Analisis Kandungan Logam Berat Pada Kawasan Penambangan Sinabar (HgS) Di Gunung Tembaga Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Provinsi Maluku

Abstract

ABSTRAK

Telah dilakukan penelitian untuk mengetahui kandungan logam berat pada daerah penambangan ilegal sinabar (HgS) di Gunung Tembaga, Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat. Karakteristik sedimen dan jenis mineral logam berat dilakukan dengan uji fraksi ukuran butir sedimen, jenis mineral dengan X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) dan X-Ray Fluoresence (XRF) serta analisis kadar logam dengan Cold VapourAtomic Absorption Spectrometry (CV-AAS). Hasil analisis jenis dan kadar logam berat pada daerah penambangan sinabar di Gunung Tembaga menunjukkan empat) unsur logam berat yang dominan, yaitu Merkuri (Hg), Timbal/timah hitam (Pb), Tembaga (Cu) dan Perak (Ag). Kadar logam merkuri tertinggi terdapat pada sampel GT-2 (587,76 ppm) sedangkan terendah (10,45 ppm) pada sampel GT-1. Tingginya kadar merkuri pada mineral sinabar yang telah terekspos dan terdistribusi pada ekosistem berpotensi terjadinya kontaminasi pada tumbuhan dan biota perairan sehingga berdampak negatif terhadap keamanan bahan pangan yang akhirnya terjadi akumulasi pada tubuh manusia melalui jaring makanan. Hasil penelitian ini juga menunjukkan bahwa disamping merkuri, dua logam berat lainnya, yaitu timbal (Pb) dan tembaga (Cu) memiliki kadar yang cukup tinggi, yaitu ± 36 ppm sehingga lokasi penambangan di Gunung tembaga, Desa Luhu dapat dijadikan sumber mineral (ore) timbal dan tembaga.

Kata Kunci: Gunung Tembaga, merkuri, XRD, XRF, CV-AAS.

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the heavy metal content in the illegal cinnabar (HgS) mining area at Mount Tembaga, West Seram Regency. The sediment characteristics and types of heavy metal minerals were analyzed using grain size fraction tests, mineral identification through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), as well as metal content analysis using Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CV-AAS). The results of the analysis on the types and concentrations of heavy metals in the cinnabar mining area at Mount Tembaga identified four dominant heavy metal elements: Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), and Silver (Ag). The highest mercury concentration was found in sample GT-2 (587.76 ppm), while the lowest concentration (10.45 ppm) was found in sample GT-1. The high levels of mercury in the exposed cinnabar mineral, which has been distributed into the ecosystem, pose a risk of contamination to plants and aquatic biota. This can negatively impact food safety and may eventually lead to mercury accumulation in the human body through the food chain. The study also revealed that, in addition to mercury, two other heavy metals—lead (Pb) and copper (Cu)—were present in relatively high concentrations, approximately 36 ppm. Therefore, the mining area at Mount Tembaga, Luhu Village, has the potential to be utilized as a source of lead and copper ore.

Keywords: Mount Tembaga, mercury, XRD, XRF, CV-AAS.