Black shore, Philippines. Photo source: ©© Storm Cryt
Excerpts;
Public officials and concerned citizens filed with the Supreme Court to issue a writ against a mining project to extract magnetite ore, black sand, claiming its legitimacy is suspect and the residents living near the coastline fear they will be displaced and the mine will cause saltwater flooding, soil erosion and landslides.
Petitioners claimed that the coastal areas experienced “massive and worsening erosions and shoreline retreat since 2010,” by around 150 meters from 2011 to 2012, and 100 meters from Jan. to Feb. this year in the northern regions.
Magnetite or locally termed ‘black sand,’ is an “important mineral that keep sand particles heavier and more compressed” thus serving as a natural barrier of land surfaces and fresh water deposits from seawater and ensures that seawater is at a lever lower than land surface area…
