Present Status of Tin Mines in Malaysia

Abstract

The tin mining in Malaysia has been mainly based on the exploitation of placer tin deposits in "the tin belt", through the Malay peninsula from north to south. Cassiterite in placer deposits are absolutely isolated and associated with such heavy mineral sands as ilmenite, zircon, monazite, xenotime, etc.
Prospecting for placer tin is carried out by means of empire drilling called Bangka drilling. Among many mining methods, large-scale dredging and small-scale gravel pumping are quite popular in Malaysia, while the latter produces the major portion of tin concentrates. In ore dressing, sluicing with palong for rough concentrates and cleaning with huddle called lanchute are still used in most of gravel pump mines.
The writers review the tin mining, local method of ore dressing, the outline of geology and some features of tin ore deposits in Malaysia on the basis of field survey conducted during past several years.