Vol. 2 No. 1 (2016): ANALISIS KANDUNGAN MINERAL STRATEGIS UNTUK MENDUKUNG PERTAHANAN NEGARA

Indonesia has many mountainous areas that are rich in minerals, such as petroleum (oil), natural gas, nickel, copper, bauxite, tin, coal, gold, silver, and antimony/stibnite. Antimony/stibnite’s specification which has melting point up to 630.63ºC/1,167.13ºF has strategic value to support state defense and the independence of national defense industry. Antimony/stibnite can be used for sheathing TNI’s weaponry, such as munitions cladding coatings, gun barrel coatings, and rocket coatings. This research uses survey method with sampling. The samples were taken from seven zones in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra. Those samples are analyzed through laboratory analysis in order to determine antimony/stibnite’s level (in ppm) that can be used to support state defense. Research findings in seven mineralized zones show us that none of those zones has stibnite (Sb) level with economic value. Stibnite’s highest level is only 80 ppm (MDN 22 R) that is in the Pb-Zn mineralized zones in Sibinail Village. Despite of antimony level that is not economically potential, strategically speaking, it can still support state defense. According to the result of this research, elements which have economic and strategic potency are other minerals such as copper (Cu), galena (Pb), and zinc (Zn).