The government has with immediate effect, placed a stop order on “black sand mining” carried out by some foreign nationals which went viral following a Facebook live feed by a Liberian lady.
Recently, it was reported that hundreds of bags of black sand were being bagged reportedly by some Chinese miners from Virginia and were ready for exportation, a situation that was uncovered by a resident of the ‘Waterside’ community in the township of Virginia.
According to the resident, hundreds of bags of sand are exported from Liberia monthly allegedly by these Chinese miners, stressing that and further wondered as to whether authority at the Ministry Mines and Energy is aware of this reported illegal exportation of black sand from Liberia.
In a two minutes video, a woman alarms about the Chinese illegally mining “Black Sand on her property in Monrovia and exporting same,” and thereby called on authority to probe those involved in the exportation of the Liberia’s black sand.
But in reaction, Information Minister, Jerolemik Piah, during Thursday’s press briefing said, “The quantity of black sand seen on social media video posted by a citizen journalist is alarming and the Government has moved in very quickly to ensuring the protection of our landscape and mineral resources”.
He added that the instruction was given by President Joseph Boakai at his just ended 3rd Cabinet meeting, mandating the Ministry of Mines and Energy to conduct thorough investigations into the black sand mining meant for export.
The Black sand also known as magnetite sand or iron ore sand, is a heavy mineral commonly found in coastal areas, experts said black sand is use in the Construction Industry because of its high iron content, it can be used as an additive in concrete and asphalt production.
The addition of black sand improves the strength and durability of these materials, making them more resistant to wear. Additionally, its magnetic properties make it useful in making magnets used in construction projects.
Black sand plays an important role in steel production because it contains significant amounts of iron oxide. Iron ore extracted from black sand is an essential raw material for steelmaking. Through smelting and refining techniques, iron ore is converted into steel, which is widely used in infrastructure development, automobile manufacturing, and many other industries.
Its high density allows it to effectively remove impurities such as heavy metals and organic matter from water sources. Black sand filters are commonly used in swimming pools, fish tanks, wastewater treatment plants, and even home water filtration systems.
Coastal erosion is a major concern in many parts of the world. Black sand can be used for beach nourishment projects to prevent erosion by replenishing lost sediment along the shoreline. Its dark color helps absorb heat from the sun, contributing to the warming process that promotes plant growth on beaches.
One of the other important use of black sand is it has shown potential for use in renewable energy production systems such as wave energy converters (WEC).
WEC harnesses the power of ocean waves to generate electricity using submerged structures that move with the movement of the waves.
The aesthetic appeal of black sand has made it popular among jewelry designers around the world. When polished or combined with other gems or metals, black sand creates unique pieces that exude luxury and sophistication.
In geothermal power plants that use steam turbines to generate electricity from underground heat sources, black sand can be used as an effective heat insulator around well casings or pipes to minimize losses.
Due to its high iron content and magnetic properties, introducing black sand into agricultural soils can improve their fertility levels by increasing nutrient availability and improving water retention.
From construction materials to water filtration systems to renewable energy production technology, the importance of black sand today cannot be overstated across a variety of industries as its versatility makes it a valuable resource with many applications that contribute to economic development while promoting sustainable practices.
