The economic potential of ultrabasic soils in the vicinity of Ranau, Sabah

702001-100642-450-B
Author : Osama Twaiq, Hamzah Mohamad, Mohamad Md Tan, Anizan Isahak, Baba Musta & Mohd Rozi Umar
Publication : Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia
Page : 243-246
Volume Number : 46
Year : 2003
DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm46200340

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 46, May 2003, pp. 243 – 246

 

The economic potential of ultrabasic soils in the vicinity of Ranau, Sabah

Potensi ekonomi tanah ultrabes di sekitar Ranau, Sabah

OSAMA TWAIQ1, HAMZAH MOHAMAD1, MOHAMAD MD TAN1, ANIZAN ISAHAK1BABA MUSTA2 AND MOHD ROZI UMAR1

1Program Geologi, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

2Sekolah Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

 

Abstract: This paper investigates whether ultrabasic soils are profitable alternative resources of Cr, Co and Ni. A total of 55 holes have been bored through 3-20 metre thick in situ soils, at the pilot study area near Ranau, Sabah. The soil reserve of an approximately 1.1 km2 area is 19.25 million tonne. X-ray diffraction study confirms the occurrence of goethite as the major constituent, with occurrence of lesser amounts of gibbsite, kaolinite and rutile. Quantitative X-ray fluorescence study on 300 bulk samples gives the following average, in wt%: Cr 1.90 (0.80-2.20), Co 0.06 (0.04-0.10), and Ni 0.64 (0.20-1.40). Cr and Ni, with reserves of 365,000 tonne and 122,000 tonne respectively are believed to be profitable, if efficient and cost-effective extraction techniques with 80% recovery are available.

Abstrak: Kertas ini cuba menyiasat sama ada tanah ultrabes boleh dijadikan sumber alternatif yang menguntungkan bagi Cr, Co dan Ni. Sejumlah 55 lubang telah digerudi menerusi tanah setempat berketebalan 3-20 meter, di kawasan kajian pemandu berhampiran Ranau, Sabah. Rezab tanah bagi kawasan seluas lebih kurang 1.1 km2 itu ialah 19.25 juta tan metrik. Kajian belauan sinar-X mengesahkan kehadiran goetit sebagai juzuk utama tanah, dengan gibsit, kaolinit dan rutil wujud dalam jumlah yang lebih sedikit. Kajian kuantitatif pendarflour sinar-X terhadap 300 sampel pukal memberikan purata berikut dalam % berat: Cr 1.9 (0.8-2.2), Co 0.06 (0.04-0.10), dan Ni 0.64 (0.20-1.40). Cr dan Ni yang rezab masing-masing ialah 365,000 dan 122,000 tan matrik dipercayai menguntungkan, dengan syarat teknik ekstraksi yang efisyen dan murah dengan nilai boleh peroleh 80% dapat dibangunkan.

https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm46200340


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