SILICIFIED COAL DAN IMPLIKASINYA TERHADAP PENAMBANGAN DI DAERAH ARAHAN, KABUPATEN LAHAT, SUMATERA SELATAN

Abstract

In mining activities, silicified coal greatly affects the quality of coal, in addition to the quantity of coal production, quality is also a measure of success in a mining process. One of the objectives of this research is the effort to control the quality of coal by reducing production involving impurity elements, one of which is silicified coal. The research area is located in Arahan Village, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra. The research method used in the form of literature study, surface mapping both laterally and vertically, laboratory analysis in the form of petrographic analysis and XRD. The sample was taken using a grab sampling technique with a total of 10 samples in locations that were likely to represent the whole. Formation in the study area is the Muaraenim Formation deposited in the delta plain environment, Kasai Formation which is sedimentated in the terrestrial environment. Silicified coal is a petrified plant residue due to the replacement of components with silica. Mineral silica is formed in cracks, openings between plant cells, and in liquids left in plant cells. The physical appearance of silicified coal in the coal layer is in the form of layered and lensests and is almost the same as black coal, but has a higher hardness value. In the coal layer the study area is dominated by silicified coal in the form of lensests with a thickness of 10-40 cm. Silicified coal distribution pattern is controlled by coal seams. From the results of XRD analysis and Petrographic silicified coal, it was found that the dominant minerals were silica minerals, a little carbon and oxidation. From the results of field observations, mapping of silicified coal in the lap and coal is very important to be done to avoid the decline in the quality of coal production. Keywords: