Minerals
Introduction
It has been rightly said that world
commerce of today would be impossible without minerals. Mining, being a basic
industry provides a firm base from the growth in various sectors of the economy.
Minerals are the backbone of modern industry. The heavy machines and
transporting vehicles are all built and run by minerals.
Pakistan is rich in minerals
resources, but these immense potentials remained unexploited over the years.
Now the Government is adopting new policy measures to give a boost to this
sector. In order to encourage mineral exploration in the country, a mineral
co-ordination board (MCB) was established in 1979 to co-ordinate public sector
agencies and the private sector.
Pakistan has considerable deposits of
non metallic minerals, including rock-salt, gypsum, china clay, limestone and
marble. Metallic minerals found in some quantity are chromate antimony, copper
and iron etc.
1. Iron Ore
Usage
Iron tops the list of capital goods
and plays a vital role in the economic development of a country. The entire
economic activities of a country revolve around this basic material. Today,
iron touches man’s life from the cradle to grave. Indeed man today is almost
entirely dependant on iron for his civilized existence.
Occurrence
Iron ore deposits occur at many
localities. The more important are discussed below:
KalaBagh Iron
Ore
Occurs near Kalabagh in the Surghar
Range and near Sakesar in the Salt Range. They are the largest deposits in
Pakistan but the ore is of low grade (30.35 percent iron) and of irregular
composition. Reserves are estimated at about 300 million tones.
Dommel Misar
Magnetite deposits in Southern
Chitral, about 30 kilometers south of Drosh ,have an iron content of 55.65
percent. Reserves are estimated at 3 million tones.
Langrial, Galdanian And Abbotabad Ore
Langrial iron deposits are in the
vicinity of Langrial village in haripur tehsil, about 30 kilometers south of
Abbotabad. The iron content varies widely between 0 and 50 percent. The
Galdanian deposits, about 15 kilometers north-east of abotabad have an average
iron content of 20 percent. Iron content yardes from 14.46 percent. Total
reserves in Hazara District are estimated to be mere than 100 million tones.
Chighazi
Magnitite Deposits
Of various magnitudes have been
discovered in Chigai District, near Dalbandin. Reserves of high grade ore (56
percent iron or more ) are estimated over 3 million tones and of low ore (25.38
percent iron) at 20 million tones.
2. Chromites
Usage
Chromium is used in the making of
stainless steel, high speed tools and precision instruments, dyes and in
photography.
Occurrence
Pakistan leads the world in chromites
production. Large deposits of chromite occur in the Muslimbagh area of the Zaob
valley. Those are the best known of the chromite deposits in Pakistan and have
been extensively exploited. Khanozai and Jang Torgarh are important mines .
Other deposits are in Chagai and Kharan, where the total deposits amount to
10.000 tonnes.
In addition to the above Peshawar
division deposits amount to 14,000 tones.
3. Copper
Usage
Copper ranks next to iron in
importance because of its many industrial uses. It was used for making coins
and domestic utensils in the past. Now a days it is used in the manufacture of
electric goods, telephone wires, refrigerators etc.
Occurrence
The deposits of copper have been
found at Sandak and Amuri in Chaghai districts of Baluchistan. Sandak deposits
are estimated to be 412 million tonnes. At present copper is not being
extracted commercially in our country but it is hoped that in near future we
shall be able to produce copper in sufficient quantity with foreign
collaboration.
4. Rock Salt and Brine
All the rock salt deposits in
Pakistan occur in the salt range. The most important mines are:
(a) Khewra
Mines
Khewra is the most extensively worked
area with seams attaining thickness of as much as 18 meters. Present production
is 220,000 tones a year.
(b) Karcha
Mines
The mine has five seams, with a
maximum thickness of 15 metres and produces 40.000-45,000 tones a year.
(c) Kalabagh
Mine
The seams are irregular and contorted
and production is about 12,000-16,000 tones a year.
(d) Jatta,
Bahadurkhel and Karak Salt Deposits
Production from this area almost
equals that of the Warcha mines. The reserves, however, are thought to be very
large.
Salt is also obtained from brine and
salt. Lakes, but the amount obtained from these sources is relatively small
compared with that of rock salt. Salt is harvested in the Tharparkar area of
Sindh and obtained by evaporating sea-water at Mauripur, near Karachi and along
the Makran and Lasbela coasts large deposits of concentrated brine have been
discovered at Dharyala near Khewra. Various chemicals and fertilizers may be
manufactured from this brine.
5. Gypsum
Usage
Gypsum is also an important mineral
of our country. It is used for the manufacturing of cement, plaster of paris,
fertilizers and in various other industries. It is also used to regain the
fertility of soil in water-logged and salinity areas.
Occurrence
Gypsum is in our country is found in
a large quantity. Mianwali, Jhelum, Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab, Quetta and Sibi
in Baluchistan, Kohat in N.W.F.P are the main producers, but some quantity of
Gypsum is also found in Bahawalpur (punjab), Dadu and Sanghar districts (in
Sindh), Dera Ismail Khan in (N.W.F.P).
The total reserves of Gypsum found in
our country are estimated at about 350 million tones.
6. Limestone
Usage
Limestone is the chief raw material
of lime, cement, bleaching powder, glass, soap, paper, paints, steel etc.
Occurrence
Limestone deposits constitute a large
part of the sedimentary rocks of Pakistan. Although limestone is wide spread,
some areas have more concentrated deposits. These include:
1.In N.W.F.P: Kohat, Nowshera, Pezu and Mughal Kot.
2.In Baluchistan: Loralal and Harnal.
3.In Punjab: Salt Range,Zinda pir,Margalla Hills.
4.In Sindh: Mango Pir, Marli Hills, Cape Monze, Rani Pir.
Total annual production is about 3.5
million tones.
7. Marble
Usage
It is mainly used as a building and
decorative stone.
Occurrence
Pakistan exports marble manufactured
items to a large number of countries around the world. In various parts of our
country good quality marble in a wide range of colours is found.
(a)Peshawar
Division Deposits
Good quality marble of white and
various other colours in found at two places:
a) Shahidmena area and
b) Kumbela Knwar area.
(b) Mardan
District Deposits
Best known deposits of marble,
usually white and of uniform texture is found at two places :
a) Gundari Tarko and
b) Maneri.
(c) Nowshera
Area Deposits
Pink coloured marble of low quality
is found. Total reseves amount to 3.8 million cubic ft.
(d) Quetta
Area deposits
Large deposits of green, yellow and
white marble are found total reserves amount to 1,80,000 tonnes.
A few deposits also appear in Chaghal
district of Baluchistan and Muzaffarabad areas of Azad Kashmir. The reserves of
green marble deposits are about 8.6 million cubic feet and reserves of other
qualities are estimate about 700 million tones.
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