Over 6.6 million cubic metres of soil and sand removed from Vietnam’s largest iron mine has left behind a man-made mountain range of sorts.
The Thach Khe iron mine in Ha Tinh Province is estimated to be about 3 kilometres long, 2 kilometres wide, 600 metres deep and has a total reserve of nearly 554 million tonnes. Located next to the coastal line of Thach Ha District, the mine had been covered by a thick layer of soil, varying from 25 metres to 130 metres deep.
The project to remove this top layer of soil from Thach Khe iron mine began on September 8, 2009, under the direction of Ha Tinh’s People’s Committee and Thach Khe Iron Joint Stock (IJS) Company as investor. Millions of cubic metres of soil and sand have been excavated from the site after almost a year.
According to Ho Duc Binh, Director of Thach Khe IJS Company, to date, over 6.6 million cubic metres of soil have been dug up from the iron mine. He added that at the current rate, the soil removal project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011 after which the first batches of iron ore will subsequently be produced.
Transferred to Thach Hai Commune from the iron mine, the amount of soil and sand mentioned above has piled up into gigantic man-made mountains. Viewing it from the highest point, the whole area seems to resemble a vast desert sloping toward the sea.
Binh said, “Once the soil removal project is completed, these soil and sand mountains will be used as a dyke to stop wind and storms, and a part of it exported if the government allows us to.”
Below are pictures of the gigantic sand mountains captured by DTiNews:
Rainwater and groundwater are always pumped out and away from the iron mine.
Over 6.6 million of cubic metres of soil and sand have been removed from Thach Khe iron mine.
A heavy truck carries removed soil away from the mine.
Removed from the mine, sand and soil are piled up into “dunes” overlooking the sea.
A flat piece of land before being piled up with sand.
Gigantic man-made mountains of sand.
