Mining in Hong Kong
Mining in Hong Kong refers to mining activities in Hong Kong. Despite its small size, Hong Kong has a relatively large number of mineral deposits. Although some have been mined commercially, there are currently no commercial mining operations in Hong Kong.[1]
Mines
The four main mines in Hong Kong are the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine (mainly galena for lead), the Needle Hill Tungsten Mine (Wolframite and Molybdenite), the Ma On Shan Iron Mine (magnetite for iron), and the West Brother Graphite Mine (graphite).
Historical mines in Hong Kong include: (The figures indicate the length of the tunnels)
- Lin Ma Hang 0.9 km[2]
- Needle Hill 3.4 km[2]
- Lin Fa Shan, Tsuen Wan 2.3 km[2]
- Ma On Shan 23.5 km[2]
- West Brother Island extensive[2]
- Sha Lo Wan Mines 0.3 km[2] (Lantau Island)
- Mui Wo (Silver Mine Bay) (Lantau Island)
Types of mining
Iron
The largest iron deposit is found at Ma On Shan, where the Ma On Shan Iron Mine was in operation from 1906 to 1976.[1]
Lead
Silver
Tungsten
Tungsten deposits were first discovered in 1935 at Needle Hill. A mining license was issued in the same year and the mining development started in 1938 and continued through the Japanese occupation period. Mining activities increased during the Korean War when the price of tungsten rose sharply. By 1967, the tungsten price had declined and the labor cost had risen, prompting the suspension of the mining operation.
Tungsten was discovered in Sha Lo Wan, and its ore was quarried in the area in the 1950s, leading to a population increase, which reached 4,000 in 1971. The population has dropped again since the 1970s.[4]
Legal aspects
Under the Mining Ordinance Chapter 285, power to grant mining and prospecting licences is vested in the Commissioner of Mines who is, as of 2020, the
Quarries
Current and former quarries in Hong Kong include:
- Anderson Road Quarry
- Four hills of Kowloon, historically the site of granite quarries in Kwun Tong District
- Lamma Quarry
- Quarry Hill
- Shek O Quarry
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Economic Geology - Minerals and Mining in Hong Kong". CEDD.
- ^ a b c d e f "Catalogue of Hong Kong Tunnels (Up to Jan 2020)" (PDF). CEDD. January 2020.
- ^ Wood, Andrew. "The Silver Mine of Silver Mine Bay". The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^ Brief Information on Proposed Grade III Items. Item #1151 Archived 2017-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ CEDD: Mining and Prospecting Licences
- ^ Irfan, T.Y.; Nash, J.M. (January 1992). "Section 1: Aggregate Properties of Medium-Grained Granite from Turret Hill Quarry". GEO Report No. 7. Aggregate Properties of Some Hong Kong Rocks (PDF). Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering Department. p. 8.
- ^ "Information Note 30/2021. Quarries in Hong Kong" (PDF). Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering Department. March 2021.
Further reading
- Prospecting and Mining Ordinance, 1906
- "Information Note 30/2021. Quarries in Hong Kong" (PDF). Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering Department. March 2021.