PRELIMINARY INDICATION OF GOLD PROSPECT WITHIN THE

METAMORPHIC ROCKS IN GUNUNG BELANDA AREA, PELAIHARI, SOUTH

EAST KALIMANTAN.

By

Baharuddin & H.Z.Abidin

Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Geologi
Jl.Diponegoro 57, Bandung.

SARI

Cebakan emas di daerah Sungai Tempurung, Gunung Belanda,

Kecamatan Pelaihari, Kabupaten Tanah Laut, terdapat dalam komplek
Malihan Hauran berumur 108-116 jt.tahun. Batuan malihan ini terdiri atas
sekis muskovit-kuarsa, sekis mika, meta-kuarsit, sekis epidot-biotit dan sekis
epidot hornblende. Di samping itu, dijumpai pula meta gabro, amfibolit dan
meta dolerit. Emas yang berasosiasi dengan urat kuarsa, terdapat dalam
batuan malihan berupa sekis mika. Urat kuarsa berbutir kasar dengan
ketebalan berkisar dari beberapa cm hingga 10 cm berarah timur-barat dan
miring kearah selatan. Emas mengisi rongga kristal kuarsa (cavity filling)
berupa butiran, veinlets dan koloform. Waktu pembentukan mineralisasi
emas di daerah ini belum diketahui secara pasti apakah berasosiasi dengan
kegiatan magmatisme Pra-Tersier atau Tersier.

Kata kunci: Emas, batuan malihan, pengisian rongga

ABSTRACT

Gold mineralization in the Tempurung River, Gunung Belanda,

Pelaihari District, Tanah Laut Regency hosts within the Hauran
Metamorphic complex of 108-116 m.a. The metamorphic rocks consist of
quartz- muscovite schist, mica schist, meta-quartzite schist, epidote-
biotite schist and epidote-hornblende schist. Beside this, is also found
meta gabbro, amphibolite and meta dolerite. Gold, which is associated
with quartz veins, is found within the metamorphic rock of mica schist.
Coarse grained quartz vein has a thickness ranging from a few cm to 10 cm,
trending east west and dipping to south. Gold filled the quartz crystal
space/cavity filling, grains, veinlets and colloform. The timing of gold
formation is not known either associated with Pre-Tertiary or Tertiary
magmatism.

Key words: Gold, metamorphic rocks, cavity filling.

INTRODUCTION

The study area lies between 02.00o-03.00o South Latitudes and 114.30o

-116.00o East Longitudes (Fig. 1). It is known as Gunung Belanda because there is a

“Benteng” built by the Dutch. However, no one knows what sign the Benteng for.

Up to now, the Benteng is still existing. As the presence of gold workings in the area,

as a matter fact, the Benteng was built by the Dutch for the sign of gold occurrence.

At present, plenty local people are working in the area. They collected samples

from pits with depth ranging from 5-20 m. These samples are then transferred into a

container (trombol, local name) to be milled. Finally, these fine materials are panned

and gold is caught using mercury.

The presence of gold hosted within the metamorphic rocks is newly reported.

So far, the presence of gold in the area (Meratus Mts.) is mostly associated with the

volcanic rocks (Pantain Bancah Area) (Abidin, 2004). However, the presence of gold

either within volcanic or metamorphic rocks are not problem because, both rocks are

only in the form of host rock. The question is, what is the cause for gold

mineralization within volcanic and metamorphic rocks? Are gold formed at similar

magmatism or tectonic process.

In oder to explain the tectonic evolution of the Meratus Mts, many attempts

have been made (Bemmelen, 1949; Hamilton, 1979; Situmorang 1982; Priyomarsono,
1984 ; Yuwono et al., 1988; Sikumbang, 1989, Zulkarnain et al.,1996; and Wakita et

al.,1999). However, there is still disagreement about mechanism and timing of events

and whether there has been a collision with ophiolite obduction or whether the

complex was formed by a rifting.

The latest comprehensive geological studies involve stratigraphy/

sedimentology, petrology/geochemistry, geochronology and structural geology for

both Tertiary and Pre-Teriary formations were carried out (Hartono et al., 2000; Dirk

et al., 2000; Sanyoto et al., 2000; and Baharuddin et al., 2001) and the results have

been accounted to improve the geological background of the area. The occurrence of

gold within the metamorphic rocks in Gunung Belanda Area become the main aim of

the study.

TECTONIC SETTING AND REGIONAL GEOLOGY

S.E Kalimantan including the island of Pulau Laut and Sebuku to the SE is

part of the Sundaland (Hutchison,1996). Physiographically, SE Kalimantan can be

divided into 4 distinct physiographic terrains i.e. the Meratus Mts, Barito Basin,

Asam-asam-Pasir sub basin and Pulau Laut Ridge (Fig. 2).

The Meratus Mountain which is trending N-SW direction can be subdivided

further into 2 mountains zones, i.e; Manjam in the SE and Bobaris-Tambak-Tamban in

the NW. These zones are characterized by rugged topography, narrow and sharp

ridges with V-shape valleys. The Manjam and Bobaris-Tambak-Tamban ranges is

separated by a graben-like basin of Riam Kanan Reservoir.

Regional geology of the area is modified from the geological map of the

Banjarmasin Sheet 1: 1000.000 scale is shown in Figure 3 (Supriatna et al., 1994).

Several rock formations from older (Pre-Tertiary) to younger (Tertiary) occupied the

area.

the oldest exposed rocks are metamorphic and ultramafic/ mafic rocks of

Triassic-Jurassic in age (Wakita et al., 1998, Zulkarnain et al., 1996). The

metamorphic rock is dominated by schist, amphibolite, phillyte and slate, while the

ultramafic/mafic rocks comprise of harzburgite, lherzolite, pyroxenite, dunite and

gabbroic. They are unconformably overlain by Pitap and Haruyan Groups. The Pitap

Group is subdivided into Manunggul, Keramaian and Pudak Formations, consists of

sandstone, conglomeratic sandstone, claystone, siltstone and intercalated chert and

limestone (Heryanto et al., 1998; Margono et al., 1997). In contrast to, the Haruyan

Group, which consists of Paau and Pitanak Formations, is mostly dominated by

volcanic rocks such as lava flow, tuff, volcanic breccia and sheeted lava. Lithologic

relation between The Haruyan and the Pitap Group is interfingering. The Pre-Tertiary

and Tertiary intrusive rock exposed in the Meratus area is diorite, granite,

granodiorite.

All older rock is unconformably overlain by Eocene Tanjung Formation

comprising of conglomerate and interbedded claystone, siltstone, shale and sandstone

with coal seam intercalations. The Tanjung Formation is conformably overlain by the

Oligo-Miocene Berai Limestone Formation, and quartz sandstone and claystone of

the Warukin Formation of the Miocene age. These units are unconformably overlain

by the Plio-Pleistocene Dahor Formation. In places, this rock is overlain by

Quaternary deposits.

GEOLOGY OF THE STUDY AREA

 The study area is dominated by metamorphic rocks of high pressure- low

temperature including glaucophane, even some of them are classified into an

amphibolite facies. These metamorphic rocks which refer to as Hauran Schist

(Sikumbang & Heryanto 1986), consist of quartz muscovite schist, micaceous schist,

meta quartzite, biotite- apatite schist and hornblende-epidote schist.

Tertiary magmatism

Tertiary magmatic activity (age ranges from 62-14 M.a) is indicated by the

presence of volcanic rocks as dykes, plugs and small sub-vulcanic intrusives.

Moreover, structural analyses exhibit that since Early Paleocene-Early Eocene (60-50

Ma), a compressional process has took place and it was followed by an extensional

event. Thus, if the analyses is accepted, then it can be concluded that subduction

activity has stop during the Tertiary time. Therefore, in respect to the geochemical

analyses arguing that volcanic activity is still continuing up to the Tertiary time and it

may be related to remelting of magma ponding beneath the crust.

The prospect geology is shown in Fig. 4 …..

GOLD MINERALIZATION WITHIN THE METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Several gold prospects have been detected in the Pelaihari Region i.e: Bajuin,

Sarang Halang, Gunung Belanda (S. Tempurung) dan Pantain Bancah (Fig. 5)

(Abidin, 2004). The occurrence of gold prospect, G. Belanda area is known by locals

and it has been worked. This prospect, which hosts within the metamorphic rocks, is

in the form of quartz vein ranging from 10-20 cm thick and dipping to the south. The

locals mine the deposit using pit methods. Tens of pits ranging from 5 to 20 m depth

are present in the area (Fig. 5). According to the local miner, there are several pits

containing richest gold. In general, the production of gold obtained by the locals in the
area is not known cerntainty. The area of the G. Belanda prospect is about 500 x 500

m. The presnece of Benteng Belanda constructed in the vicinity of the prospect, is

expected to be a gold sign. So, one time in the future, the Dutch may come back to the

area and know where the gold prospect exists.

DISCUSSIONS

The presence of gold mineralization in the Meratus range is known for along

time. Even, up to now, gold workings carried out by the locals, are still existing. The

deposit is expected to be associated with Tertiary magmatism. As a matter of fact,

several age dating results have been obtained (Ref). The age obtained indicate Tertiary

in age. The rocks are in the form of dyke, plug of subvolcanics that intruded the older

formation (Pitap dan Haruyan groups). So far, gold deposits hosted within the

volcanic rocks of the Haruyan Group (Abidin, 2004).

The presence of gold, which is associated with metamorphic complex is newly

reported. The deposit hosts within mica schist. In the study area these rocks referred

to as Hauran metamorphic complex (Zulkarnain et al, 1996; Sikubang and Heryanto.,

) which consist of quartz muscovite schist, micaceous schist, meta quartzite, biotite

epidote schist and horenblende epidote schist. Besides these, meta-gabbro/amphibolite

meta dolerite are occasionally present as dykes or sills within the complex.

On the basis of diagnostic minerals, the Hauran Metamorphic complex

belongs to green schist to amphibolite facies (Low T, P to moderate T and P) (Ref).

This characterizes a regional metamorphism that is related to orogenic movement. The

age of metamorphic rocks are assigned to Lower Albian-Albian (ref).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 The writers thank to the manager of the Basic Mapping Research Project,

Harry Siagian, who allows to the writers to use data in writing this paper. All

geologists involving the project are acknowledged. Sadri, head of the General Public

Section of Regency Local Government is appreciated for his assistance during in the

field.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusions, the Meratus Ophiolite distributed along N-SW trending belt

along 300 km. It is a dismembered ophiolite belt which was emplaced by the Early

Turonian time. Age of the ophiolite ranges from the Upper Jurassic to Late Cretaceous

and this ophiolite classifies into the Hazbugite Ophiolite Type with geochemical trend

similar to that of Oman Ophiolite.

The volcanic rocks distributes along the Meratus Complex can be divided into

two volcanic groups based on their radiometric age. Geochemical data show that both

group of volcanic rocks were related to subduction activities during the Cretaceous

to Tertiary time. Although, the origin of Tertiary volcanic is still controversial,

however, it is presumed that it was formed as a continuation process of remelting

magma ponding beneath the crust.

The granitoid rock is distingushed into five group ages which range from

Carbonifeous to Upper Cretaceous and at least there are three emplacement

mechanisms have been controlled the occurrence of granitoid bodies within the

Meratus Range and they are collision, spreading and subduction types.

Magmatic activity which is related to the occurrence of gold mineralization in

the Meratus Complex is probably associated with the plutonic section of the ophiolite
sequence and the late magmatic “black smoke” source, while the most promising

metalliferous deposits should be related to the Cretaceous and Tertiary magmatisms.

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