Antonella Agius, Fgura
Strange discovery at Wied Blandun: could it be the source of black dust?
Christian Brincat and I, both Fgura residents, were out walking our dog on Sunday afternoon. We were walking around Wied Blandun in Fgura, next to Cospicua Bastions.
We found out there is a vast area at Wied Blandun which is covered in black dust rather than soil and grass, as is the rest of the valley. The area covered by black dust is approximately 500 metres square.
It seems that the black dust is composed of metal particles, possibly containing iron, and its colour and texture is similar to the black dust falling on roofs and yards as claimed by a number of residents in the south of Malta.
We thought that the black dust could have been carried down the valley by rainwater and thus accumulated at the bottom of the valley, or else perhaps it had been deposited there on purpose to eliminate traces from its source.
Whatever the case, we feel that further investigations are urgently needed .
In the meantime, a dust sample has been collected and it will be forwarded to Fgura council for further examination.
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antonella agius
Nov 16th 2010, 11:00
article had been published already, and mepa said black dust at wied blandun is grit blasting:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101030/local/black-dust-carpet-in-fgura-valley-is-grit-blasting-mepa
...whatever the case, i hope that it is removed from wied blandun
Joe Gauci
Nov 14th 2010, 22:15
I know what grit blasting looks and feels like and I can assure you that the black dust that falls on roofs etc is NOT grit blasting.
George Vella
Nov 14th 2010, 18:04
I think that this dust should be well examined. If it really fell on roofs and in yards then some of it might have fallen from the sky and that is another story. Could it be a UFO in distress?
Stephen Vella
Nov 14th 2010, 15:11
If I remember correctly that dust was disposed there back in the early eighties by the Malta Drydocks. That is the residue of grit blasting which is mostly of metal composition and presumably contains lead which was used in paint at that time.
Aldo Darmain
Nov 14th 2010, 19:32
Dear Mr. Vella,
You are 100% correct
A.D.
c. camilleri
Nov 14th 2010, 14:19
It seems that Antonella is a new comer to Fruga.since she does not remember when this grit basting waste was dumped there in the 80s by Malta Drydocks to convert the lower section of Wied Blandun into a car park for its employees. Of course at that time everything licit . No objections from anyone. Who dared.
Joseph Galea
Nov 14th 2010, 10:52
If this dust contains metal ,it will look rusty red in appearance due to it's chemical composition.
victot rodenas
Nov 14th 2010, 11:00
A magnet will solve the problem in a second.
Joseph Sammut
Nov 14th 2010, 10:45
If this black material contains metal particles, could it be residue of sand blasting operations, dumped in this valley to avoid paying dumping charges? Now, if it is sand blasting waste, who could it be?