
Most of the surface of Cisadang is occupied by
tuff (part of the Tuffaceous Sediment unit), and
therefore the stratigraphy of Cisadang is best
reconstructed based on the drilling data. 20 drill
holes have been drilled in this prospect with
total depth drilled of more than 6,000m.
The lower part of Cisadang is made up by the
Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic unit, composed of
intercalation of lapilli tuff, polymictic coarsely
clastic volcanic breccias, volcanic conglomerate,
and agglomerate with some carbonaceous
mudstone and dacitic tuff interbeds. Some
carbonized wood rip-up fragments were noted
in one of the unit members, and evidence for
surge base water re-working (Photo 3).
Above the Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic unit,
water re-worked lacustrine volcaniclastic
sequence overlies it, and classified as
Tuffaceous Sediment unit. It comprised largely
of water-reworked, carbon-flecked variably
pumiceous dacitic lithic-lapilli tuff (volcanic
sandstone), which is interlayered by strongly
laminated
siliceous
sinters,
displaying
pronounced stromatolitic algal platform
developments layers, within rhythmically
laminated chalcedonic and blue opalescent
quartz and abundant black carbonized wood,

finely streamed sediments and minor pumice.


Evidence of hydraulic over-pressuring typified
by hydraulic brecciation and sulfide-silica
flooding are most pronounced with abundant
sub-angular black pyrite-marcasite sulfidised
carbonaceous mudstone and laminated sinter
fragments, cemented by a sulfide-bearing
chalcedonic quartz injection matrix.
The lower part of Cisadang (e.g. in the bottom
of drill holes CSD-01, 09, 15, 19 and 20),
andesite was intersected, comprised crackled
breccias, layered, and massive andesite. Its
physical characteristics, i.e. massive to layered
(flow banding) and even to autobrecciation
textures suggest that the andesite is an
intrusive unit (could be sub-volcanic plug) cross
cutting at least the Coarse Grained
Volcaniclastic. The absence of mineralized veins
and breccias hosted by andesite suggest that
this andesite could be emplaced after the
formation of Au bearing quartz veins at
Cisadang.
The alteration zonations identified at Cisadang
consisted of kaolinite (argillic) altered tuff above
the sinter and gradually changes to pervasive
silicaadularia and silica-claychlorite below the
sinter. This silica-adularia zone is enveloped by
the clay-silicachlorite outward. The strong
silica-adularia altered rock is commonly hosting
the mineralized quartz veins and breccias.
The most significant vein zones consist of well
developed polyphasal colloform-banded quartz
veins, comprised cream-white mesocrystalline
to chalcedonic quartz adularia, black sulfidebearing chertose quartz and crystalline quartz
bands. Classical symmetrical colloform-banded
veins, displaying alternating black chertose
sulfidic quartz and cream-white chalcedonic
quartz-adularia bands, cut by hydraulic rip-up
fragment breccias, and adularia-rich bands are
commonly intensely kaolinite altered.
Individually, the quartz veins are ranging in
thickness from 1cm to 2.8m, and most
commonly occurred in zones/ groups. Based on
the systematic structural measurement on the
drill cores, providing a truly representative
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Photo 2. Quartz vein, exposed in Leuwikopo trench; banded - crustiform and crudely colloform;
chalcedony to mesocrystalline quarz, pseudomorph bladed carbonate

Photo 3. Carbonized wood rip up fragment in tuff

Photo 4. Different types of sinter ranging from bedded to brecciated bluish opaline silica, cut by
chalcedonic to mesocrystalline veins in places
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Photo 5. Quartz veins in Cisadang; chalcedonic mesocrystalline quartz with colloform crustiform
bandings associated with oat mill breccias

Photo 6. Hydraulic quartz vein breccias in Cisadang; chalcedonic to mesocrystalline quartz associated with
silica sulfide bands and crudely crustiform-colloform bandings associated with adularia (cream color)
at C and D, containing high grade Au - 0.67 m @ 84 g/t & 339 g/t Ag

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combined
dataset,
vein
orientation
measurements display main NW-SE strike trend,
with vein sets dipping at high angle both to the
NE and SW. Some flat lying quartz veins were also
identified in both surface and drill holes. At the
current knowledge, the veins are confined in an
area of 1,200m x 200m in NW-SE trending, from
CSD-13 in the SE to CSD-18 in the NW (see
Figures 19 and 20). This veined area is matched
very well with the CSAMT anomaly, although this
resistive zone extended longer than 1.2 km (see
Figure 11), a part of this anomaly has not been
drill tested yet. It is also a unique thing that the
veins are developed only at certain level, i.e.
between 0m to 150m elevation. Below 0m, the
veins somehow disappear. Geological modelling
of the vein distribution has confirmed that lateral
and vertical distribution of the vein zones.
In some drill holes, sinter layers were
intercepted, and interestingly this sinter is also
cross cut by the quartz vein. This strongly
indicates that the mineralization event postdate
the sinter deposition event.
The best gold-silver intercept to date at Cisadang
was intersected at drill hole CSD-03, within an
interval of strongly silica-adularia altered
conglomerate that has been hydro-fractured,
silica re-healed and is cut by numerous greywhite colloform-banded and massive chalcedonic
to chertose quartz veinlets, veins and hydraulic
breccias. The interval is 4.95m from 203.90m
depth @ 24.24 g/t Au and 113.1 g/t Ag. Within
this mineralized intercept, a hydraulic vein
breccia, with symmetrical margins of colloformbanded
alternating
grey
and
black
mesocrystalline to chertose quartz was defined
(see Photos 6 - C and D). Assay result of this
breccias zone is 0.67 m (from 205.83m depth) @
84 g/t Au and 339 g/t Ag.
A preliminary study on the paragenesis of veins/
breccias suggested that the multiphase
hydrothermal events in Cisadang consist of at
least 4 stages forming (1) cream-white to grey,
crystalline quartz, (2) chalcedonic quartz with
adularia partings, (3) chertose microcrystalline
grey to black sulfide bearing quartz, and (4)

commonly cut by moss adularia matrix-rich


hydraulic vein oatmeal breccias. The stages 2 to
3 are considered to be the gold carriers. These
hydrothermal alterations, quartz vein textures
and geochemical signatures indicate the upper
level of low sulfidation epithermal system.
DISCUSSION
Thick sequences of polymictic conglomerate
intercalated with lacustrine water-reworked
volcanogenic sediments at Cisadang indicate an
extensional basinal setting, and the Cisadang
Structural Corridor (CSC) may in several cases
represent NW-SE trending faults with associated
local graben development to the NE. The
significant thickness of
sinter development
which marks the drill sections, coupled with the
clearly hydrothermally demagnetized corridor
which defines Cisadang and Leuwikopo also
indicates that the CSC represents a NW
trending/elongate half-graben or graben,
bounded to the west by high-level sub-volcanic
intrusives. This basin displays broad cyclical
stages of volcanic eruption and inter-eruption
quiescence, coupled with several dome and subvolcanic stock intrusive (QFP and andesite)
events, typical of a resurgent caldera complex
setting.
It is considered that Kerta area falls within a large
back-arc caldera complex of Early Miocene (?) to
Late Pliocene age. Intra-caldera and late calderafill facies represent cyclical explosive transitional
dacitic (QFP) to andesitic through to rhyolitic
eruptive events, typified by air-fall and basesurge pyroclastic deposition, with inter-eruption
periods of quiescence characterized by basinal to
sub-basinal lacustrine sediment and active
riverine
conglomerate
and
volcanogenic
sediment deposition. Late-stage localized domal
uplift associated with several phases of dacitic
and andesitic dome and stock emplacement is
also evident (Panther, 2010).
A systematic structural measurement of quartz
vein orientations indicates the presence of a
series of NW-SE trending vein zones with sub
vertical attitudes and low angle dipping to NE. In
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Leuwikopo the NE low angle dipping veins clearly


identified postdate the NE-SW sub vertical veins.
Ground magnetic surveys also defines the CSC,
characterized by a NW-SE trending belt,
approximately 750m wide at Leuwikopo, and
extend along strike to NW Cisadang for more
than 3 km, characterised by smooth low magnetic
response, most likely due to hydrothermal fluiddemagnetisation.
In Leuwikopo, the presence of those 2 vein
trends, i.e. NE-SW sub vertical veins and NEdipping flat lying vein, could be interpreted as the
products of at least 2 stage structural models, i.e.
(1) sinistral wrench forming simple spaced steep
NE-SW trending extensional veins, and continued
by (2) sinistral transpressive wrench producing
the NE-dipping flat lying veins (Hinman, 2008).
This sinistral wrench should be related to the NESW compressive movements that match with the
regional tectonic setting i.e. NE facing oblique
subduction zone.
Highly gold-silver mineralized vein and vein
network intercepts obtained in Cisadang drillholes, e.g. CSD-03 and 08 and to a lesser extent,
CSD-07, occur in distinctive focused, strongly
silica-adularia, lesser illite chlorite-pyrite
altered. The veins are commonly composed of
alternate bands of (1) cream-white to grey,
mesocrystalline to crystalline quartz, (2)
chalcedonic quartz with subordinate white moss
to rhombic adularia, (3) chertose microcrystalline
grey to black sulfide-bearing quartz and (4) cut by
moss adularia matrix-rich hydraulic vein
oatmeal breccias.
Thick silica sinter apron horizons at Cisadang
represent fossil piezometric surfaces or fossil
water tables. The presence of several sinter
layer/horizons indicate that paleo water table
changed during the time while hydrothermal
activity continued, and this could be related to
the level of erosion. These sinters are clearly and
importantly linked to quartz vein development,
as indicated by continual downward and upflow
lateral alteration zonation characterized by
upper-level opalescent to chalcedonic silicamarcasite-pyrite alteration and mineralized

interval silica-adularia > illite-pyrite alteration,


out into peripheral chlorite-smectite-illite
alteration. A vertical downward geochemical
zonation is also evident, typified by high As, Sb
and Hg values with relatively low precious metals
at the sinter level, decreasing in tenor
downwards into upflow vein zones where
precious metals dominate.
Quartz vein zones observed at greater depths
below these silica caps at Cisadang and
Leuwikopo display increasing Au-Ag values and
decreasing As-Sb-Hg values at depths exceeding
one hundred metres below respective target
paleo-water tables. The vein zone is also typified
by inter-bands and cross-cutting zones of well
developed, highly Au-Ag mineralised hydraulic
oatmeal breccia. These breccias are an
indicator of explosive hydraulic over-pressuring
with resultant flash boiling, typically observed
within the main precious metal depositional
interval of epithermal systems (cf. Simpson,
1995; Panther, 1996). Explosive hydraulic overpressuring is a product of cyclical throttle flash
boiling due to incremental extension, resulting in
rapid vapor-liquid phase separation and aluminosilicate gel formation (the precursor of
chalcedonic
quartz-moss
adularia
vein
assemblages), with resultant destabilization of
gold-silver bearing bisulfide complexes and
subsequent entrainment and transport of
electrum, acanthite and other sulfosalts in the
fluid stream (Saunders, 1994). Symmetrical
rhythmic colloform and crustiform banded vein
development is a direct product of this process
(cf. Christenson and Hayba, 1995; Dowling et. al.,
1985; Morrison et. al., 1990; Dong et. al, 1995;
Simpson, 1995; Panther, 1996; Hollinger and
Mauk, 2001 and 2002). The quartz vein textures
also display a classical vertical zonation of low
sulfidation epithermal from upper-level, weakly
gold-silver mineralised opalescent and dominant
chalcedonic quartz into intermediate-level,
moderately to strongly silver-gold mineralised
chalcedonic quartz-adularia and mesocrystalline
to crystalline quartz (cf. Buchanan, 1981; Dowling
et. al., 1985; Morrison et. al., 1990; and Dong and
Morrison, 1995).
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The upper sections of diamond drill holes (above


the sinter layers), all display classical high-level
steam-heated acidic alteration, typified by pockmark leaching of reactive feldspars, glass and
pumiceous fragments. The enrichment in volatile
As, Sb and Hg within tuff and sediment sequences
at that level are typical of illite-rich and silicakaolinite-alunite vadose cap zones over low
sulfidation epithermal vein systems world-wide.
As, Sb and Hg are highly soluble in vadose zone
acid-sulfate condensate fluids formed above
geothermal water-tables where acidic volatiles
and these elements, partially partitioned into the
vapor phase through boiling, migrate upwards
from and well beyond the water-table interface.
The presence of As, Sb and Hg enrichments in the
hydrothermal breccias in the drill cores can also
be explained in a similar fashion, as these
breccias are commonly the product of extreme
over-pressuring with flash fracturing, explosive
decompression, resultant boiling and the
generation of vast quantities of steam.
Subsequent trapping/fixing of these elements
occurs within the carbon-rich matrix of these
breccias during quenching and subsequent partial
collapse. Such breccias form largely in response
to rapid drops in the water-table levels (e.g. the
rapid draining of a lacustrine lake) or due to
landslides and sector collapse, which temporarily
upsets local system hydrology and hydrostaticlithostatic pressure equilibrium (Panther 2010).
CONCLUSIONS
The Kertas studied area is occupied by a thick
sequence of flat lying pyroclastics, volcaniclastics,
and sediments, including Clastic Sediment,
Coarse Grained Volcaniclastic, Tuffaceous
Sediment, Rhyolite Lava-Breccias and intruded by
Dacite (Quartz Feldspar Porphyry and Andesite.
Although Sujatmiko and Santosa (1992)
considered these rocks sequence to be the Early
Miocene Cimapag Formation, the field evidence
is not obvious since the rocks are flat lying,
homogene and lack of deformation. Therefore
based on the similarity on rock composition, it is
considered that all of these sequences could be
belong to the Pliocene Cipacar Formation or part

of the Malimping Tuff.


With regards to the hydrothermal system, Kerta
displays many hall-marks of a highly dynamic
paleo-geothermal system responsible for lowsulfidation
adularia-sericite
type
Au-Ag
mineralisation at its highest hot-spring level of
exposure (cf. Cox and Singer, 1986; Lefebure and
Hoy, 1996; Sillitoe, 1993; White and Hedenquist,
1990, 1995; White et. al., 1995). Multiple lines of
evidence exist for fully preserved near neutral
water-dominated hydrothermal upflow zones,
complete with siliceous sinter horizons, which
mark the paleo-water table and overlying tuff cap
sequences that have preserved these zones.
The exploration works to date, although have
been involving all possible techniques of
exploration, from conventional stream sediment
prospecting, soil sampling, geophysical surveys
(ground magnetic and CSAMT), detailed mapping
and thousands meters of drilling have not been
conclusive yet to define the economic potential
of the project. High grade quartz veins and
breccias have been discovered but the thickness
and extension have not been sufficient, and they
are probably just the vein splays, and not the
main mineralized feeder channel.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank to the PT AGC
Indonesia and PT Suma Heksa Sinergi for the
permission to write and publish this paper. This
paper should not be the final and last paper
produced from Kerta, since the project in fact has
a complexity in terms of the geology and
mineralization system that will require further
intensive studies and research. Special
acknowledgement is extended to all PT AGC
Indonesias geologists and the database team in
which their data collection is used to build up this
paper. Without all of them this paper will not be
exist.
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gold exploration target, Lebak, Banten,
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(Ivanhoe Mines), (unpublished),

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Epithermal Environments and style of
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Characteristic and guide line for exploration,
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445-474
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Parris, B.W., 1995, Epithermal gold deposit of
the southwest pacific, Journal of Geochemical
Exploration, V 54, p. 87-236
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an area near Kerta, West Java. BHPs internal
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the off shore Malimping Block, West Java,
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Tambang Emas Pongkor: Pengembangan Yang Berkelanjutan


Halley Rionanda1, Hari Widjajanto2
1) Quality Control, Unit Bisnis Pertambangan Emas Pongkor
PT Antam (Persero) Tbk, email: halley@antam.com ; halleyrionanda@yahoo.com
2) Gold Mining Business Unit Head, Unit Bisnis Pertambangan Emas Pongkor
PT Antam (Persero) Tbk, email:hari.widjajanto@antam.com
Sari
Lokasi Tambang Emas Pongkor secara administratif terletak di dalam wilayah Kabupaten Bogor, Propinsi Jawa
Barat, Indonesia. Daerah eksplorasi dan penambangan termasuk beriklim tropis, curah hujan cukup tinggi dan
udaranya lembab dengan temperatur berkisar antara 15 30 C. Kegiatan eksplorasi di Pongkor sudah dimulai
sejak tahun 1980 hingga sekarang. Batuan di Pongkor merupakan batuan vulkanik yang dapat dibagi menjadi 3 unit
utama yaitu unit bawah, unit tengah, dan unit atas. Untuk kesebandingan stratigrafi dengan Peta Geologi Regional
Banten Selatan maka batuan daerah Pongkor (host rock) memiliki umur Miosen Awal Plistosen. Jenis
endapannya adalah tipe epitermal sulfidasi rendah kuarsa-karbonat-adularia. Batuan induk berupa batuan vulkanik
(breksi vulkanik, tuf lapili) dengan temperatur 180 220 C, sedangkan alterasinya terdiri dari argilik, propilit, dan
silisik. Mineralisasi primer di daerah Pongkor dikontrol oleh struktur dan muncul berupa sistem urat. Sistem
penambangan menggunakan metoda cut and fill dan shrinkage stoping. Sedangkan sistem pengolahannya
menggunakan sianidasi dan karbon aktif untuk mengadsorbsi emas dan perak. Pada bidang CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) di masa mendatang akan mengembangkan apa yang disebut Agrogeoedutourism yang bertujuan
untuk mensejahterakan penduduk di sekitar tambang.
Kata Kunci: Pongkor
ABSTRACT
Pongkor Gold Mine is administratively located in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Exploration and mining area has
tropical climate, high rainfall, and humid air with temperature ranging between 15 and 30 C. Exploration
activities in Pongkor have been started since 1980 until present. Pongkor area is formed by volcanic rock that can
be divided into three main units, they are lower unit, middle unit, and upper unit. Comparing to Regional
Geological Map of Southern Banten, the age of rock is Early Miocene Pleistocene. The mineral deposit is quartzcarbonate-adularia low sulfidation. The host rock is volcanic rocks (volcanic breccia, lapili tuf) with temperature of
180 220 C, and the alteration are argillic, propilitic, and silisic. Pongkor primary mineralization in the area is
controlled by geological structures and appear in the form of vein systems. Mining method systems are cut and fill
and shrinkage stoping. Processing system use cyanidation process and active carbon to absorb gold and silver. In
the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program, in the future will develop what is called Agrogeoedutourism
which aims for the welfare of people around the mine.
Key word: Pongkor

PENDAHULUAN
Endapan emas Pongkor merupakan salah satu
penemuan emas yang penting di Indonesia.
Lokasi Tambang Emas Pongkor (Pongkor Gold
Mine) secara administratif terletak di dalam
wilayah Kecamatan Nanggung, Kabupaten Bogor,

Propinsi Jawa Barat. Wilayah ini termasuk dalam


areal IUP Operasi Produksi KW 98 PP 0138 seluas
6.047 Ha sampai dengan tahun 2021 (Gambar 1).
Pencapaian ke lokasi ini dapat dilakukan dengan
perjalanan
darat
dengan
menggunakan
kendaraan ringan maupun angkutan barang.
Untuk mencapai daerah eksplorasi dapat
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ditempuh dengan rute Jakarta Bogor (60 km,


jalan aspal propinsi), Bogor Leuwiliang (19 km,
jalan aspal kabupaten), Leuwiliang Sorongan
(27 km, jalan aspal kabupaten), Sorongan lokasi
tambang, sarana jalan tambang dan jalan
setapak.
Daerah eksplorasi dan penambangan termasuk
beriklim tropis yang dipengaruhi oleh angin
musim. Curah hujan cukup tinggi dan udaranya
lembab dengan temperatur berkisar antara 15
30 C. Tata guna lahan secara umum daerah
eksplorasi termasuk dalam Taman Nasional.
Penduduk yang berdomisili di sekitar daerah
eksplorasi terdiri atas pribumi dan pendatang.
Mata pencaharian penduduk umumnya petani,
karyawan tambang, perkebunan, pegawai negeri
sipil, wiraswasta dan penambang emas tanpa ijin
(PETI). Kondisi sosial keamanan cukup stabil dan
pembinaan kepada PETI terus digalakkan dan
diarahkan untuk berwiraswasta.
SEJARAH EKSPLORASI
Prospek cadangan Bijih Pongkor ditemukan pada
tahun 1981 (KP DU 562), sebagai hasil dari
eksplorasi yang dilakukan secara sistematis
(Milesi dkk., 1999). Studi kelayakan telah selesai
dilakukan pada tahun 1991 dan mulai
dikembangkan pada daerah Ciguha (1992),
Kubang Cicau (1994), dan Ciurug (1998). Berikut
ini detail mengenai sejarah eksplorasi di Pongkor.
Tahun 1979, dilakukan eksplorasi logam dasar
(base metal) di Gunung Limbung (Kec.
Cigudeg/antara Cigudeg Jasinga), dari sana
didapatkan prospek Gunung Limbung (galena)
serta berhasil mendapatkan informasi adanya
mineral pirit di daerah Gunung Pongkor.
Tahun 1980, ditemukan urat kuarsa di Sungai
Cikabiri (daerah Gudang Handak saat ini serta
bermuara di Sungai Cikaniki) dan Pasir Jawa
dengan kadar Au 0.2 4.0 gpt dan Ag 100
400 gpt.
Tahun 1981, mendapatkan KP DU 562.
Tahun 1983 1987, tidak ada kegiatan
eksplorasi lapangan karena semua tenaga
dipusatkan ke daerah Cikotok, hanya kegiatan
studi meja (desktop) dan evaluasi data.

Tahun 1988, ditemukan daerah prospek


Gunung Pongkor, Pasir Jawa Cimanganten,
dan Ciguha.
Tahun 1989 1991, model sumberdaya
(resources) urat Kubang Cicau, Ciguha, Pasir
Jawa, dan Ciurug.
Tahun 1991, selesai studi kelayakan (surat no.
3564/0115/SJ.R/1991) dengan statement
cadangan (reserves) 5,229,852 Ton dengan
kadar Au 14.31 gpt dan Ag 155.79 gpt, umur
tambang 20 tahun.
Tahun 1991 1994, kegiatan pengembangan
tambang dan pabrik.
Tahun 1997 sekarang, model sumberdaya
urat Gudang Handak, Pamoyanan, Cimahpar,
dsb.
Tambang emas Pongkor dibuka pada saat itu
adalah untuk mengambil alih fungsi dari Tambang
Emas Cikotok-Cirotan yang sudah tidak
beroperasi lagi, juga pada saat itu di daerah
tersebut sulit untuk menemukan endapan baru
yang prospektif. Untuk menjaga agar kegiatan
penambangan terus berjalan maka sampai
sekarang pun kegiatan pengembangan eksplorasi
pada area IUP Operasi Produksi masih tetap
dilakukan.
GEOLOGI
Cebakan bijih emas Pongkor terletak dibatas
antara Zona Bogor dengan Komplek Vulkanik
Kuarter (Gunung Salak, Gunung Halimun, Gunung
Gagak), dan kaki/batas Kubah (dome) di bagian
timur (Gambar 2). Daerah Pongkor dan sekitarnya
termasuk dalam jalur busur magmatik yang
merupakan daerah potensial untuk mineralisasi
emas (Gambar 3).
Bayah Dome terletak di bagian barat pulau Jawa,
yang merupakan sumber utama dari beberapa
endapan epithermal seperti Cikotok, Cirotan, dan
Cikidang. Endapan emas yang ekonomis
kebanyakan muncul pada arah relatif Utara
Selatan. Hal ini dikarenakan adanya patahanpatahan yang berarah Utara Selatan akibat
pergerakan lempeng Sunda Banda (Gambar 4).
Daerah Pongkor berada pada ketinggian 500
750 m dpl. Batuan di Pongkor merupakan batuan
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Gambar 1. Lokasi Tambang Emas Pongkor

Gambar 2. Bayah Dome (Basuki, 2005)

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Gambar 3. Busur Magmatik Jawa (Katili, 1974 in Basuki, 2005)

Gambar 4. Interpretasi unsur-unsur Tektonik (Milesi et al, 1994)


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vulkanik yang dapat dibagi menjadi 3 unit utama


(Milesi, dkk., 1999) (Gambar 5) yaitu:
Unit Bawah, dicirikan oleh batuan vulkanik
andesitik yang bergradasi secara lateral
menjadi endapan epiklastik
Unit Tengah, dicirikan oleh batuan vulkanik
dasitik yang berupakan hasil dari suatu
letusan, unit ini dapat dibagi lagi menjadi 3
sub-unit, yaitu sub-unit basal dengan tuf
lapili, sub-unit lapili dan blok tuf (LBT/lapilli
block tuff), dan sub-unit jatuhan piroklastik tuf
serta epiklastik batulanau.
Unit Atas, dibentuk oleh aliran andesit, pada
unit ini tidak ditemukan alterasi.
Sedangkan menurut Basuki, dkk. (1992), urutan
endapan yang terjadi pada Gunung Pongkor yaitu
batuan gunungapi yang berumur Tersier, yang
terdiri dari tuf breksi, tuf lapili, andesit, dan
breksi vulkanik. Korelasi dan interpretasi
hubungan stratigrafi batuannya dengan stratigrafi
daerah banten selatan/Bayah Dome dapat dilihat
di Gambar 6, berikut adalah penjelasannya:
Breksi,Batuan ini berwarna abu abu
kehijauan, dan terdiri kenampakan fragmen
andesit dalam matrik tufan. Ditempat
tertentu, breksia bergradasi menjadi lali tuff
dan tuff. Sequen vulkanik terdiri dari sisipan
black mudstone, dengan ketebalan diatas 15
cm, terlihat seperti wavy laminasi. Kehadiran
foraminifera mengindikasikan bahwa batuan
ini terendapkan pada lingkungan laut. Batuan
ini berkorelasi dengan Formasi Old Andesit
yang berumur Miosen Awal.
Tuf lapili, Unit ini terdiri dari tuf lapili yang
berwarna keabuan sampai hijau dengan
sisipan hitam setempat. Breksi bersortasi
buruk.
Sebagian
lingkungan
endapan
diindikasikan oleh kehadiran silisifikasi kayu
secara bersamaan. Unit ini dikorelasikan
dengan Formasi Cimapang yang berumur
Miosen Awal.
Andesit, intrusi andesit muncul di bagian timur
dan barat pada area Gunung Pongkor,
tersingkap pada Utara area Gunung Pongkor.
Breksi vulkanik, produk vulkanik yang dimiliki
unit ini terdapat pada cekungan bagian
timurlaut dari wilayah pemetaan, dimana
terbentuk pada batas kala Tersier hingga
vulkanik muda. Dan diendapkan secara tidak

selaras dengan Formasi Bojongmanik dan unit


Andesit.; dasar hubungannya bukan berumur
Plio-Pleistosen.
ALTERASI DAN MINERALISASI
Endapan epitermal di Jawa Barat dapat
dikelompokkan menjadi dua tipe berdasarkan
kelompok mineral dan teksturnya (Marcouxdan
Milsi, 1994 dalam Syafrizal, 2009) yaitu Tipe
Cirotan dan Tipe Pongkor.
Tipe Cirotan didominasi oleh tekstur breksiasi
(cockade) dengan karakteristik kelompok mineral
yang terdiri dari kandungan mineral pirit dan
logam dasar sulfida yang sangat kaya, serta bijih
yang kaya akan emas berasosiasi dengan
sejumlah mineral Sn, W dan Bi. Mineral
pengganggu biasanya sederhana seperti kuarsa,
kalsedon dan serisit dalam jumlah yang sangat
banyak, sedangkan mineral karbonat hidrotermal
lebih jarang ditemukan (Milesi dkk., 1994).
Endapan tipe ini dijumpai di Cirotan,
Cipalengseran, Lebak Sembada, Sopal, Cimari,
Ciusul, dan Cikotok.
Endapan tipe Pongkor menunjukkan struktur
berlapis yang simetris, dengan breksiasi yang
membatasi kontak dengan batuan samping.
Endapan ini dicirikan oleh kandungan sulfida yang
rendah, kehadiran mineral karbonat sebagai
mineral pengganggu dalam jumlah besar (kalsit
dan sedikit rhodokrosit), dan biasanya memiliki
mineralogi bijih yang jauh lebih sederhana (Milesi
dkk., 1999; Greffiedkk., 2000; Warmada dkk.,
2003; Syafrizal dkk., 2005 dan 2007). Tipe
mineralisasi seperti ini dijumpai pada daerah
Ciawitali, Cikidang dan Gunung Pongkor.
Alterasi hidrothermal berkembang luas didaerah
sekitar urat-urat yang terdapat di Gunung
Pongkor. Jenis endapannya adalah tipe epitermal
sulfidasi rendah kuarsa-karbonat-adularia (Milesi
dkk., 1999; Warmada dkk., 2007). Host rock
berupa batuan vulkanik (breksi vulkanik, tuf lapili)
dengan temperatur 180 220 C (Warmada dkk.,
2007), sedangkan alterasinya terdiri dari:
Alterasi argilik (smektit, ilit, adularia, kaolinit).
Alterasi propilit (klorit dan kalsit).
Alterasi silisik (quartz > 40%)
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Mineralisasi primer di daerah Pongkor dikontrol


oleh struktur dan muncul berupa sistem urat.
Struktur urat utama di Pongkor terdiri dari 5 urat,
yaitu Ciurug, Kubang Cicau, Ciguha, Pasir Jawa
dan Pamoyanan (Gambar 7). Urat sub-paralel dan
jarak antar vein antara 300 sampai 800 m. Tren
utama dari urat berarah barat laut (N 330E),
ditempat tertentu berubah menjadi N 30 E,
dengan kemiringan bervariasi dari 60 sampai
85. Ciguha dan Ciurug membentuk urat tungal,
sedangkan struktur Kubang Ciacau ditempat
tertentu membentuk splay sampai terbentuk urat
sendiri. Variasi uratnya terdiri dari kuarsa,
karbonat, adularia dan mineral lempung dengan
sedikit kehadiran barit, klorit, albit dan kadang
kadang zeolit. Mineralisasi berupa urat kuarsa
dengan tekstur umum berupa banded, colloform,
crustiform, dan cockade.
Anomali kadar Au ditemukan di dalam urat
kuarsa yang berada dalam suatu zona ubahan
hidrotermal. Pada zona ubahan ini ditemukan
urat kuarsa yang berpola saling sejajar dengan
jurus umum arah Barat Laut Tenggara.
Mineral-mineral utama yang terdapat pada bijih
antara lain pirit, kalkopirit, spalerit, galena,
elektrum, akantit-aguilarit, dan polibasit-perseit
(Warmada, dkk., 2007). Kebanyakan dari uraturat ini menunjukkan pelapukan supergene yang
ekstensif (luas), menghasilkan pengkayaan emas
sekunder di zona bagian atas dari urat-urat
tersebut (Milesi dkk., 1999). Hal ini juga
dibuktikan oleh isograde kadar Au, dimana kadarkadar Au yang tinggi secara vertikal mengumpul
dibagian atas urat.
Mineral lempung yang sangat umum adalah
smektit dan secara acak berlapis denga ilitsmektit, dengan sedikit klorite dan kaolinit. Illite
berkristal baik ditemukan pada satu sampel dari
urat Ciguha.
Kadar emas dan perak pada vein bervariasi mulai
dari 0.01 hingga ratusan ppm dan 1 hingga ribuan
ppm. Keduanya berkurang secara bertahap sesuai
dengan kedalaman. Kisaran rasio Ag/Au antara
1.5 hingga 30 dengan rata-rata 9.

Jumlah base metal sangat rendah berkisar 100


ppm, seperti As (kurang dari 100 ppm), Sb
(kurang dari 5 pmm), Te (kurang dari 10 ppm),
Tl (kurang dari 5 ppm) dan Hg ( kurang dari 1.5
ppm). Molibdenum merupakan anomali kecil
(20-60 ppm dengan jumlah tottal 327 ppm) dan
Ba bervariasi dari 10 hingga 100 ppm dengan
total mencapai 500 ppm.
PENGEMBANGAN EKSPLORASI
Jika melihat perbandingan dari Luasan IUP
Operasi
Produksi
dan
area
kegiatan
penambangan, maka dapat dikatakan bahwa
masih terdapat 2/3 bagian dari IUP Operasi
Produksi yang belum dilakukan eksplorasi secara
detail atau masih pada tahap eksplorasi awal.
Dari data-data yang ada, baik dari data
permukaan maupun data-data pemboran awal
sebenarnya masih terdapat banyak daerah
potensi yang masih harus dilakukan eksplorasi
secara detail dimasa mendatang. Tercatat ada
sekurangnya 6 (enam) daerah prospek yang
masih direncanakan akan dilakukan eksplorasi
detail, daerah-daerah tersebut adalah daerah
Ciguha Inferred (L400), Kubang Cicau Inferred
(L600), Cadas Copong, Gunung Goong, Cimahpar,
dan Pasir Jawa, dan Kubang Cicau Inferred. Jika
mengikuti standar sistem pengelompokan
kategori sumberdaya mineral dan cadangan bijih,
maka daerah-daerah ini masih berada di dalam
kategori sumberdaya mineral tereka atau inferred
mineral resource.
Sumberdaya mineral tereka belum bisa
dimasukan ke dalam cadangan bijih, karena datadata yang tersedia masih belum representatif
sehingga tingkat keyakinan geologinya (geological
knowledge and confidence) masih kurang. Oleh
karena itu, daerah-daerah dengan klasifikasi data
inferred tersebut harus dilakukan perapatan data
pemboran inti untuk meningkatkan keyakinan
geologinya, baik tonase ataupun kadar, agar
didapatkan kepastian penambangannya (waktu,
pengembangan, metode, dsb).
Selain melakukan eksplorasi di daerah yang dekat
dengan lokasi akses kegiatan penambangan, tim
eksplorasi pun untuk pengembangan rencana
78

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Gambar 5. Peta Geologi Pongkor (Milesi et al, 1999)

Gambar 6. Kesebandingan Regional (Basuki et al, 1992)

79

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Or

H/W

eB

od

Gambar 7. Model urat-urat di Pongkor (Milesi et al, 1999)

F/W
Development

Stope

Cemented Backfill
Temporary
Barikade

XC
ut A
cces
s

Ramp Up
Permanent Barikade

Waste Rock
Drainage Layer
High Strength
fill

L. 500m

Gambar 8

Metoda Penambangan Mekanis

80

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

jangka panjang eksplorasi kedepan perlu juga


mencari daerah-daerah baru di dalam IUP operasi
produksi Pongkor, sehingga diperlukan untuk
mencari potensi mineralisasi di luar daerah yang
telah dikenali.

volume insitunya. Kemajuan penambangan akan


mempunyai arah vertikal dan horizontal. Broken
ore yang telah diledakkan digunakan untuk
tempat berpijak pada kegiatan pengeboran
selanjutnya.

Dari hasil analisis geologi secara regional baik dari


morfologi, struktur, studi literatur, dan lainnya
dapat disimpulkan bahwa terdapat daerahdaerah di dalam IUP Operasi Produksi Pongkor
yang mempunyai sistem mineralisasi yang
berbeda dengan daerah-daerah yang selama ini
telah dikenali dan ditambang.

METODE PENGOLAHAN

METODE PENAMBANGAN
Terdapat dua metode penambangan di Pongkor,
yaitu secara mekanis (Gambar 8) dan shrinkage
stoping (Gambar 9). Secara garis besar
penambangan di Ciurug menggunakan metode
cut and fill yaitu kegiatan pemboran dan
peledakan bijih, dan kegiatan pemuatan serta
pengangkutan bijih dari stope menggunakan alat
mekanis, apabila pengambilan bijih telah selesai
dilanjutkan
pengisian
stope
dengan
menggunakan cemented fill. Proses produksi
tambang merupakan bagian dari siklus
penambangan cut and fill, dimana siklus produksi
terdiri dari rangkaian pekerjaan; pemboran,
peledakan, pemuatan, penyanggaan dan scaling.
Penambangan bawah tanah dengan metode
shrinkage stoping merupakan salah satu metode
penambangan dengan menggunakan batuan itu
sendiri sebagai penyangganya. Bisa juga disebut
dengan metode penambangan swa sangga.
Kondisi tersebut membutuhkan karakteristik dari
batuan dan teknik penambangan tertentu agar
menghasilkan produktivitas yang tinggi dengan
ongkos penambangan yang relatif murah.
Shrinkage stoping adalah suatu metode
penambangan yang dapat dilakukan apabila
broken ore pada stope untuk sementara dijadikan
sebagai pijakan tempat kerja dan atau sebagai
penahan/support sementara dinding stope
selama penambangan dilakukan. Broken ore
dapat diturunkan sekiranya cukup ruang untuk
bekerja di stope. Hal ini dikarenakan broken ore
hasil peledakan volumenya lebih besar daripada

Proses pengolahan emas di UBPE Pongkor dapat


dilihat pada Gambar 10 dengan proses dimulai
dengan proses pengecilan ukuran bijih melalui
proses crushing dengan menggunakan jaw
crusher sebagai primary crusher dan cone crusher
sebagai secondary crusher, dengan vibrating
screen membentuk sirkuit tertutup dengan
secondary crusher, sehingga menghasilkan
produk bijih berukuran <12.5 mm.
Bijih kemudian digerus di ball mill yang
membentuk sirkuit tertutup dengan hydrocyclone
untuk mendapatkan slurry 40% solid dengan
ukuran padatan minimal 80% <74m (200#).
Slurry dari overflow cyclone ini kemudian dilindi
(leaching) di serangkaian tangki dengan NaCN
konsentrasi 700-800 ppm. Kebutuhan oksigen
terlarut untuk leaching dipasok dengan udara
dari compressor yang diinjeksikan ke dalam
tangki melalui hollow shaft agitator. Karbon aktif
digunakan untuk mengadsorpsi emas dan perak
yang terlarut pada proses carbon-in-leach,
dimana proses adsorpsi dan leaching berlangsung
secara bersamaan. Karbon aktif dipompakan dari
tangki belakang ke depan berlawanan arah
dengan aliran overflow slurry. Total waktu tinggal
slurry pada tangki-tangki leaching dan carbon-inleach adalah sekitar 48 jam.
Setelah karbon mencapai tangki CIL pertama,
karbon yang telah terisi dengan emas (loaded
carbon) dikeluarkan dari sirkuit CIL untuk
dilakukan proses elution. Proses elution
merupakan proses batch, 6 ton per batch, untuk
melepaskan (desorpsi) emas dan perak dari
karbon aktif; menghasilkan larutan kaya. Larutan
kaya
kemudian
diproses
pada
sel-sel
electrowinning untuk mengendapkan emas dan
perak terlarut dengan menggunakan listrik.
Setelah rata-rata 4 batch electrowinning, logam
yang terendapkan di katoda diambil untuk
dilebur menghasilkan dore bullion.
81

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Gambar 9. Metode Penambangan Shrinkage Stoping

Gambar 10. Diagram Alir Tahapan Pengolahan


82

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Tailing dari proses CIL dikentalkan di thickener


untuk mengambil sebagian larutan sianida sisa
untuk dipakai kembali sebagai pengencer di
sirkuit penggerusan (mill). Sedangkan sianida sisa
yang terbawa di underflow thickener dipompakan
ke tangki detox untuk dilakukan proses
detoksifikasi sianida dengan proses SO2/O2.
Tailing yang telah terdetoksifikasi disimpan di
backfill silo untuk digunakan sebagai material
backfill ke stope dalam tambang. Jika silo penuh
dan belum ada pemompaan slurry ke fasilitas
backfill, luberan tailing dari silo dipompakan ke
tailing pond (TSF). Pada bagian ujung tailing
pond, air dipompakan kembali ke pabrik sebagai
salah satu sumber air.Kelebihan air dialirkan ke
IPAL Cikaret untuk untuk dilakukan penjernihan,
pengendalian pH dan detoxsifikasi sianida (jika
kandungan sianida masih cukup tinggi) agar
memenuhi batu mutu lingkungan sebelum
dibuang ke sungai.
AGROGEOEDUTOURISM
Rencana Tambang Emas Pongkor (Pongkor Gold
Mine) pada bidang CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) di masa mendatang akan
mengembangkan apa yang disebut Agrogeoedutourism. Implementasi konsep dasar CSR di
ranah
global
maupun
nasional
telah
membawakan konsep yang mengharuskan
berubah sesuai dengan perkembangan jaman
tentang bagaimana sebuah CSR yang baik/ideal
dapat
diterapkan
guna
memberikan
kemaslahatan bagi masyarakat. CSR mempunyai
banyak ragam dan bentuk yang dilaksanakan oleh
pihak yang berkepentingan, yang bermuara pada
satu titik yakni kesejahteraan.

utama yakni kegiatan dalam bidang ekonomi,


sosial dan lingkungan.
Tujuan mengembangkan kawasan agrogeoedutourism di kecamatan Nanggung sebagai
bentuk peningkatan perekonomian masyarakat
setelah pasca tambang. Wilayah Nanggung
sangat berpotensi menjadi kawasan agrogeoedutourism karena secara geografis awalnya
pertanian dan peternakan merupakan mata
pencaharian utama masyarakat. Selain itu
Nanggung mempunyai potensi objek wisata dan
keberadaan ANTAM yang dapat dijadikan sebagai
salah satu kawasan strategis geowisata.
Dalam rencana pengembangan Agrogeoedutourism di wilayah PT ANTAM (Persero) Tbk
UBPE Pongkor metodologi yang digunakan adalah
Appreciative Inquiry. Dasar metode Appreciate
Inquiry diantaranya adalah adanya penghargaan
terhadap sumber yang sudah ada, kemudian
merumuskan arah program yang mungkin dapat
dilaksanakan. Berfokus pada dialog sebagai
terobosan, dengan demikian masyarakat dapat
menghargai potensinya dan dapat berinnovasi.
Dalam dialog tersebut dikenalkan konsep
pendorong, konsep penarik, dan rencana
tindakan positif.
Konsep pengembangan kawasan agrogeoedutourism berdasar pada keinginan ANTAM
agar masyarakat nantinya tidak lagi bergantung
pada perusahaan setelah pasca tambang.
Programnya menyeluruh meliputi peningkatan
perekonomian, sumber daya manusia, dan
infrastruktur penunjang kawasan.
LINGKUNGAN

Di tingkat nasional, krisis moneter dan reformasi


telah banyak menuntut dunia usaha untuk
melakukan perubahan praktik bisnisnya sehingga
menciptakan istilah dan paradigma Good
Corporate Governance, Green Company/ ramah
lingkungan, Best Practice, sampai dengan CSR.
ANTAM menjawab tantangan tersebut dengan
menuangkan visi CSR yakni menjadi perusahaan
dengan tanggung jawab sosial yang terkemuka
dan terpercaya di industri pertambangan di
Indonesia yang dilakukan berdasarkan tiga pilar

PT. Antam (Persero) Tbk Unit Bisnis


Pertambangan Emas Pongkor melaksanakan
kegiatan
pengelolaan
dan
pemantauan
lingkungan penambangan emas di KW 98 PP0138
(pengembangan dari KP sebelumnya yaitu KP DU
893/ Jabar, berdasarkan Keputusan Direktur
Jenderal Pertambangan Umum No. 375 K/ 24.01/
DJP/2000 tertanggal 1 Agustus 2000) Gunung
Pongkor, Kabupaten Bogor, Propinsi Jawa Barat
dengan mengacu pada Dokumen RKL dan RPL
yang telah disetujui komisi AMDAL Pusat
83

PROCEEDINGS OF BANDA AND EASTERN SUNDA ARCS 2012 MGEI ANNUAL CONVENTION
26-27 November 2012, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Departemen Pertambangan dan Energi dengan


surat nomor : 4347/ 0115/SJ.R/1991 tertanggal
15 Nopember 1991, revisi RKL dan RPL yang telah
disetujui Bupati Bogor, berdasarkan Keputusan
Bupati Bogor Nomor 545/kpts/DTRLH Tahun
2003, tanggal 15 April 2003, revisi II RKL dan RPL
yang telah disetujui Bupati Bogor, berdasarkan
Keputusan Bupati Bogor Nomor 545/kpts/DTRLH
2006, serta Kelayakan Lingkungan Kegiatan
Pengembangan Pertambangan Emas di Desa
Bantar Karet Kec. Nanggung Kab. Bogor a.n. PT.
Antam (Persero) Tbk UBPE Pongkor yang telah
disetujui Bupati Bogor Nomor No.541/110/Kpts/DAM/BLH/2011 tertanggal 06 Desember 2011.
Beberapa penghargaan di bidang lingkungan dari
pihak eksternal yang diterima oleh UBPE Pongkor
adalah sebagai berikut:
Penghargaan
sebagai
Industri
Peduli
Lingkungan Berprestasi Propinsi Jawa Barat
dari Gubernur Jawa Barat pada Peringatan
Hari Lingkungan Hidup Tahun 2010 (Piagam
Penghargaan No. 002/Kep.930-BKAD/2010).
PROPER Hijau tiga kali berturut-turut (periode
Oktober 2006 s/d September 2007, periode
2007 s/d 2008, dan periode 2009 s/d 2010).
Penghargaan Lingkungan dan CSR sebagai
Perusahaan
yang
Peduli
Terhadap
Pengelolaan Lingkungan dan Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) tanggal 17 Agustus 2011
dari Bupati Bogor.
Penghargaan ADITAMA (EMAS) Pengelolaan
Lingkungan Pertambangan dari Kementerian
ESDM, Direktorat Jenderal Mineral, Batu Bara,
dan Panas Bumi, September 2011.
Tanggal 20 September 2011, ANTAM
mendapatkan penghargan Indonesia Green
Award yang diselenggarakan oleh Latovi,
ANTAM Penginspirasi Bumi, Penghargaan
tersebut diserahkan oleh Menteri Kehutanan.

Basuki, A. 1995. Presentasi Eksplorasi Cebakan


Au-Ag di Daerah Pongkor dsk. KP DU 562. PT
Antam (Persero) Tbk. (Tidak diterbitkan).
Greffie, C., Bailly, L., Milesi, J. P. 2002. Supergene
Alteration of Primary Ore Assemblages from
Low-SulfidationAu-Ag Epithermal Deposits at
Pongkor, Indonesia, and Nazareno, Peru.
Economic Geology volume 97.
Milesi, J. P., Marcoux, E., Nehlig, P., Sunarya, Y.,
Sukandar, A., and Felenc, J. 1994. Cirotan,
West Java, Indonesia: A 1.7 Ma Hybrid
Epithermal Au-Ag-Sn-W Deposit. Bulletin of
the Society of Economic Geologists.
Milesi, J. P., Marcoux, E., Sitorus, T.,
Simandjuntak, M., Leroy, J., dan Bailly, L. 1999.
Pongkor (west Java, Indonesia): a Pliocene
supergene-enriched epithermal Au-Ag-(Mn)
deposit. Mineralium Deposita volume 34: 131
149. Springer-Verlag.
Syafrizal, Indriati, T., Valentin, K. 2009. Studi
Distribusi Ukuran Butir Elektrum dan Asosiasi
Mineralisasi Emas pada Urat Ciurug, Pongkor,
Indonesia. JTM volume XVI no. 2/2009.
Warmada, I. W., Lehman, B., Simandjuntak, M.,
dan Hemes, H. S. Fluid Inclusion, Rare-Earth
Element and Stable Isotope Study of
Carbonate Minerals from the Pongkor
Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposit, West ]ava,
Indonesia. Resource Geology vol. 57 no. 2.
124-135.
Warmada, I. W., Lehmann, B., dan
Simandjuntak, M. 2003. Polymetallic Sulfides
and Sulfosalts of the Pongkor Epithermal
Gold-Silver Deposit, West Java, Indonesia.
The Canadian Mineralogist vol 41: 185 200.

REFERENSI
___. 2012. Rencana Kerja Teknik Tahunan ___.
2012. Rencana Kerja Teknik Tahunan
Lingkungan (RKTTL). PT Antam (Persero) Tbk.
Basuki, A., Sumanagara, A., Sinambela, D. 1992.
Deposit Emas Perak Gunung Pongkor, Jawa
barat, Indonesia. PT Antam (Persero) Tbk.
(Tidak diterbitkan).
84

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