Analysis of mineral content of iron sand deposit in Bontokanang Village and Tanjung Bayang Beach, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Iron sand found in coastal areas in Sulawesi Selatan has not been optimally utilized. In this study, to analysis the mineral content of iron sand deposit, extraction, and characterization process were conducted. Iron sand was obtained from Bontokanang Village Takalar district and Tanjung Bayang Beach Makassar. Chemical composition analysis was performed of on samples by means of Tescan Vega3SB Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Bruker Quantax System Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Analysis of the crystalline level and mineral composition were performed on the sample by using Rigaku MiniFlex II X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The SEM-EDS analysis showed that iron sand in Bontokanang Village and Tanjung Bayang Beach was dominated by iron oxide (FeO) with concentration of 66,70 wt.% and 79,56 wt.%. The XRD analysis showed that iron sand from Bontokanang Village contains magnetite, chromium (VI) oxide, and aluminum oxide with concentrations of 59 wt.%, 30 wt.%, And 11 wt.%. While the iron sand from Tanjung Bayang Beach contains mineral iron silicon oxide and magnetite with concentrations of 77 wt.% And 23 wt.%. Iron sand deposit from Bontokanang Village and Tanjung Bayang Beach contain magnetite minerals that can be further explored and extracted as commercial minerals. (paper)