ALUMINIUM is one of the most abundant elements in the earth crust which is normally extracted from bauxite via chemical means. In 1971, my former professor of geology at Universiti Malaya, used to lecture/explain about bauxite mining activities in Pelepah Kanan, Johor, in the 1950s and 1960s. For reasons best known to the industry, the mines had since closed operation. Now, bauxite mining is back in business, not in Johor, but in Pahang and Terengganu. This time, it has seen a lot of objections from both locals and environmentalists alike because of the concerns related to health and land.
For me, their concerns are fully justified. The authorities should take appropriate action to sort out the problems before it is too late.
What is bauxite and why is it mined in Kuantan and Jabor? Bauxite contains precious metal called Al that is widely used to manufacture industrial goods. The ore contains gibbsite [Al(OH)3] mixed with goethite (FeOOH), hematite (Fe2O3) and kaolin. Red colouration of the ore is due to the presence of hematite. A small amount of anatase (TiO2) is usually present, which is a source of Ti, an even more precious metal. For these particular reasons, bauxite gets premium price.
The bauxite in the area is formed via weathering of an igneous rock called basalt, which may even contain toxic metals that affect crops and human lives. The top one to two metres of the weathered basalt contain plant nutrients needed by crops for their growth. Once this part is removed, the area is no longer fertile for crop production. It takes thousands of years for the materials left in the mines to become normal soil again.
I have been a soil scientist for 40 years. I know exactly what it means when mining activities are carried out on agricultural land. See what had happened to Kinta Valley in Perak.
After tin mining, what was once a luxuriant tropical forest has turned into barren land not fit for agriculture. Reclamation of land affected by mining activities is a costly affair. I am not against mining activities in the country.
Far from that, I encourage such activities to be carried out due to economic reason. However, such economic activities have to be properly regulated.
The red dust in the air or deposited on the ground due to mining activities as well as transportation can be hazardous to health.
Bauxite mining in the vicinity of Kuantan and Jabor is best summarised as short-term gain for a long-term pain, unless it is properly regulated.
DR SHAMSHUDDIN JUSOP, FELLOW, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MALAYSIA, HONORARY MEMBER, BELGIAN ROYAL ACADEMY FOR OVERSEAS SCIENCES