Potential of Natural Resources and Its Distribution

1. Definition of Natural Resources  

          Natural resources are all wealth in the form of inanimate objects and living things that are on earth and can be utilized to meet the needs of human life. Therefore, the value of natural resources is also determined by the value of its benefits to humans. For example, arable land can be used as a potential agricultural area so that it is a high-value natural resource.

2. Classification of Natural Resources  

           There are several kinds of natural resources that can be utilized in various ways. These natural resources can be classified according to several things. Based on the part or form that can be utilized, natural resources are classified as follows:          

a. material natural resources, that is, if the material used is natural resources.

Example: quartz sand can be melted into steel / iron that is used to meet human needs including: concrete frameworks, vehicle materials, household appliances and many more uses.

b. biological natural resources, are natural resources in the form of living things, namely animals and plants. The natural resources of plants are called vegetable natural resources, while the natural resources of animals are called animal natural resources. If we explore further, biological resources can be classified as material and energy natural resources.

Example: the things we eat directly are the material, but in the body the food provides energy, so humans have the energy to work and move.

c. natural energy resources, i.e. if the goods utilized by humans are energy contained in these natural resources.

Example: fuel oil (gasoline, diesel, kerosene etc.). Natural gas, coal and firewood are natural resources for energy. Humans use the energy produced by natural resources to cook, drive vehicles, industrial machinery, and so on.

d. natural resource space, that is the space or place that humans need in their lives. The greater the increase in population, the natural resources of space, the more difficult to obtain. Space, in this case, can mean space for livelihoods (agriculture, fisheries) where people live, playgrounds and so on. In big cities like Jakarta, natural resources are increasingly difficult to obtain space.

e. natural resource time, it is hard to imagine that time is a natural resource, time is not independent but is bound to other natural resource utilization.

Example: water is difficult to obtain in the dry season as a result, disturbing agricultural crops.

  

          Based on its formation, natural resources can be classified as follows:

a. renewable natural resources. (renewable resource)

Referred to as a renewable natural resource because nature is able to hold a new formation in a relatively fast time. Thus, these natural resources do not run out quickly. The renewal can be done in two ways:

1. renewal with reproduction. This renewal occurs in biological natural resources, because animals and plants can multiply so that the numbers always increase. Even so, if the management is not right, biological natural resources can become extinct. Once animal and plant species become extinct, nature cannot renew or reshape. Often the activities of people who are not responsible can cause the biological natural resources to decrease in quality and diversity, for example due to the influence of pollution. Conversely, by applying genetic principles, such as hybridization and genetic engineering, these natural resources can be improved in quality and diversity.               

2. renewal in the presence of cycles. Some natural resources, water and air occur in circular processes forming cycles. Thus updates are always happening. The following human activities can reduce the quality and quantity of natural resources:    

· Air pollution will reduce the quality of the earth's atmosphere, as well          

· Deforestation can reduce groundwater quality and cause flooding.          

b. non-renewable natural resources. (unrenewable resource)

These natural resources are contained in a relatively static amount because there is no addition or formation is very slow when compared to human age. Its re-establishment takes hundreds or even millions of years. Humans cannot use it for 2-3 generations. These natural resources can be used up. Example: minerals, coal, natural gas , and other fossil natural resources. Based on its usage and consumer value, these natural resources are divided into two groups:      

1. natural resources that do not run out quickly. It does not run out quickly because the consumptive value of the item is relatively small. Humans only use it in small amounts. In addition, this resource can be used repeatedly so that it does not run out quickly. Example: diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals (gold)    

2. natural resources that are quickly depleted. It runs out quickly because the consumer value of the item is relatively high. Humans use in large quantities, so these natural resources will quickly run out. Besides that, recycling is difficult. Example: natural gas, gasoline, other fuels.    

 

Most non-renewable natural resources are obtained from minerals. According to the way the minerals are formed can be divided into the following:

1. Magmatic quarrying material, which is quarrying material that occurs from magma and is located in or related to and close to magma.     

2. Limiting minerals, namely minerals formed in the diatrema and in the formation of instrusions (alley, apofisa)     

3. Precipitated excavated materials, ie excavated materials which are concentrated due to sedimentation in a river bed or pool of water through a dissolution process or not.     

4. Minerals that are the result of secondary enrichment, that is minerals that are concentrated due to the dissolution process in weathering rocks. Concentration occurs at the place of origin of the rock because the part of the mixture dissolves and is carried by water, or the concentration of minerals occurs at the surface of ground water because the mineral is carried to the lower layer after it is dissolved from the overlying rock layer.     

5. The excavated material results from contact metamorphosis, which is rock around magma which, due to contact with magma, turns into economic minerals.     

6. Hydrothermal excavation material, namely liquid magma infiltration that freezes in crevices of the structure of the earth's layer or in layers with relatively low temperatures (below 500 C)     

In Law No.11 of 1976 regarding mining, minerals are classified according to their interests for the country as follows:

a Group A, which is a group of strategic minerals. These minerals are important for national defense / security or to guarantee the country's economy.          

       Example: all types of coal, petroleum, radioactive materials, copper, aluminum (bauxite), tin, manganese, iron, nickel, and so on.

b Group B, which is a group of vital minerals. These minerals are important for fulfilling the lives of many people.           

       Example: gold, silver, magnesium, zinc, tungsten, gemstones and semi-precious stones, mica, asbestos and so on.

c Group C, which is minerals that are not included in group A or B.           

       Example: minerals that do not include industrial rock, as noted above.

3. Distribution of Natural Resources    

a. Biological natural resources

Consisting of animal and vegetable natural resources. Animal natural resources in Indonesia are very diverse in types. Spread on land and in sea waters.

Vegetable natural resources are types of plants. In addition to extensive forests, Indonesia also has plantations and agriculture that are spread almost throughout Indonesia.       

b. Distribution of mining products

The distribution of mining products in Indonesia is as follows.

1. Petroleum    

    Petroleum began to form in primary, secondary and tertiary times. Petroleum comes from microplankton found in lakes, bays, marshes, and shallow seas. After death, microplankton fall and settle to the bottom of the sea, then mix with mud called mud sapropelium. As a result of the top layers and the influence of magma heat, the distillation process occurs until crude oil occurs. The formation of petroleum takes millions of years.

The quality of Indonesian petroleum is quite good. Sulfur (sulfur) levels of Indonesian petroleum are very low, thereby reducing dirty smoke which causes pollution.

Petroleum-producing regions in Indonesia:

· Java Island: Cepu, Cirebon and Wonokromo.             

· Sumatra Island: Palembang (Gerong River and Plaju River) and Riau (Dumai).             

· Kalimantan Island: Tarakan Island, Bunyu Island, Kutai, and balikpapan.             

· Irian Island: Sorong             

 

Petroleum processing produces avgas, avtur, super 98, premium, kerosene, diesel, diesel oil, fuel oil. Petroleum plays an important role in the Indonesian economy because it can generate foreign exchange. Indonesia is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), although recently Indonesia also imports large quantities of oil.

2. Natural gas    

Indonesia has many places that contain petroleum and natural gas. Natural gas is a mixture of several hydrocarbons with small carbon content, especially methane, propane, and butane that are used as fuel. There are two types of liquefied natural gas that are traded, namely LNG and LPG. LNG is an abbreviation of Liquified Natural Gas (liquid natural gas) consisting of methane and ethane gas, requiring very cold temperatures to be stored as liquid. Liquid natural gas is produced in Arun and Badak. Furthermore, exported to Japan, among others. LPG stands for Liquified Patroleum Gas (liquid petroleum gas) consisting of propane and butane gas. This LPG is used as a fuel for gas stoves or other heaters.

 

Oil and gas have advantages compared to other energy sources, namely:

· Petroleum and natural gas have high heating values             

· Oil and gas produce a variety of fuels             

· Petroleum can produce various kinds of lubricants             

· Petroleum can be used as petrochemical raw materials, such as textiles and plastic materials             

· The liquid nature of petroleum is more practical because it is easy to carry and store in various forms.             

3. Coal    

Derived from tropical plants in prehistoric times (carbon age). These plants, including types of ferns. The plant is buried until it is in another layer of sedimentary rocks. The process of coal formation is also called incolence (charcoal period) which is divided into two namely biochemical processes and metamorphosis processes.

 

 

       

 

           The biochemical process is the process of coal formation carried out by anaerobic bacteria and the remnants of plants which become hard because of their own weight. So there is no increase in temperature and pressure. This process causes plants to turn into peat (turf).

           The process of metamorphosis is a process that occurs due to the influence of very high pressure and temperature and lasts for a long time. In this process there are no more bacteria.

 

 

            The coal mining areas in Indonesia are as follows:

· Ombilin near Sawahlunto (west sumatra) produces young coal, which is easily destroyed.             

· Acidic hills near Tanjung Enim (Palembang) produce young coal into atracites due to the influence of magma.             

· West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan (Sea Island / Sebuku)             

· Jambi, Riau, Aceh and Papua             

Coal production in Indonesia continued to increase from 76.8 million M tons in 2000 to 68.6 million M tons in 2002. Of this amount, part of it was to meet domestic needs and the rest was exported.

4. Clay    

    This soil contains 65% clay, its grains are smooth so that it is dense and difficult to absorb water. This clay is found in the lowlands on the islands of Java and Sumatra.

5. Kaolin      

    Formed from weathering granite rocks. There are many of these rocks around the mountains of Sumatra.

6. Limestone (limestone)    

    Limestone is formed from weathering coral animal nests. This stone is many in the mountains of a thousand and kendeng mountains.

7. Quartz Sand    

    Quartz sand is formed from weathering rocks that drift and then settles in the area around rivers, beaches, and lakes. Quartz sand is abundant in Banda Aceh, Bangka, Belitung and Bengkulu. Iron Sand

8. Iron sand     

Is sandstone that contains a lot of iron value. Many are found in Cilacap Beach, Central Java.

9. Marble or marble     

    Derived from limestone that has changed shape and apparently, so it is a very beautiful rock after being rubbed and smoothed. Marble is widely available in Trenggalek, East Java and the Bazat Region (Central Java).

10. Agate or agate                       

Is a rock or mineral that is quite hard. Agate colors vary, among others: red, green, blue, purple, white, yellow and black. This stone is used for jewelry and is widely available in mountainous areas and around streams.

11. Bauxite                         

In Indonesia there are many on the islands of Bintan and Riau. Bauxite from Bintan is processed in North Sumatra, the Asahan project. The Asahan Project is also a center for waterfalls on the Asahan River.

12. Tin                       

      The tin producing regions are: Bangka, Belitung and Singkep Islands, which produce more than 20% of the world's white tin production. In Muntok there is a tin smelting plant. There are two types of tin, primary and secondary (alluvial) tin. Primary tin is tin that settles first in granite rock. Secondary (alluvial) tin is lead deposits that have moved from their original place due to weathering and erosion.

 

13. Nickel                       

       There are around Lake Matana, Lake Wouti, and in Kolaka (South Sulawesi)

14. Copper                       

       There are in Tirtomoyo and Wonogiri (Central Java) Muara Sipeng (Sulawesi) and Tembagapura (Papua)

15. Gold and Silver                       

Is a precious metal. Gold and silver mining centers are located in the following areas:

· Tembagapura in Papua      

· Batu Hijau in West Nusa Tenggara      

· Tasikmalaya and Jampang in West Java      

· Simau in Bengkulu      

· Logos in Riau      

· Meulaboh in Nangroe Aceh Darusalam      

Production and sales of silver and gold continued to increase. Gold production and sales increased from 117,581 kg in 2000 to 123,165 kg in 2002.

16. Sulfur                       

There are in the Mount Talaga Bodas Region (Garut) and in volcanic craters, such as in Dieng (Central Java)

17. Maan                       

There are in Kliripan (Yogyakarta), Doi Island (Halmahera), and Karang Nunggal (south of Tasikmalaya)

18. Phosphate                       

There are in Cirebon, Mount Ijen, and Banyumas (green phosphate)

19. Iron                       

In high temperatures, iron ore is mixed with coke and scrap metal. The mixing is arranged in such a way that the combustion process is evenly distributed. Impurities in iron ore can be removed by reducing (taking oxygen from iron ore). The combustion process in high temperatures, produces liquid. Then the liquid is printed in a certain form. Steel is iron which has a low carbon content or mixture.

20. Mika                       

            There are on Peleng Island, Banggai islands in Maluku.

21. Tras                       

            Located in the mountains of Muria, Central Java

22. Diamond                       

            Found in Martapura, South Kalimantan.

23. Other mining products                       

       Other mining products include: asbestos, graphite. Wolfram. and platinum.

· Asbestos is found in Halmahera, Maluku and is processed in Gresik, East Java.     

· Graphite in Payakumbuh and around Lake Singkarak, West Sumatra,     

· Wolfram on Singkep Island (Riau),     

· Platinum (white gold) in the Verbeek Mountains in Kalimantan