Located in Dak Ha Commune, kaolin quarry is an interesting geosite of the Rhapsody of Fire and Water Route within Dak Nong Geopark. It is considered to bring high value for local socio-economic development.

Kaolin is a clay soil that consists mainly of the white-coloured, fine-grained mineral kaolinite. The name is derived from "Gaoling", a village near Jingdezhen in southeastern China's Jiangxi Province, and entered Europe in 1727 when used by a French geologist.

Kaolin is widely used in many industries, being the main raw material for the ceramic, porcelain and paper industries, an important additive for the food industry, and for making toothpaste, cosmetics, rubber, paint, white-light lamp, for example.

Kaoline mine in Dak Ha Commune (Dak Glong) with total area of 26,67ha

The quality of kaolin depends on its associated impurities. From the originally white color it can become yellowish, pinkish or reddish due to the iron oxide content. From being very fine-grained, it can be suitable for high quality products or just for for making lower quality pottery if the content of quartz grains increased.

Kaolin can be of two origins, one being the hydrothermal alteration of feldspar minerals, a process called kaolinization, usually found in small but high quality mines. It can also be of sedimentary origin, i.e. by river or marine sedimentation, which usually results in large but lower quality mines.

UNESCO mission at kaoline site

In Vietnam, the kaolin resource is estimated at 15 million tons, distributed mainly in the provinces of North Vietnam and the Central Highlands including Dak Nong Province. Dak Ha kaolin quarry comprises several seams of weathered claystone that alternate with layers of siltstone and sandstone.

A part of the mine of 26.67 ha was licensed for mining to the Cuong Thanh Co. Ltd. by the Dak Nong Province People Committee in 2017 for a period of 30 years. After a short period of mine preparation, the first batches of kaolin powder have been mined, processed and supplied for the domestic market.

Source: baodaknong.org.vn

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