ILLEGAL MOLYBDENUM MINE IN KACHIN-CHINA BORDER Figure-1-

Authored by Dr. U Win, Viz Center, California, USA.-Posted by Winners Circle on May 24, 2012.

A strip mine at Chinese border in Kachin land, BurmaRecently, an interesting feature was discovered on a satellite image from March 2010; it is acontour strip mine located near the Chinese border in Kachin State, Burma. You can see it on GoogleEarth at the following coordinates: 25⁰ 51’ 11.58”N, 98⁰ 32’ 50.01’E. (Figure 1)

The contour strip mine shown in Figure 1 is located about 80 miles east of Chipwi and about 80 miles northeast of Myitkyina. Interestingly, the mine is 10 miles away from the location of a World War II plane wreck that occurred during flight HUMP piloted by Jimmy Fox of the State of Texas in the United States. The mine has an areal extent of around 250 acres and is located in an isolated area in the northeastern Chinese-Burma border regions, which is sparsely populated by Kachin people. My anonymous sources tell me the mine is operated by some Chinese groups and by the Kachin Border Guard Forces of the New Democratic Army (NDA) led by Zahkung Tingying. Some Russian technicians have also been involved in the venture.

Contour stripping involves removing overburden above a mineral seam in hilly or mountainous terrain where the mineral outcrop usually follows the contour of the land. Contour stripping is often followed by auger mining to remove more of the mineral ore. This method commonly leaves behind terraces in the

mountainsides. The image in Figure 2 shows many roads have been built following the terrain contours. Trucks are lined up for loading ore. According to an anonymous Kachin source the ore is

a molybdenum mineral. Figue-2

Molybdenum is mined in many areas as a primary ore or as a byproduct of copper and tungsten mining. About 80% of molybdenum is used in metallurgical applications, such as alloys. The ability of molybdenum to withstand extreme temperatures without significantly expanding or softening makes it useful in applications that involve intense heat, including the manufacture of armor, aircraft parts, electrical contacts, industrial motors and

filaments. Molybdenum had a value of approximately $30,000/ton as of August 2009. It maintained a price at or near $10,000/ton from 1997 through 2003 and reached, due to increased demand, a peak of $103,000/ton in June 2005. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molybdenum) Figure 3 shows the close-up pictures of activities at the mine. Figure-3

Figure-4-LOCATION OF MINE

This mine is an example of an illegal/informal trade venture of the Burmese military. Officers from the battalion to the General level have made money out of it, when in fact the revenues should be accruing to the nation. Local sources tell me that the deal was made in 2005-2006 between major General Ohn Myint and Zahkung Tingying, leader of the Kachin Border Guard. According to his colleagues of the Burmese Communist Party, Mr. Zahkung Tingying has become wealthy as the owner of hotels, houses, companies, factories, opium fields and opium processing factories. Major General Ohn Myint, one of former Senior General Than Shwe’s beloved right-hand men, has now become Minister of Industry/Cooperatives in Thein Sein’s Burmese government. Mr. Zahkung Tingying, Major General Ohn Myint’s great friend, has become a member of the Burmese parliament. Still the molybdenum mine is in full operation. (Figure 4)For the Burmese people, the latest news is the new government’s revelation that Burma owes 11 billion dollars of debt to other nations. Under a series of military occupations of Burma, such as those of the dictators Ne Win, Saw Maung and Than Shwe, the Burmese people sometimes heard about formal international trade, but they are overwhelmed by the news of illegal/informal trading partnerships with neighboring countries, especially with China. They also knew about informal (illegal) trading of natural resources by Burmese military commanders through their cronies. But they are hurt to learn that natural resources of the nation are being sold out cheaply for bribes that the military leaders have taken when the nation is so deeply in debt. It is time now that the NLD and members of the parliament, who claim to be for the people, investigate and inform the Burmese people about which countries have been sold what goods and resources and for how much money, and from which countries Burma has taken loans and for what activities. The people of Burma deserve to know these facts since they are now responsible for this $11 billion as an international public debt.Today Ali Baba (Thein Sein) and 500 thieves are talking to Japan, Italy and other countries and organizations begging to waive the nation’s debt. This reminds me of the speech of thelate General Aung San on Burma’s future: "Having to throw a sweet face to this person and to that person currying favor would be like a nation of prostitutes".

http://illegal-molybdenum-mine.blogspot.com/Special dedication to the students who assisted my research efforts back in those days in Burma. After decades later, I still have quite a bit of raw materials and new tools to generate and fill some information gaps about Burma. I will continue contributing my efforts in changing of the course for a free Burma.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08457009662445706285Winners' CircleContact me- Email-geoinvestigator@gmail.comOn Blogger since November 2010-Profile views - 1257My blogsRehabilitation of drinking water ponds in cyclone affected zonesGIS Emergency Response aftermath of Nargis CycloneBurma Missile Prototype Research Center ExposedPart 1: Burma Air Force BasesWar Crimes in Burma/MyanmarBurma Military’s Hidden Chemical Weapon FactoriesBurma's Militarization; Military Camps and Posts; and Displaced SettlementsStop (Than) Shwe Gas Project!Research on Urbanization in Burma/MyanmarIllegal Molybdenum Mine in Kachin-China BorderGeo-Spatial Visualization on Burma (Myanmar)Massive Military Built-up at Ann (Arakan), and (Than) Shwe Gas ProjectCyclone Shelters for the villages, Coastal BurmaIf ... NO FLY ZONE over Burma/Myanmar: Airfields/Airbas... will be the FIRST!Satellite Photo Interpretation of Burma's (Myanmar) Delta RegionPart 2: Expanding Air Fields in Eastern BurmaArchaeological Sites in Burma (Myanmar)

Gender MaleIndustry EducationOccupation Adjunct FacultyLocation California, United StatesIntroduction Special dedication to the students who assisted my research efforts back in those days in Burma. After decades later, I still have quite a bit of raw materials and new tools to generate and fill some information gaps about Burma. I will continue contributing my efforts in changing of the course for a free Burma.Interests visualization, image interpretation, geospatial analysis, urbanization, water resources management, geography, Burma (Myanmar), human rights