A landslide in Tibet

Adrian Moon

Part I: Introduction My thanks for comments and additional information to Robert Barnett, Professor of Contemporary Tibetan Studies, Columbia University and Yeshi Dorje, Voice of America Tibetan Service, who by studying place names in media reports of the landslide was able to find the correct location of the landslide On the 29

th March at about 6.00 am Beijing Standard Time (GMT: 28 March 2013, 22:00 hrs) a

landslide initially reported as being 3 kilometres long and containing 2 million cubic meters of mud, rock and debris, buried a mining camp belonging to Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd., in

Meldrogunkar County (མལ་གྲོ་གུང་དཀར་རྲོང་), about 39 miles (63 km) East North East of Lhasa

killing 83 people. There were no survivors. Of those killed two were Tibetan, the remainder from China, including two women. Additionally it was reported that “five excavators, five pick-up trucks and an SUV” were destroyed.

1

An explanation of the sources used in this account is necessary for reasons that will become apparent. Like other significant natural disasters there was a considerable media presence. Still and video photographers visiting scenes of natural disasters usually have no special knowledge or professional interest in the subject and are largely concerned with taking visually attractive or dramatic scenes not those that might be scientifically relevant. However a sufficient number of photographers and picture editors, with some literally looking for a new angle, will by a photographic version of the shotgun effect produce images that cover most of the disaster area. An important area that is often omitted from the visual reporting of landslides is its source because it is usually some distance from the disaster area and can involve difficulty or even danger to reach. In Tibet the media is severely censored and generally retailed through the national news service Xinhua. In the case of this disaster the following censorship instructions have been leaked

The following censorship instructions, issued to the media by government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Central Propaganda Department: Regarding the natural massif landslide with occurred at the China Gold Group’s mining area in Lhasa, use Xinhua wire copy and information issued by authorative departments as the standard. Write reliably. Objectively and accurately report on the disaster. Cover disaster relief promptly and abundantly. Properly guide public opinion. Without exception, do not report or speculate on related sensitive issues. Do not send journalists to the scene to investigate or report [live]. (March 30, 2013)

中宣部：对中国黄金集团位于西藏拉萨的矿区发生山体自然塌方一事，要以新华社通稿和权

威部门发布的信息为准，稳妥握管，客观准确报道灾情，及时充分报道救灾工作，正确引导

舆论，对相关敏感问题一律不作报道炒作，不派记者到事发地采访报导。2

The effect of this will be commented on later. Because no detailed maps have been released and the mine was owned by Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Ltd most commentators have assumed that the disaster took place at the

large Gyama (རྒྱ་མ་ Ch: Jiama) copper gold polymetallic mine.3 which is also owned by Tibet

Huatailong Mining Development Ltd.. The main mining area of this complex is at 29°41'47.44"N 91°45'7.00"E. In fact the landslide took place in the neighbouring valley which although it is within the Jiama Exploration License Boundary is outside the Jiama Mining License Boundary.

4

China Gold International’s press releases only say it is in the ‘Exploration Area’.5 At present

the name of the operation where the landslide took place is not known to this writer. This has resulted in some difficulty and confusion in naming the disaster. Usually it has been reported as taking place at Gyama, or Jiama. Chinese reports state that the nearest

village is Zibug6 (གཟི་སྦུག་ Ch: Sibu) which is, according to Wikimapia, a little further down the

connecting valley at 29°41'1.60"N 91°49'16.74"E. Wikimapia names the village at the foot of the valley where the landslide took place as Dokha (མདྲོ་ཁ་ Ch: Duoka 29°40'33.93"N

91°48'38.37"E). Zibug is a place of historic significance and for a time under Chinese administration had been classified as a Xiang (township), the centre of a minor administrative unit, and so presumably continues to be used as the general name for that group of villages. A China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. Press release states that the landslide occurred at the Ze Ri Mountain and Pu Lang Valley.

7 ‘Ze Ri’ reverse transliterated back into Tibetan from

Pinyin is Tseri (རྩེ་རི) ‘Pu Lang’is probably Pulong or Phulong ‘Upper Valley’.8 The valley shall

provisionally be called the Phulong Valley in this account. Due to uncertainty over names this writer has avoided giving a name to this event.

1. Dozens trapped in mine area landslide in Tibet, Xinhua, Beijing, 29 March 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-03/29/c_132271976.htm?>. This report appears to be the first on this event as recorded by the News Now aggregator of Tibetan news, timed at 29 March 2013: 11:36 UST. 83 buried in landslide in Tibetan mining area, Xinhua, Beijing, 29 March 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-03/29/c_124522149.htm>. Tibet mine landslide: Rescue workers recover more bodies, BBC, London, 1 April 2013, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21992525>. 2. Ministry of Truth: Tibet Mine Landslide, China Digital Times, Berkeley, 30 March 2013, <http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/03/ministry-of-truth-tibet-mine-landslide>. 3. News of the Tibet gold mine landslide, The Landslide Blog, David Petley (Durham University), AGU, Washington, 30 March 2013, <http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2013/03/30/news-of-the-tibet-gold-mine-landslide> (the writer of the present account must take responsibility for the inaccurate location given in this

blog post as shown by the acknowledgement at the start of it). 藏王松赞干布故乡被疯狂开矿，

山体塌方却被统一口径是“自然灾害”, Woeser Middle Way blog (Tsering Woeser), Beijing, 30

March 2013, <http://woeser.middle-way.net/2013/03/blog-post_30.html>,从两年前的Google地球

和地图，看甲玛矿区令山河破碎, Woeser Middle Way blog (Tsering Woeser), Beijing, 3 April

2013, <http://woeser.middle-way.net/2013/04/google.html>, Mining tragedy casts shadow over industrialising Tibetan plateau, Gabriel Lafitte, thethirdpole.net, London-Delhi-Beijing, 4 April 2013, <http://www.thethirdpole.net/mining-tragedy-casts-shadow-over-industrialising-tibetan-plateau>, Disaster in Gyama draws attention to impact of mining in Tibet, International Campaign for Tibet, Washington, 5 April 2013, <http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/disaster-gyama-draws-attention-impact-mining-tibet>. 4. Resource update report on the Jiama Copper-Polymetallic Project in MetroKongka County, Tibet Autonomous Region The People’s Republic of China, Behre Dolbear Asia, Inc., Denver (CO), 16 March 2012, p. 15, <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/i/pdf/C-RestatedJiamaResource16Mar12.pdf>. Pre-Feasibility Study for the Phase II Expansion of the Jiama Project, Minarco-MineConsult, Hong Kong, 12 November 2012, p. 18, <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/i/pdf/E-PhaseIIJiamaResource12Nov12.pdf>, parent page Jiama copper gold polymetallic mine, China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd, Vancouver, accessed 8 April 2013, <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/s/Jiama.asp>. 5. China Gold International Reports on Landslide at Jiama Mine's Exploration Area, China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd, Vancouver, 30 March 2013, <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/s/News.asp?ReportID=578375&_Type=News-Releases&_Title=China-Gold-International-Reports-on-Landslide-at-Jiama-Mines-Exploration-Ar...>. 6. Spelling from ‘The New Pilgrims Guide Book of the Land of Snow: Lhasa Area Pilgrim’s Guide Book’, Nationalities Publishing House, 2004 (in Tibetan); e-mail Yeshi Dorje, 10 April 2013. This is the same spelling and transliteration the anonymous contributor to Wikimapia used

<http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=29.683784&lon=91.821327&z=16&m=b&show=/26615727/Zibug>. 7. China Gold International Reports on Landslide at Jiama Mine’s Exploration Area, China Gold International Resources Corp Ltd, Vancouver, 30 March 2013, <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/i/pdf/2013-03-30_NR.pdf>. Parent page <http://www.chinagoldintl.com/s/Home.asp>. 8. E-mail, Yeshi Dorje, 8 April 2013.

Part II: The Landslide

[Fig. 01] View of the Phulong Valley. Cirque at the top. Red line: the landslide, outline not exact. Dashed red line largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque. North at top. Ground length of image width 1.33 miles (2.15 km): Google Earth, 29°41'58.63'' N 91°46'15.35'' E, Eye alt 1035 km, image 7 December 2010, dl 8 April 2013 The source of the landslide marked by the red dashed line represents the maximum theoretical extent. Probably the major part of the landslide occurred in the greyish section to the south which possibly represents, in this 2010 image, a fairly consolidated or stable scree. This appears to be obscured in officially released images of the upper part of Phulong valley by the southern edge of the cirque. The solid red outline of the landslide is not definitive particularly regarding the precise edges along the main channel and the alignment and border of the toe.

Although official Chinese sources have not revealed the precise location or path of the landslide press photographs taken at ground level combined with Google Earth images enable a reasonably comprehensive outline of the event to be built up. The Phulong valley is a glacial formation 1.3 miles (2.2 km) east of the main Gyama mine, orientated SSE to NNW with the Tseri mountain at the northern end. The south facing front of the Tseri mountain, where it meets the northern end of the Phulong valley, is a neat glacial cirque or corrie (29°42'16.58"N 91°45'55.40"E). The valley travels 1.2 miles (1.88 km) SSE where it meets a smaller valley coming in from the West (29°41'25.85"N 91°46'44.27"E). Where the two valleys meet there is a distinctive curved projection of rock and further up on the southern side of the western valley, a saw-toothed rock formation. These can be used as orientation markers when studying photographs of the lower end of the landslide.

[Fig. 02] Curved rock projection at junction of Phulong and western valleys. Saw-toothed

rock formation on left. Facing south west: 直击西藏墨竹工卡县山体滑坡灾害救援现场,

Xinhua, Beijing, 1 April 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2013-04/01/c_124525554_4.htm>.

[Fig. 03] Phulong and western tributary valleys junction. Curved rock projection centre above the tributary river. Saw-toothed rock formation towards bottom left. Ground length of image width 469 yards (429 metres): Google Earth, 29°41'20.46'' N 91°46'42.23'' E, Eye alt 5.79 km, image 7 December 2010, dl 8 April 2013

The main valley turns East South East and ends at the village of Dokha 2.1 miles (3.4 km) further on (29°40'33.93"N 91°48'38.37"E). The landside had its source at the western side of the cirque. No still photographs have been released of this area although it is partially captured in video clips. The most complete contains panning shots of the whole length of the landslide and a video interview, in Chinese, with Dorje, a Tibetan geologist from the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

6 They show part of the western

side of the cirque in low resolution, and the most important part of the source in the cirque is probably hidden from view by the projecting edge. Even the group accompanying Dorje only went half way up the valley, or about 930 yards (850 metres) short of the cirque.

[Fig. 04] [Screenshot]: 西藏墨竹工卡县山体滑坡救援预防次生灾害, CCTV-鳳凰衛視

(Phoenix Satellite Television), Hong Kong, 4 April 2013, <http://v.ifeng.com/news/society/201304/dbe3b53e-cab2-4dad-86d2-4e1bb60a96c2.shtml>.

[Fig. 05] [Screenshot]: 西藏山体滑坡事故已过黄金救援期 搜救继续, 荆州网络电视,

(V.JZNEWS), Jingzhow, 1 April 2013, <http://v.jznews.com.cn/index.php?r=video/index/132047>.

On the Google Earth satellite image [Fig. 1] the source of the landslide is marked by a red dashed line representing the maximum possible extent. The major part of the first phase of the landslide probably took place in the greyish area in the southern part of the dashed area which possibly represents consolidated or stable scree. This appears to be obscured in officially released images of the upper part of Phulong valley by the southern edge of the cirque. The landslide debris travelled down the cirque, probably gaining mass from dislodged and fractured older layers of scree and rock as it continued and reached the head of the valley a linear distance, as calculated by a Google Earth Elevation Profile measurement, of about 822 yards (752 metres) and a drop of 431 yards (395 metres).

At the head of the valley some of the debris travelled a short distance up the other side of the cirque forming a mound (I think there’s a proper term for this) but mostly continuing down the valley collecting more debris on the way.

[Fig. 06] [Screenshot] Facing North North West up the Phulong valley with Tseri mountain and the cirque in the centre. Landslide debris mound (pale feature) on the right. Also

shows that the visible debris is fairly solid. [Screenshot]: 西藏墨竹工卡县山体滑坡救援预

防次生灾害, CCTV-鳳凰衛視 (Phoenix Satellite Television), Hong Kong, 4 April 2013,

<http://v.ifeng.com/news/society/201304/dbe3b53e-cab2-4dad-86d2-4e1bb60a96c2.shtml>.

The landslide’s forward movement was halted at the bend in the Phulong valley where it piled up against a mountain (29°41'23.75"N 91°46'46.10"E) continuing into the bend for only a short distance. According to the Google Earth Elevation Profile for the landslide length as delineated in Fig. 1 the total distance covered was 1.76 miles (2.84 km) with a 2,490 foot (759 metres) drop. In the details released to the media from a report carried out for the Ministry of Land and Resources the drop was calculated as 824 metres. Initially “300,000 cubic meters of loose stone and soil triggered the landslide” finally “leaving 2 million cubic meters of debris spread across 2 kilometers”. The original Xinhua media report in Chinese, published on the fifth of April and the fairly loose English translation published the following day are copied below.

西藏公布墨竹工卡县滑坡灾害形成原因

2013年04月05日 19:37:03

来源： 新华网

新华网拉萨４月５日电（记者王军）西藏墨竹工卡县扎西岗乡山体滑坡灾害现场救援指

挥部５日公布《关于西藏“３·２９”滑坡灾害形成原因的论证意见》。《意见》认为

，这次滑坡灾害是在地形陡峻、岩石碎坡、冰雪冻融强烈等因素综合作用下形成的一起

特大型滑坡—碎屑流地质灾害。

以国土资源部高级咨询中心研究员岑嘉法为组长的专家组形成的《意见》认为，这

次山体滑坡灾害成因有四点。

一是滑坡位于普朗沟源头，地形陡峻，坡度达４２－４５度，呈“Ｖ”型狭长沟谷

，滑坡源头到堆积区长约１９８０米。滑坡后缘高程５３５９米，前缘高程４５３５米

，高差８２４米。

二是西藏地质条件复杂，推覆构造、滑覆构造发育，新构造活动强烈。出露地层主

要有多期形成的火成岩、沉积岩，岩石蚀变强烈，岩体破碎。表层第四系主要为块碎石

层，被当地群众称为“至日山”（意即“碎石山”）。

三是去年１１月至今年２月期间，极度干燥；３月以来，连续多次降雪，雪水渗透

，降低斜坡体稳定性。

四是滑坡的启动过程系后缘残破积体失稳滑动，推动前缘松散堆积体，形成整体滑

动。

综上所述，专家组认为这次滑坡灾害是在地形陡峻、岩石碎坡、冰雪冻融强烈等因

素综合作用下形成的一起特大型滑坡—碎屑流地质灾害。

专家组还认为，滑坡灾害发生后，滑坡体后缘临空，出现多条拉张裂缝，最长达６

００米，形成不稳定斜坡，体积约３５０万立方米。４月１日以来多次发生局部滑动，

对下游２０００多名施救人员的生命安全构成威胁。

《意见》因此建议，加强对滑坡灾害的监测预警，并高度重视全面排查居民区、工

程建设区、工矿企业、旅游区和临时人员居住地等场址的地址安全，加强监测预警。

３月２９日６时许，墨竹工卡县扎西岗乡普朗沟泽日山东坡发生滑坡，造成６６人

死亡、１７人失踪。

[新华网 (Xinhua), Beijing, 5 April 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-

04/05/c_115279105.htm>]

Snowmelt, crumbling rock blamed for landslid

e

Updated: 2013-04-06 00:32 By Wang Huazhong in Lhasa ( China Daily)

Investigators have concluded that melting snow seeping into disintegrating rock caused amassive landslide last week that killed 83 people in a mining area near Lhasa, the Tibetautonomous region.

According to a report released by the rescue headquarters on Friday, steepness of the slope,disintegrating rock and water from snowmelt combined to cause the landslide.

The report was compiled by a team of six experts led by Cen Jiafa, a researcher at a consultingcenter under the Ministry of Land and Resources.

The landslide occurred along a 42 to 45 degree slope in a V-shaped valley.

The report said about 300,000 cubic meters of loose stone and soil triggered the landslide onthe east slope of Zeri Mountain, in Zhaxigang village, Maizhokunggar county.

At about 6 am on March 29, the land gave way and rushed down from an altitude of 5,359meters on the mountainside to 4,535 meters, leaving 2 million cubic meters of debris spreadacross 2 kilometers, according to the report.

Part of the slope was hollowed after the landslide and long cracks in the mountain surface werevisible - the longest was about 600 meters.

The experts said the geological conditions in the area are complicated.

The bare layer of land is made of igneous and sedimentary rocks alternating with each other,and both are disintegrating.

The weather had been extremely dry from November to February. Water from melting snow wasabsorbed into the mountainside and undermined the slope's stability.

The team suggested that monitoring efforts should be improved to prevent further geologicaldisasters.

It also suggested efforts be made to locate and mitigate all similar risks in places includingresidences, construction sites, mining companies and tourism spots.

[China Daily, Beijing, 6 April 2013, web edn., <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-04/06/content_16377965.htm>]

6. [Video] 西藏墨竹工卡县山体滑坡救援预防次生灾害, CCTV-鳳凰衛視 (Phoenix Satellite

Television), Hong Kong, 4 April 2013, <http://v.ifeng.com/news/society/201304/dbe3b53e-cab2-4dad-86d2-4e1bb60a96c2.shtml>. Earlier reports relating to Dorje, whose second name I have been unable to discover: China’s First Tibetan CAE Member, Dorje & Du Gangqiang, China's

Tibet, Beijing, ? ? 2007, web edn., <http://2007.tibetmagazine.net/en/dorjep.htm>, Tibet to step

up exploitation of mineral resources, vowing to be "rational", Tibet Human Rights, Beijing, 15 March 2010, <http://en.tibet328.cn/02/06/201003/t574338.htm>.

Part III: Images - general views of the landslide

[Fig. 07] View of the landslide taken from the south eastern end of the Phulong valley Very approximately 29°41'32.98"N 91°46'43.26"E facing NNW up the valley, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the cirque: No survivors, bodies found after Tibet landslide, Xinhua, Beijing, 30 March 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-03/30/c_132273063_3.htm>.

[Fig. 08] ] View of the landslide taken from near Fig. 07: 西藏墨竹工卡县发生山体滑坡 武

警官兵全力搜救, 新闻中心-中国网 (News China), Beijing, 2 April 2013,

<http://news.china.com.cn/live/2013-04/02/content_19339997.htm>.

[Fig. 09] A search team in the debris. This damp strip on the eastern edge of the generally dry debris field appears to be just above the generator at centre right in Fig. 07 and more clearly in Fig. 08. It is possibly the result of disturbance by tracked vehicles and maqchinery. This

photograph also gives a good impression of the character of the debris: 拉萨矿区山体滑坡失踪

人员身份确定 搜救仍在继续, 云南信息港, Yunnan, 30 March 2013,

<http://news.yninfo.com/tu/201303/t20130330_2025218_1.html>.

[Fig. 10] On the surface of the landslide facing SSE down the valley. Photograph taken at,

approximately 29°41'28.81"N 91°46'42.04"E: 拉萨甲玛矿区山体滑坡83人被埋 消防部队全力施

救, news365.com, , 30 March 2013,

<http://www.news365.com.cn/xwzx/gd/201303/t20130330_1043776.html>. The curved projecting rock structure and saw-toothed features (Figs. 2 & 3) can be seen in the top right quarter. The man in the foreground is part of a ground penetrating radar team searching for bodies in the debris. Another photograph showing a different member of a ground penetrating

radar team: 直击西藏墨竹工卡县山体滑坡灾害救援现场, 新华网 (Xinhua), Beijing, 1 April 2013,

<http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2013-04/01/c_124525554.htm>.

[Fig. 11] Few photographs give an idea of the scale of this landslide. This does.

Photograph taken from approximately 29°41'32.64"N 91°46'47.92"E, facing SW: 西藏一

矿区发生山体塌方八十余人被埋 生还希望渺茫, 东方网 (Eastday.com), Shanghai, 1 April

2013, <http://photo.eastday.com/hdqxb2013/20130401_1/index.html>.

[Fig. 12] A photograph that gives a hint of the quantity of debris deposited. Photograph taken at approximately 29°41'34.14"N 91°46'42.53"E. Facing NNW. Related photographs

Figs. 07 – 09: 西藏一矿区发生山体塌方八十余人被埋 生还希望渺茫, 东方网

(Eastday.com), Shanghai, 1 April 2013, <http://photo.eastday.com/hdqxb2013/20130401_1/index.html>.

[Fig. 13] Securitymen clearing manmade detritus. Behind one of the few images online of the landslide’s toe. Because it is not known how steep the ground rises below the landslide an accurate estimation of its depth cannot be made. However Google Earth does not suggest a steep incline or step at that point so the landslide’s thickness appears to be considerable. Photograph taken from approximately 29°41'27.27"N 91°46'55.84"E,

facing west: “3·29”矿难现场拉萨警备区民兵应急分队全力救援, 新华网 (Xinhua), Beijing, 3

April 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2013-04/03/c_124538648_6.htm>.

[Fig. 14] Securitymen clearing detritus near the landslide toe. Facing west: “3·29”矿难现场

拉萨警备区民兵应急分队全力救援, 新华网 (Xinhua), Beijing, 3 April 2013,

<http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2013-04/03/c_124538648.htm>.

[Fig. 15] Securitymen making a road. Landslide toe in background, facing west: “3·29”矿

难现场拉萨警备区民兵应急分队全力救援, 新华网 (Xinhua), Beijing, 3 April 2013,

<http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2013-04/03/c_124538648_5.htm>.

[Fig, 16] Facing almost due east, perhaps a few degrees ESE from near the eastern corner of the landslide’s toe at approximately 29°41'27.99"N 91°46'47.99"E. An emergency access road from the neighbouring valley to the North East can be seen on the left of the photograph. The curved stretch of road in the valley is probably at 29°41'21.38"N 91°47'2.44"E. Dokha (29°40'33.93"N 91°48'38.37"E) is out of sight at the end of the valley. The snow capped peak on the right is at 29°39'27.86"N 91°49'51.26"E, the lower peak at the

forward end of the curved ridge 29°39'49.53" N 91°49'14.47"E: 武警交通部队全力搜救拉萨

3·29滑坡被困人员[图], 云南信息港, Yunnan, 2 April 2013,

<http://news.yninfo.com/tu/201304/t20130402_2028216.html>. A similar photograph: 西藏山

体滑坡事故已发现21人亡 救援部队冒雪救援, 中央人民广播电台 (China National Radio),

Beijing, 1 April 2013, <http://native.cnr.cn/pic/201304/t20130401_512271483.html>.

Part IV: The destroyed camp

In the 8

th October 2012 Google Earth image the traces of human presence on the floor and

sides of the Phulong valley are largely unchanged from the earlier image of 7 December 2010. The network of vehicle tracks is similar and the possibly metalled road from Dokha, which reached 29°41'21.38"N 91°47'2.44"E (See ‘curved stretch’ in Fig. 16), had not been extended further. In 2010 apart from the tracks the only signs of human habitation were nomads’ animal pens. In December 2012 a series of hairpin bends bring a new road down from the eastern side of the cirque to its base. A couple of blue ridge tents similar to those supplied in Chinese disaster relief programmes and were to be used after the March landslide have been set up near a pool of ice melt below the cirque.

[Fig. 17] Below the cirque, Phulong valley 29°42'7.73"N 91°46'22.67"E. Ground length of image width 306.9 yards (280.6 meters): Google Earth, 29°42'08.47'' N 91°46'21.64'' E, elevation 4792 m, Eye alt 5.30 km, image 7 December 2010, dl 10 April 2013

[Fig. 18] Below the cirque, Phulong valley 29°42'7.73"N 91°46'22.67"E. Extra vehicle tracks and two blue ridge tents by a pool of ice melt: Google Earth, 29°42'08.47'' N 91°46'21.64'' E, elevation 4792 m, Eye alt 5.30 km, image 8 October 2012, dl 10 April 2013

Between October 2012 and late March 2013 a camp of mining employees was established in the Phulong valley. The post landslide reports record 83 people living in four tents along with 'five excavators, five pick-up trucks and an SUV'

7 I have not seen any reports stating the

purpose of this camp but it might be part of the expansion of the Gyama mine system that has taken place since 2010, although it is not known if this was a exploratory excavation or the initial phase of a full scale mining operation. The location of the camp can be inferred from the area of most intense search activity and the one piece of wreckage visible above the landslide, an excavator. The camp seems to have been near the curved rock at the base of the valley (Figs. 02 – 03) with an approximate central grid reference of 29°41'27.57"N 91°46'42.96"E. Sited on flat ground near some animal pens it is not known which, or perhaps both, sides of the stream the tents were pitched.

[Fig. 19] The damaged excavator from the destroyed mining camp. Approximate location 29°41'27.80"N 91°46'42.22"E: 83 workers buried alive as landslide measuring nearly TWO MILLION CUBIC METRES sweeps through Tibetan gold mine, The Daily Mail, London, 30 March 2013, web edn., <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301606/Tibet-landslide-83-workers-buried-alive-mud-rocks-engulf-site.html>.

[Fig. 20] Rescue activity around the damaged excavator near the curved rock.

Approximate location 29°41'26.28"N 91°46'43.82"E: 组图：西藏甲玛矿区山体滑坡灾害事

故现场, 人民网 (Renmin Ribao), 30 March 2013,

<http://xz.people.com.cn/n/2013/0330/c138901-18383407.html>. This account will not comment on the rescue and recovery efforts which have been extensively covered in the Chinese press.

7. 西藏官方通报甲玛矿区山体塌方救援情况, 人民网 (Renmin Ribao), 30 March 2013,

<http://society.people.com.cn/n/2013/0330/c1008-20974363.html>, 83 buried in landslide in Tibetan mining area, Xinhua, Beijing, 29 March 2013, <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-03/29/c_124522149.htm>.

Part V: A hidden disaster

Apart from the camp in the Phulong valley another part of the Gyama mining complex was probably damaged if not completely destroyed by the landslide but possibly due to the effectiveness of the censorship instructions referenced at the beginning of this account has resulted in absolutely no reports or photographs about it being released in the Chinese media. Despite the authorities emphasis on ‘natural factors’

8 being the cause of the landslide there is

limited, but compelling, evidence for bad practice by Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Ltd., which may be the reason for the apparent censorship. The 7 December 2010 Google Earth image of the cirque shows human activity limited to roads, some of which may be asphalted though this is uncertain and some small excavations of unknown purpose on the ridge. The grey patches suggest extensive areas of scree, particularly on the edges of the cirque, relatively fragile, but old and reasonably stable if left undisturbed.

[Fig. 21] Tseri cirque. Dashed red line largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque area. North to top. Ground length of image width 0.85 miles (1.36 km): Google Earth, 29°42'21.55'' N 91°46'04.89'' E, elevation 5020 m, Eye alt 7.87 km, image 7 December 2010, dl 10 April 2013

Two years later in the 8 October 2012 Google Earth image there are great changes. A mining operation is taking place on the south west ridge of the cirque. Cuttings from excavations can be seen on the southern side. There is machinery and vehicles, some identifiable as lorries. The overexposure of this image may be caused by reflected light from newly broken rock as can be seen in longer established mines to the west. In undisturbed areas the weathered rock and thin vegetation cover absorbs light. The reflections also show that a considerable quantity of freshly broken rock has been deposited down the cirque, probably disturbing the original layer of scree and destroying the vegetation layer. What is possibly a facility for vehicles has been built on the ridge to the north east of the mine where, apparently resulting from its construction, another deposit of recently broken rock has fallen down the side of the cirque. A group of buildings on the northern edge of the cirque seems to have caused little extraneous damage and even the road zigzagging down that side of the cirque, also on a consolidated scree slope, seems not to have caused much damage despite the risk.

[Fig. 22] Tseri cirque, Dashed red line largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque area Ground length of image width 0.85 miles (1.36 km): Google Earth, 29°42'21.55'' N 91°46'04.89'' E, elevation 5020 m, Eye alt 7.87 km, image 8 October 2012, dl 10 April 2013

[Fig. 23] Site of mine on the Tseri Mountain cirque ridge before operations began. Dashed red line largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque area. Ground length of image width 410 yards (355 metres): Google Earth, 29°42'10.75'' N 91°45'49.21'' E, elevation 5285 m, Eye alt 6.26 km, image 7 December 2012, dl 10 April 2013

[Fig. 24] Mining operations on the cirque ridge, Tseri Mountain. Dashed red line largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque area. Ground length of image width 410 yards (355 metres): Google Earth, 29°42'10.75'' N 91°45'49.21'' E, elevation 5285 m, Eye alt 6.26 km, image 8 October 2012, dl 10 April 2013

[Fig. 25] Tseri mountain and cirque, facing. NE. Dashed red line – largest theoretical extent of landslide in the cirque. Green line – areas of disturbance caused by mining and construction. Google Earth, image 8 October 2012, dl 10 April 2013 8. Fatal Tibet landslide caused by natural factors: experts, People’s Daily, Beijing, 6 April 2013, web edn., <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/8195797.html>. See also the accounts of the Ministry of Land and Resources report copied above.

Part VI: Conclusion

That this disaster was caused by human activity can only be speculation at the moment. However the complete lack of media access to the landslide source area compared to the

comparative freedom they were given to report the rescue operations in the Phulong valley does raise questions. Not only were there reporters at the disaster site but interviews were carried out with the relatives of victims.

Whether anyone was killed in the mining site on the cirque ridge during the landslide is not known. If this was a daytime only operation then most of the workers might not have arrived for work which would have been fortunate for them, especially as compared to their compatriots in the Phulong valley. Even so there would probably have been security guards who, even if they weren’t killed, would have had a very frightening experience. Making allowance for the fact that this account has studied the visual evidence more closely than the written this compiler is not aware of any news coming from the cirque ridge mining site.

This writer’s comments on the stability of the cirque are also speculation but the Ministry of Land and Resources report copied above itself said:

The bare layer of land is made of igneous and sedimentary rocks alternating with each other, and both are disintegrating.

Although this was a project of Tibet Huatailong Mining Development Ltd., it was outside the Jiama Mining License Boundary, as noted in Part I, and as such would not be covered under the feasibility studies conducted for that area (Note 4 above). The writer does not know if there are any publicly available surveys of the Tseri mountain area which would give an informed opinion on the geology of the Tseri Mountain region or what the mining license specifications are, if any. 11 April 2013