{"id":20699,"date":"2026-01-04T00:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T07:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vpzajoti4c.onrocket.site\/news\/indonesias-manganese-hides-a-rare-earth-signal-but-processing-still-decides-the-game\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T11:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:37:15","slug":"indonesias-manganese-hides-a-rare-earth-signal-but-processing-still-decides-the-game","status":"publish","type":"news-archive","link":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/indonesias-manganese-hides-a-rare-earth-signal-but-processing-still-decides-the-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Indonesia&#8217;s Manganese Hides a Rare Earth Signal-But Processing Still Decides the Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peer-reviewed research from Universitas Muslim Indonesia finds manganese ores in South Sulawesi's Anabanua District contain meaningful light rare earth element (LREE) concentrations that compare favorably with global deposits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The study used petrography, X-ray diffraction, and ICP-OES geochemistry on three samples to identify LREEs including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium alongside manganese minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While the geological discovery adds to Indonesia's critical minerals potential, the lack of domestic processing capacity means any new feedstock risks flowing back to Chinese refineries, highlighting that discovery alone doesn't equal strategic independence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><em>A new peer-reviewed study led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/muhamad-hardin-wakila-40026a181\/?originalSubdomain=id\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"external-link\">Muhamad Hardin Wakila<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a> of Universitas Muslim Indonesia, with collaborators from <a href=\"https:\/\/ugm.ac.id\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"external-link\">Universitas Gadjah Mada<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a>, delivers a detailed look at an underexplored source of rare earth elements (REEs): manganese deposits in South Sulawesi. Published in the Journal of Geoscience, Engineering, Environment, and Technology (Vol. 10, No. 4, 2025), the study finds that manganese ores from Anabanua District contain meaningful concentrations of light <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/?post_type=acf-post-type&amp;p=38\" title=\"News\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"102092\">rare earth<\/a> elements (LREEs)\u2014in some cases exceeding levels reported at comparable deposits worldwide.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The takeaway is simple for non-specialists: Indonesia has more <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/graphite-ones-surprise-ree-reveal-game-changer-or-geological-footnote\/\" title=\"Graphite One\u2019s Surprise REE Reveal: Game-Changer or Geological Footnote?\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"105694\">REE<\/a> potential than commonly assumed\u2014but turning geology into supply depends on processing, not discovery alone.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/manganese-deposits-Indonesia-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#how-the-study-worked-from-rock-to-numbers\">How the Study Worked\u2014From Rock to Numbers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-they-found-re-es-riding-along-with-manganese\">What They Found\u2014REEs Riding Along with Manganese<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-this-matters-and-where-china-still-dominates\">Why This Matters\u2014And Where China Still Dominates<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#limitations-and-controversial-edges\">Limitations and Controversial Edges<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#conclusion-a-geological-opportunity-not-a-strategic-shortcut\">Conclusion\u2014A Geological Opportunity, Not a Strategic Shortcut<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-the-study-worked-from-rock-to-numbers\">How the Study Worked\u2014From Rock to Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The research team collected three manganese samples from Anabanua Village, Barru Regency, South Sulawesi, and applied a three-step analytical approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Petrography<\/strong> to identify mineral textures and alteration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>X-ray Diffraction (XRD)<\/strong> to determine crystalline mineral phases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ICP-OES <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/old-data-new-power-how-china-is-using-geochemistry-to-strengthen-its-critical-minerals-pipeline\/\" title=\"Old Data, New Power: How China Is Using Geochemistry to Strengthen Its Critical Minerals Pipeline\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"84451\">geochemistry<\/a><\/strong> to quantify individual rare earth elements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This combination allowed the authors to connect what the rocks look like under a microscope with precise chemical measurements\u2014an important bridge for investors and policymakers who need more than surface claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-they-found-re-es-riding-along-with-manganese\">What They Found\u2014REEs Riding Along with Manganese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The manganese ores host a wide range of REEs, including yttrium, scandium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium, alongside smaller amounts of heavy REEs such as dysprosium, <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/terbiums-hidden-map-shows-why-china-still-controls-the-chokepoints\/\" title=\"Terbium\u2019s \u201cHidden Map\u201d Shows Why China Still Controls the Chokepoints\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"105695\">terbium<\/a>, and yttrium. Reported concentrations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>LREEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm)<\/strong> are at levels that compare favorably with several known global deposits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HREEs<\/strong> are present but generally at lower concentrations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The authors conclude that these manganese deposits are <strong>potentially viable <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/chinas-patent-surge-and-rare-earth-innovation-supremacy-its-about-owning-the-future\/\" title=\"China\u2019s Patent Surge and Rare Earth Innovation Supremacy: \u2018It\u2019s About Owning the Future\u2019\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"80753\">LREE<\/a> sources<\/strong>, warranting consideration in Indonesia\u2019s strategic mineral planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-this-matters-and-where-china-still-dominates\">Why This Matters\u2014And Where China Still Dominates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From a <em>Rare Earth Exchanges\u2122<\/em> perspective, the geology is encouraging\u2014but it does not change the global balance overnight. China\u2019s near-monopoly in rare earth separation and refining remains the decisive chokepoint. Manganese-hosted REEs add exploration optionality for Indonesia, yet without domestic or allied processing capacity, any new feedstock risks flow back into Chinese refineries. Plus, we must factor in the intertwined trade dynamics between Indonesia and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For lay readers: finding REEs is not the same as supplying magnets or batteries. The value\u2014and leverage\u2014sit in the chemical processing steps that convert rock into usable materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"limitations-and-controversial-edges\">Limitations and Controversial Edges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The study is careful and narrow by design:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Small sample size (three samples) limits immediate economic conclusions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No beneficiation or processing tests were performed\u2014grades alone do not equal recoverability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Market viability is implied, not proven, especially given energy, environmental, and capex constraints.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The most controversial risk is over-interpretation: geochemical promise does not equal strategic independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion-a-geological-opportunity-not-a-strategic-shortcut\">Conclusion\u2014A Geological Opportunity, Not a Strategic Shortcut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wakila et al. add valuable data to Indonesia\u2019s critical minerals map, highlighting manganese deposits as a credible <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/news\/weaponized-minerals-fig-warns-of-chinas-ree-dominancebut-misses-the-supply-chain-complexity\/\" title=\"Weaponized Minerals: Fig Warns of China\u2019s REE Dominance?But Misses the Supply Chain Complexity\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"83289\">LREE<\/a> host. But the larger lesson is global: until processing capacity diversifies beyond China, new discoveries shift options\u2014not power. Indonesia\u2019s rocks may be ready; the supply chain is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Citation<\/strong>: Wakila, M.H., Chalik, C.A., Thamsi, A.B., Jafar, N., Harwan, Umar, E.P. (2025). <em>Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements in Manganese Deposits in the Anabanua District, Barru Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia<\/em>. <em>Journal of Geoscience, Engineering, Environment, and Technology<\/em>, 10(4). DOI: 10.25299\/jgeet.2025.10.4.24882<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a9!-- \/wp:paragraph --&gt;<\/p><span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New study reveals South Sulawesi manganese deposits contain significant LREE concentrations, but processing capacity remains key challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"news-type":[122,123,132],"organization":[],"regions":[315,327],"class_list":["post-20699","news-archive","type-news-archive","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-ree-news","news-type-clean-energy-technology","news-type-industrial-metals","regions-china","regions-southeast-asia"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-archive\/20699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-archive"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news-archive"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20699"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-archive\/20699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83436,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-archive\/20699\/revisions\/83436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=20699"},{"taxonomy":"organization","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/organization?post=20699"},{"taxonomy":"regions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rareearthexchanges.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regions?post=20699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}