Meratus Geopark Introduces Diamond Mining Geological and Cultural Heritage to Students
The Meratus UNESCO Global Geopark management body in South Kalimantan is introducing the geological and cultural values of the Traditional Diamond Mining Site in Cempaka to students from the Tourism Department of SMKN 4 Banjarbaru, as part of efforts to enhance the younger generation’s understanding of regional heritage.
Biologist Ramadhan Jayusman from the Meratus UNESCO Global Geopark management body received the students for an educational visit at the site on Wednesday. The visit aimed to broaden the participants’ knowledge of the history of traditional diamond mining, the area’s geotourism potential, and the importance of preserving the region’s cultural and geological heritage.
“The Cempaka Traditional Diamond Mining Site is a cultural heritage that reflects the diamond mining activities of the Banjar people, which have been ongoing for centuries and form part of the social identity and historical development of this region,” he stated.
Jayusman explained that beyond its significant historical and cultural value, the Cempaka area also holds important geological significance as part of the Meratus UNESCO Global Geopark, a region with internationally recognised geological heritage. The alluvial diamond-bearing deposits in the Cempaka area were formed through geological processes linked to the uplift of the Meratus Mountains millions of years ago, making it a crucial location for studying the history of diamond formation in South Kalimantan.
He noted that the site’s existence serves not only as a means to study the history of traditional mining but also provides an understanding of the relationship between geological processes, natural resource availability, and the lives of the surrounding communities. The combination of geological heritage and cultural traditions that persist to this day makes the Cempaka Traditional Diamond Mining Site an attractive destination for geotourism, education, and research in South Kalimantan.
Jayusman stressed that preserving cultural and geological values for the younger generation must be continuously pursued so that the knowledge, traditions, and regional identity inherited from predecessors remain intact amidst rapid modern development. “We hope the students will gain a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural and geotourism potential, while also fostering an awareness to protect and preserve cultural and earth heritage as part of the identity of the people of South Kalimantan,” he said.