Groundwater reserve and capacity of groundwater extraction for Ilmenite placer mining in Ninh Thuan province

Abstract

Mining ilmenite placer develops quickly along the coastal zone in the center area, Vietnam. In Ninh Thuan province, the mines are mostly using water for the exploitation. We simulated groundwater flow with uncertain parameters in order to answer if groundwater can supply a part of water demand for the exploitation of ilmenite by using GMS software. Unfortunately, as the results of simulation, groundwater is not enough to supply for ilmenite exploitation. The authors calculated the ilmenite reserves in several communes in Ninh Thuan and water demands. Comparison of water demands and ability of groundwater supply concludes that local government should make a sustainable strategy of water use to preserve groundwater.