Process of Exploring, Exploiting and Mining of Metal Ores in Cao Bang During the French Colonial Period

Abstract

From the early years of the 20th century, the French have put forwards their exploring of metal mines in Cao Bang. The most important mines were mainly discovered in the highest mountain chains Pia Oac (the highest peak is of about 1,930 m). Pia Oac Ores ranged at the Northeastern regions of Vietnam covered an area of about 150 km2. Having arried at Pia Oac, the French immediately started their explorations on mountainsides, valleys and areas along the streams. The results of explorations showed, that the areas was very rich of ores and most of the ores had not been exploited. The French started then their exploitation plan, especially with tin and wolfram. Some principal mining sites were: The tin mining at Tinh Tuc (Adele concesion), Pia Oac (Saint Alexandre concession), Lung Ca (Camille), Tai Soong (Beau-site concession), Ban O (Ariane-Thedra and Ganynedo concession), Binh Duong (Marie concession)... Maybe some kinds of ores in Pia Oac region had been exploited previously, but they were largely exploited in the French colonial period. In more than 40 years, the French were able to exploit around 20,000 tons of tin ore, 3,000 tons of wolfram ore and 169 kg of gold. The French policies of exploiting resources through mining in Pia Oac remarkably affected to eco-social life of the indigenes. The French appropriated all economic benefits produced by the mining industry in Cao Bang.

(Second part)