Journal of Applied Geology, vol. 5(2), 2020, pp. 73–83
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22146/jag.55235
Hydrothermal Alteration of High Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits in
Secang Area, Tulungagung, East Java, Indonesia
Septyo Uji Pratomo, Anastasia Dewi Titisari
*
, and Arifudin Idrus
Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
ABSTRACT. This research aims to determine geological condition and alteration in ep-
ithermal high sulfidation mineralization as an initial guide for further exploration stages.
Detailed geological mapping with a scale of 1:12,500 was conducted to identify geolog-
ical aspects and distribution of alteration zones. Selected rocks samples were prepared
for laboratory analysis, which are petrography, XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), and FA-AAS
(Fire Assay-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) analyses. The geological condition of the
research area consists of six rock units from the oldest to youngest: andesite lava, andesitic
breccia, microgranodiorite intrusion, polymict breccia, limestone, and alluvial deposit. Ge-
ological structures found are left strike-slip fault with right strike-slip fault as accompany.
The result of XRD analysis shows the presence of minerals, which are: smectite, kaolin-
ite, illite, diaspore, alunite, and pyrophyllite. The alteration zones of the research area are
propylitic, argillic, advance argillic, and silicification zones. The further exploration stage
is recommended to focus on the southwest and northeast of the research area.
Keywords: Tulungagung · Epithermal · High-sulfidation · Alteration · Vuggy quartz.
1 I NTRODUCTION
PT. ANTAM Tbk., which is one of an Indone-
sian mining company that was in collaboration
with Newcrest Mining Ltd. in the series of East
Java Regional Mapping Program 2017, have
been carried out regional exploration activities
covering seven districts in East Java Province
including Pacitan, Trenggalek, Tulungagung,
Blitar, Malang, Lumajang, and Jember. The re-
gional exploration indicated a prospect area of
Tulungagung shows partially oxidized vuggy
silica with 0.13 ppm Au and 25 ppm Cu, which
is a feature of high sulfidation epithermal de-
posits. The mapping program was also found
that rocks samples with the highest Au 8.3 ppm
and Cu 460 ppm (ANTAM, 2017-unpubl. data).
Several previous researchers have investigated
regional geological conditions that include re-
search sites such as Samodera et al. (1992)
*
Corresponding author: A.D. TITISARI, Depart-
ment of Geological Engineering, Universitas Gadjah
Mada. Jl. Grafika 2 Yogyakarta, Indonesia. E-mail:
adewititisari@ugm.ac.id
divided geological formations into Tulunga-
gung quadrangle geological map. Widodo et
al. (2002) and Widodo (2003) explained the po-
tential of ore minerals in the southern moun-
tains belt of East Java. Besides, Widodo and
Simanjuntak (2002) mentioned the Kalidawir-
Tanggunggunung-Campurdarat area as one of
the prospect areas in the Tulungagung area,
which is characterized by an argillized tuff
with limonitic veinlets of 1,476 ppb Au content.
However, the Secang area, which is located
in Campurdarat Subdistrict, Tulungagung Re-
gency of East Java, Indonesia (Figure 1) and
one of the prospect area in the regency, has not
been carried out detailed geological investiga-
tion including delineation the distribution of
alteration zones, determination and identifica-
tion of sulfide minerals that supported by pet-
rography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ore geo-
chemistry using the fire assay AAS (FA-AAS)
method. By recognizing the alteration zone will
support in recommending further exploration
target areas.
2502-2822/© 2020 The Authors. Open Access and published under the CC-BY license.