ITB Mining Engineering Students Gain Hands-On Experience at Karangsambung Field Camp
By Muhammad Hanif Darmawan - Mahasiswa Teknik Pertambangan, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - The Mining Engineering Program at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) has successfully held a Field Camp for its 2023 cohort of students. The four-day event, which took place from August 26 to 29, 2025, was located in Karangsambung, Kebumen, Central Java, an area known as Indonesia's natural geology laboratory.
This field camp aimed to provide students with a practical and in-depth understanding of the geological phenomena they had studied in the classroom. Through this activity, students not only saw theory come to life but were also trained in essential skills for the mining world.
According to one of the participants, Aulia Karen Nugroho, a 2023 ITB Mining Engineering student, the activity left a very deep impression. "I now have a better understanding of how the geological theories learned in class can be observed directly on rock outcrops in nature," she said.

During the camp, students conducted direct observations at various rock outcrop locations in Karangsambung. They recorded data, measured rock orientations such as strike and dip, and engaged in direct discussions with lecturers and assistants about geological structures and their formation history.
"The main objectives were to study geological phenomena, describe rocks, morphology, and geological structures, as well as to practice using exploration tools like topographic maps, GPS, compasses, and a Total Station," explained Karen. She added that the most interesting experience for her was practicing field mapping directly with a Total Station.
This activity effectively bridged the gap between classroom theory and field implementation. Concepts such as plate tectonics, stratigraphy, and metamorphism, which were previously abstract, became more tangible and easier to comprehend. "By observing them directly in the field, concepts like folds and faults became more real, which strengthened my understanding," said Karen.

Beyond academic reinforcement, this field camp also provided a clear picture of the professional world in the mining industry. Geological field observation skills, such as identifying outcrops, structures, and rock conditions, are fundamental competencies required in mineral exploration activities.
Karen admitted that her hopes before the event—to see geological evidence firsthand and to practice using the tools—were fully met. "After participating in this activity, those hopes were fulfilled because I gained a clearer understanding and valuable practical experience," she concluded.
The Karangsambung Field Camp once again proves the importance of experience-based learning in producing competent future mining engineers who are ready to face the challenges of the industry.

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