Radiometric mapping could play a prominent role in locating the host rock or alteration that leads to gold mineralization. Nevertheless, in low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits, the radiometric signatures have to be priorly characterized due to their geometry. It is comprised of a small ore vein system within the large alteration zones. The Pongkor gold mine is a low-sulfidation epithermal deposit and was selected for this purpose. The method started with the surface identification of radiometric signatures on altered and unaltered rocks near Pongkor using portable spectrometers. They are followed by the characterization of the underground mining front, which is comprised of different types of veins and host rocks. The results show that the altered rocks were characterized by a high K% and a low eTh/K ratio. Vice versa, the mineralized veins show low radioelement concentrations. Following the characterization of the geometry of alteration zones and mineralized veins, a study of the relationship between radioelements detected by radiometric mapping and gold pathfinder elements was conducted. Gold pathfinders of Mn, Fe, Zn, As, and Pb were selected for correlation studies with the radioelement. The pathfinders and radioelements were more significantly correlated in veins compared to the host rock. Based on this study, radiometric mapping has the potential and benefit of being applied in the exploration of low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. An alteration zone could be delineated by K or eTh/K as an anomaly indicator, and the vein bodies could also be delineated using low K or eTh as an anomaly indicator.

The Mamuju region in West Sulawesi, Indonesia, is a High Background Natural Radiation Area (HBNRA) characterized by a significant enrichment of high field strength elements (HFSEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) within its lateritic deposits. This study investigates the geochemical behavior, mineralogical distribution, and enrichment processes of HFSEs and REEs in lateritic profiles of drill cores and surface samples derived from alkaline volcanic rocks. The mineralogy and geochemical content of HFSEs and REEs in the alkaline bedrocks indicate its potential to become a source of lateritic enrichment. An intense lateritic weathering process leads to the residual accumulation of HFSEs and REEs, particularly in B-horizon soils, where clay minerals and Fe–Al oxides are crucial in element precipitation. Moreover, groundwater redox conditions are a key factor for uranium precipitation in the lateritic profile. The findings provide insight into the potential of lateritic weathering as a natural mechanism for HFSE and REE concentration, contributing to the broader understanding of critical metal resources in Indonesia. These insights have implications for sustainable resource exploration and environmental management in areas with high natural radiation exposure.

Research of the depositional environment using geological mapping, petrography, gamma-ray (GR) log, palynology, and foraminifera fossils of the Bojongmanik Formation has led to the formation of several different conclusions about the transition to the marine environment, which are attractive to revisit. The expected results of this research are to determine the paleoenvironment of the Bojongmanik and Serpong Formations based on elemental geochemistry, the development of paleoenvironment proxies based on portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) in fluvial to transitional environments studies, and the contribution of paleoenvironment analysis to GR-log facies interpretation. The research methodology starts with GR-log facies analysis, Pearson’s correlation, paleoenvironment analysis based on elemental affinity and elemental ratio, and comparing the paleoenvironment with GR-log-based facies. The paleoenvironment analysis based on elemental geochemistry resulted in the Bojongmanik Formation in the research area deposited at the tidal point bar, lagoon, and shoreface, while the Serpong Formation was deposited at the fluvial point bar and floodplain. Compared to previous research, the Bojongmanik Formation in the research area could be stratigraphically related to the upper Bojongmanik Formation. Proxies based on elemental geochemical affinities of carbonate-associated, carbonate-productivity, terrigenous-associated elements, and redox-sensitive trace elements show contrast changes between facies. Proxies based on the specific ratio show a detailed paleoenvironment for paleoclimate (Sr/Cu), paleosalinity (Sr/Ba), paleoredox (Cu/Zn), paleo-hydrodynamics and water depth (Zr/Rb and Fe/Mn), sediment provenance (Cr/Zr), and siliciclastic-dominated (Zr + Rb)/Sr. Adding a geochemistry element-based paleoenvironment analysis benefits from a more specific justification for GR-log facies interpretation.

This study evaluates the applicability of radiometric methods for lithological discrimination in tropical environments, with a focus on two uranium exploration sites in Indonesia: the Rabau Sector in West Kalimantan and the Salumati Sector in West Sulawesi. These locations were selected to represent various lithologies within the uranium exploration program. The aim is to determine whether gamma-ray spectrometry, commonly effective in arid environments, can also delineate lithological boundaries and alteration zones under conditions of intense weathering and dense vegetation cover of tropical area. Ground-based radiometric data were collected using the RS-125 gamma spectrometer to record the concentration of potassium (K), equivalent uranium (eU), and equivalent thorium (eTh). Data processing involved anisotropy analysis, geostatistical interpolation using ordinary kriging, ternary RGB composite mapping, and delineation of radiometric domains. The resulting radiometric maps were then qualitatively compared with existing geological maps for validation. The results show that radiometric signatures, particularly eTh and eU, can effectively distinguish rock units with differing genesis or degrees of alteration, despite tropical conditions. In Rabau, where lithologies share a common protolith, elevated eU concentrations correspond to hornfels, while metatuff and metasiltstone remain indistinguishable, indicating the influence of thermal metamorphism on radiometric responses. In Salumati, eTh and eU zoning within phonolite suggest compositional variability or differential alteration, and elevated eU in altered tuff reflects uranium remobilization in smectite-rich zones. These findings demonstrate that, despite the challenges posed by tropical climates, radiometric mapping remains a viable tool for lithological discrimination and early-stage uranium exploration in Indonesia. This work extends the application of radiometric techniques beyond arid environments and underscores the need to integrate radiometric interpretation with genetic, provenance, and alteration context in tropical geological mapping.

Scoria cones are a typical product of volcanic activity constructed by the bomb and lapilli-sized pyroclasts formed by Strombolian eruption. Mount Pengki is a scoria cone found in Miocene Dago Volcano, West Java. Mount Pengki was a remnant of a Miocene volcano that was exceptionally well preserved and exposed. This scoria cone contains layers of scoria beds and a lava flow unit. The study aims to characterize the exposed scoria bed deposits and investigate the eruptive history and degradation process of Mount Pengki. Field observation, including measured sections and detailed characterizations of the Mount Pengki quarry, allows us to observe its volcanic sequence from its internal structure toward the surface. Morphometric analysis of Mount Pengki can describe the degradation process undergone by the scoria cone. The early phase deposits were characterized by massive to weakly bedded, poorly sorted, clast-supported beds mainly composed of coarse lapilli to bombs/blocks scoria grain. The middle phase deposit typically shows well-stratified, well-sorted, clast-supported scoria beds with coarse ash to coarse lapilli grain size. The late phase deposit is similar to the middle phase deposit, with additional features of coarser-grain, reverse grading, and clast-supported lenticular beds. Eruptive mechanisms involved in the formation of Mount Pengki include ballistic transport of clasts, fallout deposition, and grain avalanching process. The degradation process was likely influenced by prolonged exposure to weathering, cone rim collapse, and regional deformation processes.