Mineralogical Distribution and Characteristics of Fe-, Ti-, and V-Bearing Beach Ironsand Deposit in Adikarto Bay Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Identification of beach sand deposits was carried out in the south coastal area of Adikarto Bay, Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta in Indonesia. A total of 25 points were observed to identify the characteristics and mineralogy of beach sand related to the iron (Fe), titanium (Ti), and vanadium (Fe) bearing minerals that have an important role in the transition of fossil energy into clean energy as an energy storage technology known as Vanadium Redox flow batteries (VRBs) and lithium-vanadium-phosphate batteries [1]. Laboratory analysis was performed by mineral grain analysis, ore microscopy, and micro-XRF. Based on the mineralogical analysis, the beach sand deposit is composed of heavy minerals (magnetite, titanomagnetite, and hematite) and light minerals (quartz, clinopyroxene: hedenbergite and augite), biotite, hornblende, and ilvaite. The results of the analysis show that the distribution of heavy minerals is dominantly in the fraction size <0.106 mm (70-80%,) while light minerals are distributed in the fraction size 0.212-2 mm (80-90%). Mico-XRF for elemental analysis identification shows that magnetite is the mineral bearing of Fe, Ti, and V elements with a percentage of (79.02 - 92.43 wt%), Ti (6.08-7.89 wt%), and V (0.56-1.15 wt%). Therefore, it is important to characterize the mineralogy and distribution of magnetite, since it can be used as a “mineral pathfinder” for advanced exploration of Fe, Ti, and V elements. So, the ironsand is for the cement indsutry and has advanced utilization.