1. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 11
1. STUDIED AREA LOCATION
The studied area is located in Luc Yen
district, Yen Bai province (northwest of
Vietnam), of about 100 km northeast of Yen
Bai city by national road No. 70 and 2C,
and 200 km northwest of Hanoi Capital by
No. 3 national road (Fig 1. Studied area
location map).
Fig 1. Studied area location map
2. REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND
MINERALS
The previous results by Vietnamese
Geo-Division and foreigner Scientists
showed that the area belongs to
metamorphic limestone range, extended by
NW-SE direction, and formed marble rocks.
This limestone range has been considered
since 1965 by regional geological research
at 1:500,000 and 1:200,000 scale; mineral
investigation and prospecting works at
1:50,000 and 1:10,000 scale; and
particularly many limestone exploration
projects have been carried out recently.
According to the geological and mineral
survey results at 1: 50,000 scale of group of
sheets Yen Chau (Nguyen Van The, 2000)
and the revised results of geological and
mineral resources map at 1: 200,000 scale of
Yen Bai, sheet F-48-XXI (Nguyen Vinh,
2004) and Bac Quang, sheet F-48-XV (Tran
Xuyen, 2000), the geological structure is not
complicated. Mainly the metamorphic rocks
of Thac Ba formation and covered by the
ABSTRACT
White marble resource (known as white limestone) in Vietnam in general and in Luc Yen district, Yen
Bai province in particular is one of the strategic minerals in Vietnam. Since 1999, the white marble in Luc Yen
has been interested by researchers and investors because of its value in use and highly economic efficiency,
especially in the field of block , slab marble construction production, calcium carbonate powder and high-end
jewelry. White limestone range in Luc Yen belong to An Phu (NP - ε1 ap) formation that consists of altered
limestone, siliceous limestone, its thickness is about 450-500m, 12-14 km width, nearly 20 km length in NW -
SE. The marble mineral are mostly in white marble, white gray, white gray color. Mineral components mainly
are calcite from 97% to 100%. Until now, many mining and processing investors in Luc Yen has been successful
applied appropriate scientific, technologies to put white marble products not only meet the domestic market but
also to reach the market international.
NGUYEN Thi Thuc Anh
PhD. In Geology,
Head of Department of Mineral Resources Management
Faculty of Geology, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment,
Vice Chairwoman of Luc Yen White Marble Association.
PPaappeerr IIDD 7766
Potential of White Marble Resouces in Luc Yen District, Yen Bai
Province of Vietnam and Orientation For Development

2. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 12
marble limestone rocks named An Phu
formation (NP - ε1 ap), and the followings
are consists of the sericite - quartz schist,
thin limestone layers, and shale of Mia Le
formation, a little of unconsolidated
Quaternary materials in the valleys and
along the streams. The intrusions consist of
syenite, granosyenite of Phia Ma complex
and granite, granodiorite of Phia Bioc
complex [4], [5].
The exploration results recently showed
that Yen Bai province is one of the great
potential regions of white marble of
Vietnam. The distribution of white marble
in Yen Bai is concentrated in three main
areas, such as the 1. Tan Linh - An Phu, 2.
Vinh Lac located in Luc Yen district (Fig 2.
Geological map of Luc Yen area), and 3.
Mong Son located in Yen Binh district, in
which Luc Yen area is considered as a good
potential in scale and quality to meet the
high – end building and industrial minerals.
Geological structure of white marble
formation in Yen Bai is single incline that
formed by thick layers of dolomite and
calcite marble, with medium to coarse
crystals, and disseminated sulfide minerals
in some places. The rocks are exposed well
but the quality is quite different in marble
layers. They create a picture of mountainous
ranges along the northwest-southeast
direction. Strike and dip of marble layer is
about 40-600
 700
and developed along the
left side of the Chay river, north of Thac Ba
lake and extends from Khai Trung
commune, through Tan Linh, Yen Thang,
Lieu Do, Tan Lap, Minh Tien, An Phu,
Phan Thanh, Vinh Lac of Luc Yen district to
Xuan Long, Ninh Phuc, Mong Son
commune of Yen Binh district.
Limestone of An Phu Formation (NP -
ε1 ap), is composed of marble, altered
limestone, striped marble, silica marble,
thickness of 450-500m. Its distribution is
about of 2-14 km width, nearly 20 km
length in NW – SE direction (Fig 2.
Geological map of Luc Yen area).
Fig 2. Geological map of Luc Yen area
Quality of limestone of An Phu formation
meets the requirements of block stones for
paving and calcium carbonate powder for
mineral raw materials of industrial
applications. However, due to the major
fault systems in NW - SE and the secondary
system faults in NE - SW or in sub-
meridional direction, the scheme of the
region structure was complicated and
directly impact on the quality of paving
stones in the region. Along these fault
systems, stones were strong crushed,
cracked and can not use the whole products
for paving.
In Yen Bai province, the marble
resources can be used for construction
material is about 3.9 billion m3
, and the
reserves of 26 exploration projects up to
June 2012 in area are 110.044 million m3
of
block stone and 188.992 million tons of
calcite carbonate powder (Fig 3,4) [1], [2].

3. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 13
Fig 3. White marble in Vĩnh Lạc (Luc Yen district)
3. QUALITY OF LUC YEN WHITE
LIMESTONE AND USAGE
The white limestone ore bodies in Luc
Yen area distributed in upper subformation
of An Phu formations, generally carbonate
constitution has a relatively high natural
white, thick layers or massive form. White
and grey white limestone interbedded with
gray-white and light pink marble layers
Mineral components, mainly calcite
(97% to 100%), graphite (less common, up
to 2%), phlogopite (less common, up to
2%). Some places can find forsterite (to
20%).
Basic chemical compositions are as
follows: CaO 45.55% to 55.01%, in average
53.91%; MgO 0.18% to 7.14%, in average
0.65%; T.Fe 0.000% to 0.079%, in average
0.025%; SiO2 0.21% to 2.85%, in average
0.68%, Al2O3: 0.000-0.015%, in average
0.008%;
Mechanical and physical properties:
brightness of 77.50% to 96.30%, average
92.00%, the density in average is 2.7 g/cm3
;
saturated compression resistance strength ≥
500 kg/cm2
; saturated tensile intensity ≥ 39
kg/cm2
; soften coefficient ≥ 0.7%; bright
coefficient ≥ 90%, pH average 9.4, particle
size on 325 mesh screen from 0.05 to 4 %,
particle size average 3.7 m.
The white limestone in Luc Yen meets
the high qualitative requirements for
building materials to decorative paving
stones with block size ≥ 0.4 m3
and crushing
powder for industrial raw materials of
various fields [2], [3].
Fig 4.White marble products in Luc Yen
4. THE STATUS OF MINING AND
PROCESSING
4.1. Status in Yen Bai province
The statistics on the number of mineral
licenses in the provinces showed that Luc
Yen in particular and Yen Bai province in
general is one of region having a lot of
enterprises invested in the field of white
marble.
According to the statistics of the
Department of Trade and Industry of Yen
Bai province (2012), up to June 30th
2012,
Yen Bai province whole 28 mining licenses
on white limestone in which 14 licenses are
mining, 01 licenses is quiet; 09 licenses are
building basically mine, 04 licenses were
not operating. The exploiting activities are
open-pit in medium and large scale by semi
mechanization methods (scoop, loading,
shipping, drilling and blasting). Especially
in mines quarry, to get block the technique
used diamond wired cutting machines. The
total capacity of the mining licenses is 2.0
million m3
block stone; 13.25 million tons

4. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 14
crushed powder/year (6.91 million m3
/year).
Total of mining output of licenses during
2010, 2011 and 6 months of 2012 were
40,787 m3
of tiled stone; 5.42 million tons
of crushed stone powder. Thus, compare to
the mining licenses, mining capacity in fact
was only 1% of block stones and 16% of
stone powder. Total of investment capital is
over 1,026 billion (about 51 million USD)
and use a workforce of 1,290 people. In the
current developing progress, the application
of mechanization in mining and processing
is indispensable requirement. However,
some companies had not invested on
infrastructure and technology, so the value
and output were limited.
4.2. Mining and processing Status in Luc
Yen district
In Luc Yen district there are 22 mining
licenses in which 7 licenses are in mining
and processing to create products of block,
produce slabs, and chips for grinding
powder for industrial minerals and
construction materials; and the remaining
permits are ongoing the basic construction
of the mine and have still not come into
operation.
The consumer market is mainly
exported to China, India, Malaysia and other
countries, a small portion supplied for
cement production, carving stone and work
of art.
Facing the competition increasingly
with the leading contries in the white marble
market such as India, Italy, the Middle East,
Taiwan, China..., the enterprises in Luc Yen
had flexibilities in applying the advanced
technics and technology by importing
equipments, investing up to trillions VND,
using hundreds of local labor and
contributed tens of billion VND to the local
budgets. Exploiting technology had
innovations more and more such as cutting
layers from top to down, using diamond
wire cutting machine (Fig.5,6,7). The
mining and processing activities always
request the aim for safety, security and
protect for mineral resources. The main
products after processing are: block, slab,
tile, chip stone, powder materials and most
of percent have been exported to many
countries in around the world.
Fig 5. Chain Gang saw devices at Tuong Phu mine
(Van Khoa Investment JSC)
Fig 6. Diamond wire Cutting machine and drilling
in Tuong Phu (Van Khoa Investment JSC)
Fig.7. Products of white marble blocks
of R.K Marble Co.Ltd.
In addition to mining and processing of
enterprises, now in Luc Yen district, there
are about 17 households participating in
crafting from marble around in the Hamlet 2
(Tan Linh Commune, Yen The town) and
the junction of Khanh Hoa commune. In
recent years, the demand for Luc Yen white
marble crafting products are become
increasingly. By the advantage of white
marble resources together with gemstones,
many work of art, artistic masterpieces of
households in Luc Yen district crafted with
various designs that bring high economic
efficiency, creating a potential market in
Yen The town and Khanh Hoa commune,
attracted a lot of local and foreign tourists to

5. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 15
visit and purchase goods. The development
of marble craft have contributed to promote
Luc Yen district became a shopping center
on stone products, handicrafts and tourism.
Production of mining and processing in Luc
Yen
Year
Block
(m3
)
Slab (m2
)
Chip stone
for power
(m3
)
2011 10,500 192,000 120,000
2012 20,000 200,000 50,000
During last years, mining and processing
activities in Luc Yen were adversely
affected by the financial difficulties
happening all over the world that caused
white stone market worldwide going down.
Also, the price of raw materials and input
devices was increased, tax policy was
adjusted unstably, mechanism of tax
calculation basing on the added value of
block and processed production was really
unreasonable, the recovery rate from block
production was low. Facing these,
enterprises in Luc Yen are finding
reasonably solutions to save the resources.
Fig 8. The white marble processing factory of
Investment Corporation of Van Khoa Investment JSC
Fig 9. Cycling wastewater treatment station of
R.K Marble Co.Ltd.
Fig 10. Small slab factory in Luc Yen district, Yen
Bai provinceof R.K Marble Co.Ltd.
Fig 11.Factory in India of R.K Marble Co.Ltd.
5. ORIENTATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
1. Establishment of White Marble
Association in Luc Yen
Facing the mining and processing status on
white marble, the enterprises in Luc Yen
and local authorities in Yen Bai province
had recognized the difficulties and
challenges, and would like to cooperate in
the investing activities to enhance the
competition in the local and international
market. In this situation, White Marble
Association of Luc Yen was established on
July 30th
2012.
White Marble Association of Luc Yen is a
organization of enterprises, businessman,
householders that doing business together
on marble trading in Luc Yen district.
Main objectives of White Marble
Association in Luc Yen:
- Protecting the rights and legitimate
interests of its members;
- Cooperating in mining and
processing technology and technics;

6. Mineral Exploration & Mining Technology 16
- Support for membership in
information relating to market, law
and connecting members with the
State management agencies and local
communities.
Although the White Marble Association has
just established and organized the first
meeting on November 29th
2012, there were
many significant activities to members such
as cooperation and exchange information
related to business operations, market and
share management experiences, expanding
the cooperation with other professional
associations to strengthen the Board of
Association, promote prestige of
organization and responsibilities for
community and sustainable development of
mining and processing industry of Vietnam
and international integration (Fig.8,9,10,11).
2. Orienting the development in the
future
In the next stage, first in 2013, the
Executive Committee agreed to approve
activities and regulations for orienting the
development:
- The members will expand cooperation,
exchange in the Association and others for
investors, enterprises and groups that have
the financial capacity and advanced
technology to open the market, improve the
mining and processing technology, protect
and develop the white marble mining and
processing industry of Vietnam and mining
processing in Vietnam in general and in Luc
Yen district in particular.
- Participating in international scientific
meetings to introduce the advantages of
white marble resources of Vietnam, the
scientific and technical progress and
technology has been applied, raising the
opportunities for investor as well as
approaching success in the world of mining
and processing on white marble sector.
- Cooperation to set up processing plants to
maximize using and recovery of resources
and also give conditions opportunities for
enterprises that are unqualified to open a
factory independently still have reasonable
services to produce products that meet the
market.
- Through Luc Yen White Marble
Association, other Associations, and
prestigious institutions to develop and train
human-sources in technics and management
for white marble industry in Vietnam.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors sincerely thank the Luc Yen
White Marble Association, Department for
Control of mineral operations (General
Department of Geology and Minerals of
Vietnam) for supporting information of the
article.
REFERENCES
[1]. Department of Geology and Minerals of
Vietnam. Report on the mineral resources of
Yen Bai province. Hanoi, 2005.
[2]. General Department of Geology and
Minerals of Vietnam. Collection of
conference reports. Status on exploration,
mining, extraction, processing and use of
white marble in Vietnam and orientation of
using. Hanoi, 2012.
[3]. Phuong Nguyen et al. Report on results
of White marble exploration in Lieu Do 4,
Lieu Do Commune, Luc Yen District, Yen
Bai Province. Geological archives. Hanoi,
2010.
[4]. The Tran Van et al. Report on results of
geological mapping and mineral prospecting
group of sheets Luc Yen Chau at 1:50,000
scale. Geological archives. Hanoi, 2000.
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- XXI at scale 1:200,000. Geological
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