The effect of distance on Decreased Hg and As concentration in Bunikasih

Area, Pangalengan, Jawa Barat.

Y. ROHIMAN1*, M. ABDURRACHMAN1, CANDRA1, R. P. NUGROHO1, U. I. M. SUPARMAN2
1
Department of Geology, Bandung Institute of Technology, 40123, Bandung, Indonesia
(*correspondence: yepi.rohiman@gmail.com)
2
Departement of Geology, Jenderal Soedirman University, 53371, Purbalingga, Indonesia

Environmental pollution in the mining area is a hot issue, especially river water pollution by mining
activities. That pollution impacted on river water qualities. Although much research has been reported
about environmental pollution, but there is no significant solution to tackling the pollution. To know
the general picture of environmental pollution in the mining areas, we conducted small-scale studies
in Bunikasih mining area, Pangalengan, West Java. In this research, water samples were taken with
intervals 100 m at 5 locations along the river, and mud samples taken in same location with taking
water plus 1 core samples as deep as 25 cm in the settling ponds. Then the water samples analysed in
the water laboratory with methods SMEWW-3500-Hg, and mud samples were analysed by XRF
method. The data from water show that concentration of Hg is 15 ppb in mining area and descend
equal to the distance from mine area (Hg < 0.01 ppb in 300 meters from mining area). The data from
mud show that concentration Hg is 354 ppm and As is 16 Ppm in mining area descend equal to the
distance from mine area (Hg 240 ppm and As 9 Ppm in 300 meter from mining area) and mud from
settling ponds contains heavy metals concentration spread vertical homogeneously. The conclusion is
from the calculation of the regression at distance 1 km from the mine site, mud and water river has not
contain Hg and As.

Keywords: Hg, As, Environmental pollution, Bunikasih, XRF Method.