Gold Potential and Structural Analysis of Bedrock Depth for Sustainable Mining in Batu Melintang, Kelantan

Abstract

Batu Melintang is a well-known high potential gold deposit zone as it is located within the Bentong-Raub suture zone. The study area is also known as a highly potential alluvium placer deposit as so many traditional miners are panning along Pergau River and abandoned mines detected. There are still so few studies being conducted on the hard rock to understand the gold source. This study was conducted to map out the geology of the zone with high gold mineralization occurrence and to investigate the bedrock depth for further assessment of environmental suitability for the location to be mined. Geological mapping was conducted to obtain samples from divided 20 grids with a total of 140 samples were taken and tested by using fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry finish (FA-AAS). A total of 27 out of 140 samples show high potential gold intensity higher than 0.01 ppm. The highest gold intensity detected on the northern and southwestern part of the study area. Then, a geophysical survey is conducted using Electrical Resistivity Imaging method to assess the depth of the potential mining zone in the subsurface. The geophysical survey shows that the average depth of the potential layer is about 7 m and at that depth, the environmental impact cannot be avoided easily. Further mining plan or activity would require detailed assessment of the environmental impact because most of the potential mineable zones are located deep and close to Pergau River, which is the main water source of Jeli area.