Geological Agency Finds Possible Remains of Volcanic Eruption in the Jorong Sinkhole Area on the Edge of Sumatra

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) found suspected volcanic material or remnants of a volcanic eruption while conducting research in the sinkhole area in Jorong Tepi, Nagari Situjuah Batua, Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra.

"The Geological Agency team found suspected volcanic material that has its own layer," said Taufiq Wira Buana, a technical geologist at the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in Limapuluh Kota Regency, Tuesday, February 10, reported by ANTARA.

The Geological Agency team found the suspected volcanic material about 20 meters from the sinkhole location when researchers dug a hole for the process of taking soil samples for the purpose of testing the engineering properties of soil in the laboratory.

"So this strengthens our initial suspicion that this area is a volcanic deposit or the soil here is indeed the result of a volcano," he said.

To ensure it, the Geological Agency team will first conduct laboratory tests.

The research will later find out the mineral content in the material, including its influence on the internal erosion process.

The Geological Agency has also not been able to confirm that the volcanic material found as a result of the eruption of Mount Marapi is in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, or Mount Sago which is located on the border of Limapuluh Kota Regency and Tanah Datar Regency.

Taufiq estimates that the results of the research on the sinkhole phenomenon that occurred in Nagari Situjuah Batua will take at least one to three months.