BRIN taps hydrogeochemistry to advance mineral exploration
Hydrogeochemistry evaluates the chemical characteristics of water to determine the origin, quality, and dynamics of aquatic resource systems.
Speaking at an online panel in Jakarta on Wednesday, Iwan Setiawan, Head of the BRIN Geological Resources Research Center, noted that utilizing hydrogeochemistry for sustainable natural resource management has the potential to precisely map water quality and aquifer layers from the surface to deep underground.
“Furthermore, hydrogeochemical research can serve to monitor ecosystem viability and mitigate declining environmental health—for example, by understanding the origins of elements and water in aquatic ecosystems,” Setiawan said.
He added that this research can accelerate geothermal energy utilization by decoding the characteristics of geothermal fluid systems, which are critical for electricity generation and direct thermal energy use.
Setiawan also highlighted significant progress in the application of radon gas within earth science research.
According to him, radon—a naturally occurring radioactive gas—is increasingly used as an indicator in geological studies, disaster mitigation, and resource exploration.
“Research on radon applications holds great potential for geothermal exploration. Specifically, tracking high radon gas concentration anomalies allows us to map geological structures or fracture systems linked to heat sources in both volcanic and non-volcanic geothermal systems,” he explained.
Additionally, BRIN is leveraging these radon anomalies along active fault zones to improve geological disaster mitigation, particularly for tectonic and volcanic earthquake activity.
Looking forward, Setiawan called for expanded research capacity and cross-sector collaboration to develop integrated, technology-based geochemical instrumentation and real-time monitoring systems.
“Strategic steps to mitigate geological hazards using radon gas detection and real-time groundwater monitoring can serve as vital guidelines for regional development policies. These geochemical databases should be fundamental in formulating spatial planning and sustainable environmental protection,” Setiawan concluded.
Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Cindy Frishanti Octavia