Exploitation, evaluation of reserve and environmental impact assessment of the sand

extraction in Can Gio coastal zone

Huynh Trung Tin1), Bui Trong Vinh2)

1)
Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Geology & Petroleum Engineering, HCMUT, Vietnam
2)
Faculty of Geology & Petroleum Engineering, HCMUT, Vietnam
268 Ly Thuong Kiet, Dist. 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
E-mail: httinvn@hotmail.com

Abstract
Coastal regions in south-eastern Vietnam have been developing with a run and on a large scale in recent years. In
order to supply building materials for construction demand, the natural resources extraction activities are being
conducted rapidly to support the national economy development. To have a master plan on sand extraction, soil
investigation has been conducted to evaluate the reserve of the sand mines. As results, there are about 12 sand mines
are reserved and licensed. Total reserve of these mines is about 20 million cubic meters exploited within 5 to10
years. The coastal environmental qualities are also investigated to assess the environmental site in this area. Besides
that, numerical model was also applied to assess the effect of sand extraction on Can Gio area. Result shows that,
beach erosion and water pollution with high potential of COD, Ammonia, Iron and Coliform are occurring. The
environmental quality of the study areas will be polluted heavily when sand extraction has operated.

Keywords: Can Gio coastal area, sand extraction, environmental qualities, coastal erosion, numerical modelling.

Introduction

With high urbanisation rate, Southern Key Economic
Zone (including Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria – Vung
Tau Province, Binh Duong Province, Dong Nai
Province, Tay Ninh Province and Long An Province -
Southern Vietnam) needs a lot of building materials.
To supply building materials for construction
demand, great volume of sand has been exploited
around river mouths for the building materials as well
as the artificial beach project in Can Gio coastal areas
(Ho Chi Minh City). The aim of this study is to assess
the impacts of the sand extraction in the Can Gio
coastal area. This study area is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig 1: Sites of Sand Mines and Sampling in Can Gio Coastal Area
In Can Gio area, rain season begins from May to
October which has average rainfall is over 100
mm/month. Dry season begins from November to the
April of the next year. Average temperature in the dry
season is about 27 degree C. Average temperature
varies from 27 to 30 degree C. Average humidity is
about 80-84%. Figure 2 show average temperature in
Can Gio coastal zone.

Fig 4: The graduation of grain size in the samples

According to soil investigation result, thick of sand

layers vary from 1 to 3.5 m. Figure 5 shows
stratigraphic column at M1 and M3. Figure 6 shows
the cross section 1 & 6 at CT sand mine. It is shows
that, thick of sand layer varies from 2.8 to 3.0 m.

Fig 2: Rainfall and temperature

Study area faces to the East Sea with Dong Tranh

Gulf in the right and Ganh Ray Gulf in the left. The
entire of mining area is impacted by the semi-diurnal
tidal regime with the difference between the two tidal
crests around 0.2 to 0.5m. Fig. 3 shows the typical
tidal conditions in the study area.
M1 M3
Figure 5: Stratigraphic column at sand mines

Fig. 3: Typical tidal conditions in the study areas

Geotechnical Properties of Sand Mines

Sand extraction areas are located at sea between

Dong Tranh Gulf and Ganh Ray Gulf. The average
water depth of the sand extraction areas varies from
0.5 to 8 meters (Fig. 1). The distance from sand mines
to Can Gio beach is between 2 and 5 km. The slope of
the beach is about 0.2 degree with the southern
direction. The terrain accretion is type of estuary and Figure 6: Cross sections at CT sand mine
coastal area.
In order to investigate the geotechnical properties of Environmental Qualities around Sand Mines
sand mines, 10 bore holes were drilled up to 8 meters
from the sea surface. The thick and samples were In order to assess the environmental impacts of sand
taken and analysed (Fig. 1). The results of extraction mines, five sea water samples and five
geotechnical properties are shown in Fig.4. bottom sediment samples (M1, M4, M7, M8, M9 as
shown in Fig. 1) were taken and analysed. The
analysis results of sea water samples are shown in
Table 1 and Fig. 7.
Table 1: Environmental index of Sea Water Samples

Concentration (mg/l)
QCVN
Items
10:2008
M1 M4 M7 M8 M9

pH 6.9 7.3 6.7 7.6 7.1 6.5 – 8.5

TSS 131 97 168 35 157 50

DO 5.72 7.03 6.21 7.11 6.13 5

COD 27.41 17.72 21.53 19.15 24.72 4

NH4 (N) 6.72 2.13 7.31 4.35 7.12 0.5

As - - - - - 0.04

Zn 0.07 0.01 0.09 0.03 0.05 1

Pb 0.02 - 0.03 - 0.01 0.02

Mn 0.03 0.07 0.09 0.05 0.08 0.1

Cu - - - - - 0.5

Fe 0.21 0.08 0.17 0.11 0.13 0.1

THC 0.03 - 0.01 - 0.04 0.1

Total Fig. 7: Comparison of some concentrations of samples at the study
- - - - - 0.002
Phenol. area with QCVN
Coliform. 571 356 457 324 583 1000
In this Figure, the vertical axis is the concentration
(mg/l) and the horizontal axis is the sampling
position. The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represents M1,
Note: M4, M7, M8, and M9 respectively. From these table
M1, M4, M7, M8, M9: positions of sea water and figure, some environmental parameters such as
samples; “-”: undetermined TSS, COD, Ammonia, Iron, and Coliform are higher
than those in QCVN. All remain parameters are lower
QCVN 10:2008: Vietnamese Standard for Beach and than those in QCVN. This means that the sea water
Swimming qualities in this area need to be concerned during the
time sand extraction operating.
For the purposes of sediment assessment, the
Canadian Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines
(ISQG) has been used for the assessment of the
degree of sediment contamination. The analysis
results of marine sediment samples are shown in
Table 2 and Fig. 8.

Table 2: Environmental parameters of bottom sediment samples

Concentration (mg.kg-1) (dry weight)
Items
M1 M4 M7 M8 M9 ISQGs/TELs PELs
3.25 2.68 3.43 2.72 3.91
Arsenic 7.24 41.6
0.41 0.23 0.37 0.26 0.31
Cadmium 0.7 4.2
39.08 31.57 37.4 32.95 38.21
Chromium 52.3 160
29.43 21.48 27.61 23.35 28.91
Copper 18.7 108
21.81 19.47 23.15 21.83 20.15
Lead 30.2 112
0.17 0.11 0.15 0.1 0.13
Mercury 0.13 0.7
95.26 87.52 97.05 89.12 96.21
Zinc 124 271

Note:
M1 (1), M4 (2), M7 (3), M8 (4), M9 (5): positions of
marine sediment samples;
PELs: Probable effect levels
ISQGs: Interim Marine Sediment Quality Guidelines
Fig.8. Comparison of metal concentrations of samples at the study area with Canadian ISQGs.
It can be seen from Fig. 8 that the concentration of
arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead and zinc in all of
the samples is below the ISQG. The data for copper
in the samples are above the ISQG but well below the
PEL. The concentration of mercury is mostly equal to
the ISQG. These parameters show that the sand mines
exploitation will cause environmental pollution for
Can Gio beach and swimming.
Impact of sand extraction
Current condition
To assess the impact of sand extraction activities,
numerical modelling has been established.
Topography data input for modelling was taken from
US Army data. Monitoring data from Vung Tau and
Nha Be monitoring station were used as the
calibration data for modelling results.
Results shows that, maximum current velocity at the
Long Tau river is 1.5 m/s, at Soai Rap river is 1.3
m/s. Flow velocity on the field averaged 0.6 m/s.
TELs: Threshold effect levels
Fig. 8 shows the comparison of metal concentrations
of samples at the study area with Canadian ISQGs. In
this figure, the vertical axis is the concentration
(mg.kg-1) and the horizontal axis is the sampling
position. The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represents M1,
M4, M7, M8, and M9 respectively.
Wave-induced currents cause sediment transport
along Can Gio beach. It is shown that extraction
activities have affected on the hydrodynamics of the
study area. Current speed at border of sand mining
has increased, deviated to South East, V max = 0.56
m/s. In the other wise, in the center of the entire of
sand mining area, current speed is lower.
Wave condition
In the southwest monsoon season, wave heights are
higher than those in the northeast monsoon season.
Maximum wave height in the southwest monsoon
measured is 1.25 m. Average wave height is about 0.6
m and wave period is 2.4s. High waves often occur in
the afternoon. Wave height around Can Gio beach is
about 0.2 m. In the northeast monsoon season, wind
blows from mainland to the sea. Maximum wave
height measured is about 1.0 m. Average wave height
appears is 0.3 m and wave period is 1.8s. Wave
height around Can Gio beach is around 0.15 m. Fig. 9
show the wave distribution in the NE and SW
monsoon season.
 Summer – SW season Winter – NE season

Fig. 9: Wave distribution in SW and NE monsoon season

Bed level change

Bed level change in sand mining area has affected to
the sediment transport and tends to set a new balance
in these sites. In the NE monsoon season, wave
induced brings a large amount of sediment from
offshore to onshore, generates the sand bar next to
estuaries, speed erosion increases from 2 to 29 cm per
15 days (simulation result). Fig. 10 is the simulation
result which is comparison between the bed level
before and after extraction in the NE monsoon
season.

Fig. 10: Bed level change before and after exploitation in the NE monsoon season

In the SW monsoon season, bed level change is less change before and after extraction in the SW
than NE monsoon season. Long-shore sediment monsoon season.
transport is dominant. Fig.11 shows the bed level

Fig. 11: Comparison of bed level change before and after exploitation in the SW monsoon season

Coastal erosion
Study area is affected by NE and SW monsoon area. In the NE monsoon season, high wave
season. This effected to the erosion mechanism in this combined with high tidal cause severe erosion in Can
Gio. Fig. 12 shows the comparison of the rate of bed
level change at M1 and M10 before (black line) and
Fig. 12: Rate of bed level change at M10 (left) and M1 (right) in the NE monsoon season
In SW monsoon season, M1 and M10 are deposited.
Deposition speed in these areas is about 1-3 cm per
15 days. Fig. 13 shows the rate of bed level change at
Fig. 13: Rate of bed level change at M1 and M10 in the SW monsoon season
Conclusion
Sand mines in Can Gio coastal area will have a
significant distribution on local economic
development. Preliminary investigation results show
that, total reserve of 12 licensed mines is about 20
million cubic meters. It is assumed to extract in 5 to
10 year.
Sand extraction activities will impact on Can Gio
coastal areas such as pollution and coastal erosion. In
the present circumstance, sea water qualities have
polluted with high COD, Ammonia, Iron, and
Coliform. Bottom sediments have been contaminated
slightly with copper and mercury. The environmental
quality of the study areas will be polluted heavily
when sand extraction has operated.
The currents and waves cause sediment transport
around sand mines and Can Gio beach in different
monsoon seasons. The erosion and deposition
processes in the northeast monsoon season occur
stronger than those in the southwest monsoon season.
After sand extraction, the erosion and deposition
processes will be changed significantly. The erosion
rate reaches 29 cm/15 days in the northeast monsoon
after (blue line) extraction in the NE monsoon season.
M1 and M10 before (black line) and after (blue line)
extraction in the SW monsoon season.
season and 8cm/15days in the southwest monsoon
season.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank AUN/SEED-Net and
JICA have supported the fund for doing this research.
We also thank JICA’s staffs and HCMUT’s staffs
took the time and supported the documents to get the
fund.
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