Profile of Laterite Nickel Deposits, at Tinanggea District, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province

The research area is located in Tinanggea District, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. This study aims to determine the profile of laterite nickel deposits in the study area. The research method used consists of literature study, field sampling and laboratory analysis and data interpretation. The results showed that the profiles of laterite nickel deposits in the study area consisted of top soil, limonite zone, saprolite zone and bedrock with different thicknesses. Top soil at Station 1 is very thin in the form of clay and plant remains, while at Station 2 it is a layer of sediment (limestone) with a thickness of 0-5 meters. Based on geochemical data, it shows that Ni, SiO and MgO elements /oxides show enrichment in the saprolite zone because have mobile so its dissolve easily during the laterization process and are transported the subsurface and experience leaching so that its are concentrated in the saprolite zone. The Fe element shows enrichment in the limonite zone because the Fe element has immobile so that it is not easily transported downward and is concentrated in the upper zone, namely the limonite zone.Daerah penelitian terletak di Kecamatan Tinanggea, Kabupaten Konawe Selatan, Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan profil endapan nikel laterit di daerah penelitian.  Metode penelitian yang digunakan terdiri dari studi pustaka, pengambilan sampel di lapangan dan analisis laboratorium serta interpretasi data.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa profil endapan nikel laterit di daerah penelitian terdiri dari tanah penutup (top soil), zona limonit, zona saprolit dan batuan dasar (bedrock) dengan ketebalan yang berbeda-beda. Tanah penutup pada Stasiun 1 sangat tipis berupa lempung dan sisa-sisa tumbuhan, sedangkan pada Stasiun 2 berupa lapisan sedimen (batu gamping) dengan ketebalan 0-5 meter. Berdasarkan data geokimia menunjukkan bahwa  unsur/oksida Ni, SiO dan MgO  menunjukkan pengkayaan pada zona saprolit karena mempunyai mobilitas yang tinggi sehingga mudah larut selama proses laterisasi dan tertransportasi ke arah bawah permukaan serta mengalami pelindihan sehingga terkonsentrasi pada zona saprolit. Adapun unsur Fe mempunyai menunjukkan pengkayaan pada zona limonit karena unsur Fe mempunyai mobilitas rendah sehingga tidak mudah tertransportasi ke arah bawah dan terkonsentrasi pada zona bagian atas yakni zona limonit.   &nbsp