The White Sands of Tutong - A High Quality Sand Suitable for Photovoltaic Applications 10.32526/ennrj/24/20250368
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Abstract
The renowned White Sands of Tutong in Brunei Darussalam, situated on the island of Borneo, have long been recognized as a potential source of glass-grade sand. As Brunei Darussalam seeks to diversify its economy, these sand deposits are gaining attention as a valuable mineral resource for sustainable development. Lithological investigations showed that the deposit is geologically more heterogeneous than anticipated, with the groundwater table close to the surface and the presence of red-brown sand indicating higher iron concentrations in current or former water-table fluctuation zones. This study investigated the chemical properties of the sand via ICP-OES, and XRF, which confirmed the high purity of the silica sand with low concentrations of iron. The glass produced from the raw sand exhibited a solar transmittance of 90.2%, making it suitable for photovoltaic applications. The sand should be shielded from any further development, like housing development and any development should carefully weigh the economic versus the ecological value of the sand as it also supports a rare tropical heath ecosystem.
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