A Compilation Report on the Mineral Ores of Pakistan

A Compilation Report on Mineral Ores of Pakistan
Submitted By: H. Jawad Sohail
Geologist (R&D)
Submitted To: Niaz Khan Sb.
Director Technical
Muhammad Kashif
SDM (R&D)
Research and Development
Sitara Chemical Industries Ltd.

of 50Sitara Chemical
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CONTENTS
1. Background ...........................................................................................................................................4
2. Major Mineral Ores of Pakistan............................................................................................................5
2.1. Antimony.......................................................................................................................................5
2.1.1. OCCURRENCE IN PAKISTAN...................................................................................................5
2.1.2. USES ......................................................................................................................................5
2.2. Chromite .......................................................................................................................................6
2.2.2. USES ......................................................................................................................................6
2.3. Copper...........................................................................................................................................7
2.3.2. Uses.......................................................................................................................................8
2.4. Gold / Silver...................................................................................................................................9
2.4.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................11
2.5. Iron Ore.......................................................................................................................................12
2.5.1. OCCURRENCE IN PAKISTAN.................................................................................................12
2.5.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................12
2.6. Lead and Zinc ..............................................................................................................................15
2.6.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................16
2.7. Manganese..................................................................................................................................16
2.7.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................17
3. SOLID FUEL..........................................................................................................................................18

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3.1. Coal .............................................................................................................................................18
4. Oil and Gas..........................................................................................................................................20
5. GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES............................................................................................................21
6. CERAMIC MINERALS............................................................................................................................22
6.1. Barytes ........................................................................................................................................22
6.1.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................23
6.2. China Clay....................................................................................................................................23
6.2.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................24
6.3. Feldspar.......................................................................................................................................24
6.3.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................25
6.4. Fuller’s Earth ...............................................................................................................................25
6.4.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................26
6.5. Fire Clay.......................................................................................................................................26
6.5.1. OCCURRENCE IN PAKSITAN.................................................................................................26
6.5.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................27
6.6. Silica sand/Glass sand .................................................................................................................27
6.6.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................28
7. FERTILIZER AND INDUSTRIAL MINERALS ............................................................................................28
7.1. Gypsum and Anhydrite ...............................................................................................................28

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7.1.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................29
7.2. Magnesite ...................................................................................................................................29
7.2.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................30
7.3. Rock Salt......................................................................................................................................30
7.3.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................31
7.4. Soapstone and Talc.....................................................................................................................32
7.4.1. Occurrence in Pakistan .......................................................................................................32
7.4.2. USES ....................................................................................................................................32
8. BUILDING AND DECORATIVE STONES.................................................................................................33
9. Overall mineral under exploration and exploitation ..........................................................................34
10. Mineral statistics (GSP publication 2011).......................................................................................35
11. Mineral Production data of 2014- 2015. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (Govt. of Pakistan) ..........44
12. Summary.........................................................................................................................................49

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1. BACKGROUND
At the time of independence only six mineral commodities including chromite, coal, sulphur,
gypsum, limestone and salt were being mined in appreciable quantities in Pakistan. Now, large to
medium scale production of over sixty mineral commodities has started. Geological
environments suitable for the localization of important metallic minerals such as antimony, gold,
lithium, silver and platinum group elements have been identified in different parts of the country.
In addition to its traditional usage, minerals are now finding new applications in the fields of
electronics, optics, advanced metallurgy & materials and environmental sustainability in
Pakistan.
Vast resources of coal (186 billion tonnes), Copper (6000 million tonnes), gold (1656 million
tonnes), silver (618 million tonnes), lead-zinc (23.72 million tonnes), manganese (.597 million
tonnes), chromite (2.527 million tonnes), iron ore (1400 million tonnes) and precious and
semiprecious stones have been identified in different parts of the country. Inexhaustible
resources of gypsum, fire clay china clay, fullers earth, rock salt, basalt, bentonite, building stone
and construction materials are available in all the provinces and are being utilized in large
quantities.
During the recent past production of iron ore, coal, barytes, bentonite, various types of industrial
clays, fire clay, gypsum, limestone, onyx & ordinary marble, magnesite, ochre, silica sand,
dolomite, ebrystone, fuller’s earth, rock phosphate, rock salt, and soapstone has increased
appreciably. Starting of production of copper-gold ore at Saindak and discovery / detailed
exploration of copper-gold at Reko Diq in Chagai district of Balochistan province has brought
Pakistan amongst the metal producing countries of the world.
Gemstones and industrial minerals such as nepheline syenite, abrasives, mica, graphite, trona,
lithium, rare earth metals and platinum group elements hold bright prospects in near future.

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2. MAJOR MINERAL ORES OF PAKISTAN
2.1. Antimony
Antimony is a minor ore of the element antimony,
although most antimony comes from antimony
compounds (namely Stibnite), which are much greater in
abundance.
Antimony is a native element that can occur in a natural
state, but it is rarely pure. It almost always contains some
arsenic, and may also contain traces of silver, iron, and
sulfur. On a fresh or preserved surface, Antimony has a
tin-white color with a slight blue tinge. Otherwise, it is
dark gray due to tarnish.
2.1.1. OCCURRENCE IN PAKISTAN
Vein type deposits of antimony ore mineral - stibnite are known from the vicinity of Qila
Abdullah, Panjgure, Kharan and Turbat districts in Balochistan province and hosted mostly in
Khojak and Hushab shale. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, antimony occurs in the Lutkho and Partisan
areas near Krinj village, Chitral district. Stibnite (Sb2S3) is found as veins, lenses and irregular
masses along shear zones in Chitral slates. Present estimate of available ore, in the country, is
86,000 tonnes but detailed investigations may prove more tonnage. The reported average annual
production has been over 200 metric tonnes but now-a-days due to various tribal issues its
production is almost negligible.
2.1.2. USES
Antimony has a very interesting property: It is similar to water, in that instead of contracting
when it solidifies, like all other matter, it expands. For this reason, it is useful industrially: It is
mixed with other metals when a consistent size is required through large temperature ranges -
mostly in anti-friction bearings. Antimony is also used in medicinal research, and is used as a
dye to color glass.
The largest application for metallic antimony is an alloy with lead and tin and the lead antimony
plates in lead-acid batteries. Alloys of lead and tin with antimony have improved properties for
solders, bullets and plain bearings. Antimony compounds are prominent additives for chlorine
and bromine-containing fire retardants found in many commercial and domestic products. An

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emerging application is the use of antimony in microelectronics. Antimony is used in the
electronics industry to make some semiconductor devices, such as infrared detectors and diodes.
Antimony compounds are used to make flame-retardant materials, paints, enamels, glass and
pottery. The manufacture of lead storage batteries, like the ones used in cars and trucks, account
for about one-fifth of all the antimony used each year. A small amount of antimony is also used
in making transistors, which are found in such consumer electrical devices as computer games,
pocket calculators, and portable stereos.
2.2. Chromite
Chromite, the principle ore of the
element chromium, is a commercially
valuable mineral.
Chromite is an oxide mineral composed
of chromium, iron, and oxygen
(FeCr2O4). It is dark gray to black in
color with a metallic to submetallic
luster and a high specific gravity.
2.2.1. OCCURRENCE IN
PAKISTAN
At present chromite is being produced from Muslimbagh, Wad and Sonaro areas of Balochistan
province and Malakand and Kohistan areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The entire
chromite produced in the country is exported.
Generally, Pakistani chromite containing over 46% Cr2O3, 10 to 15% Al2O3, less than 10%
SiO2 and with Cr, Fe ratio over 2.8. Present estimate of available ore in the country is over 2.527
million tonnes. The reported average annual production is 30,366 metric tons. The Chaghai-
Raskoh chromite deposits of Balochistan contain 47~57% Cr2O3 having 2.6 ~ 3:1 Cr: Fe ratio
and the estimated reserves are about 30,000 tons.
2.2.2. USES
Chromium is a metal used to induce hardness, toughness, and chemical resistance in steel. The
alloy produced is known as "stainless steel." When alloyed with iron and nickel, it produces an
alloy known as "nichrome" which is resistant to high temperatures and used to make heating
units, ovens, and other appliances. Thin coatings of chromium alloys are used as platings on auto

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parts, appliances, and other products. These are given the name "chrome plated." It is also used
to make superalloys that can perform well in the hot, corrosive, and high-stress environment of
jet engines.
Chromium's name comes from the Greek word "chroma" which means "color." Chromium is
used as a pigment in paint. The familiar yellow lines painted down the center of highways and
the yellow paint used on school buses are often "chrome yellow" - a color produced from
chromium pigment. Chromium is an important pigment in many types of paint, ink, dye, and
cosmetics.
2.3. Copper
Copper is one of the most famous and useful
metals, and has been important since ancient
civilizations for ornaments and coinage.
Copper is a transition metal and it is widely
distributed in many parts of the world. It
occurs mainly as mineral combinations with
iron, sulfur, carbon and oxygen.
Balochistan Province has vast resources of copper ore. Porphyry type copper ore bodies have
been discovered by the Geological Survey of Pakistan at Saindak, Dasht-e-Kain, Kabul Koh,
Koh-i-Dalil, Missi and Ziarat Pir Sultan (Ahmad 1986). All these deposits occur in Chagai
District of Balochistan province. Similar deposits may be found in the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) while massive
sulphide type copper deposits may be found in Chagai, Lasbela and Khuzdar districts of
Balochistan, Wazirstan Agency, FANA and other Tribal Areas.
Data on Saindak copper-gold deposit is as follows:
Production of blister copper started from the 412 million tonnes Saindak copper gold deposit,
during 1995 and stopped due to certain reasons after making the trial production of 1,500 tonnes
of blister copper which was successfully marketed in the International Market. The production
resumed in 2002 through a contract with a Chinese firm M/S Metal Construction Company
(MCC) which later on reformed as Resource Development Company Limited (MRDL). The
project is producing 15,672 tonnes of copper blister, 51852 Oz of gold (1.47 metric tonnes) and
97356 Oz of silver (2.76 metric tonnes) annually.
Reko Diq Copper - Gold deposit is a very promising deposit, discovered by GSP in 1978-79.
M/S Tethian Copper Company (TCC) has invested over 500 million US $ for exploration of the

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deposit which is expected to start production within next few years. Later on the ownership of
TCC was sold jointly to M/S Barrik Gold of Australia and Antofagasta of Chile, both holding
37.5% share each while the Government of Balochistan is holding 25 % share. Current status of
this world class deposit is that the Government of Balochistan has declined to convert the
“Prospecting Lease” of the area to “Mining Lease” and the matter is sub-judicious. Basic facts
about the deposit are given below:
Reserves > 5 Billion tonnes
Copper Content = 0.54 %
Gold = 0.24 g/t
Figure showing Koh-e-Daleel in Reko Diq
2.3.2. USES
Copper is easily stretched, molded, and shaped. It is resistant to corrosion and conducts heat and
electricity efficiently. As a result, copper was important to early humans and continues to be a
material of choice for a variety of domestic, industrial, and high-technology applications today.
Presently, copper is used in building construction, power generation and transmission, electronic
product manufacturing, and the production of industrial machinery and transportation vehicles.
Copper wiring and plumbing are integral to the appliances, heating and cooling systems, and
telecommunications links used every day in homes and businesses. Copper is an essential
component in the motors, wiring, radiators, connectors, brakes, and bearings used in cars and
trucks. The average car contains 1.5 kilometers (0.9 mile) of copper wire, and the total amount of

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copper ranges from 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in small cars to 45 kilograms (99 pounds) in
luxury and hybrid vehicles.
Copper also conducts heat well and is used for thin-walled copper tubing in air conditioning and
refrigeration units, motor vehicle radiators, home heating systems, steam condensers etc.
Copper's corrosion resistance and ease with which it can be joined make it suitable for plumbing
fittings and water reticulation systems, automotive fuel lines, sea water desalination plants and
hydraulic systems. Copper sulphate is used as a fungicide and as a trace element in fertilisers.
Copper is used also for making coins and scientific instruments as well as in decorative
applications. Two important alloys are formed from copper. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and
bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
2.4. Gold / Silver
Gold is one of the most popular and well-known minerals, known for its value and special
properties since the earliest of time. Gold in its natural mineral form almost always has traces of
silver, and may also contain traces of copper and iron. A Gold nugget is usually 70 to 95 percent
gold, and the remainder mostly silver. The color of pure Gold is bright golden yellow, but the
greater the silver content, the whiter its color is. A natural alloy of gold and silver is known as
Electrum, and is usually classified as a variety of Gold.
Gold is one of the heaviest minerals. When pure, it has a specific gravity of 19.3. Due to its
weight, it can be panned because the Gold sinks to the bottom. In addition, it can be easily
separated from other substances due to the weight differences. Gold is also the most malleable
and ductile substance known.
It has been established that there are
indications that Pakistan has a significant
potential of gold, particularly in the folded
belt regions (Northern Mountain belt, Island
Arc system), its association with
volcanogenic sequences, porphyry copper
and in shear zones. In the Northern Areas,
spread of gold anomalies is concentrated
along the Main Karakorum Thrust (MKT) within each geologic unit. The distribution of gold
anomalies, obtained through geochemical sampling, vary between 2 ppm to 330 ppm in this area.
Gold panning was in practice at several places in the northern areas now constituting Pakistan

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along the course of Indus River and its tributes before partition. Locally some gold is still
produced in these areas. Precambiran shield rocks exposed in Chiniot area of Punjab and
Tharparkar area of Sindh are also favourable for localization of gold deposits. Large scale
production of gold and silver along with copper has started from Saindak porphyry copper
deposits in Chagai district of Balochistan. Deposits are as:
Reserves > 5 Billion tonnes
Copper Content = 0.54 %
Gold = 0.24 g/t
Figure showing the exploration licences for mining projects.

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Figure showing Reko Diq gold and copper deposits
2.4.2. USES
Gold has been used as a precious metal throughout the history of mankind. This is due to its
resistance, beauty, rareness, and the fact that it is very easy to work with. Many exotic gold
ornaments from the past have been found. Especially noteworthy are the golden ornaments from
the tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt, where gold masks, statues, coins, and much jewelry was
archeologically excavated. Gold has been used for coinage throughout the centuries, and is
currently accepted internationally as a standard value. Nowadays, the main use of gold is for
jewelry. As pure gold is easily bent and dented, it is always alloyed with other metals when used
in jewelry. This makes it more durable and practical for ornamental use. The purity of the gold
based on the alloyed metal is measured in karat weight. The karat measurement determines the
percentage of gold to other metals on a scale of 1 to 24, with 24 karats being pure gold. Due to
gold's distinctive properties as a metal, it has several industrial uses. It is used in photography,
dentistry, coloring, and is currently being studied for cancer treatments.
Silver has many unique physical properties that give it very special status. Silver is the best
conductor of electricity, is the second most malleable and ductile metal, and is in greater
abundance than all other precious metals with similar properties. Due to its unique properties and
intrinsic beauty, it is extensively used industrially and as ornaments.

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Silver is largely used as jewelry, ornaments, and coins. It is very easy to work with, and beautiful
objects are created from it, such as goblets, candelabras, trays, and cutlery. In the industrial
sector, silver is widely used for electrical apparatuses and circuits. It is also used for medicinal
purposes, particularly in dentistry, for bactericides, and for antiseptics.
2.5. Iron Ore
Iron ores are rocks from which metallic
iron can be economically extracted.
These rocks are usually found in the
form of hematite (Fe2O3) or magnetite
(Fe3O4). About 98% of world iron ore
production is used to make iron in the
form of steel.
2.5.1. OCCURRENCE IN
PAKISTAN
Many small and large deposits of iron
ore have been found in different parts of
the country. Important among these are the Dammel Nissar and Langrial deposits of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Chichali and Kalabagh deposits of Punjab province and Chilghazi, Chigendik and
Pachin Koh deposits of Balochistan province (Asrarullah 1976). The iron ore deposits recently
discovered by the GSP at Dilband in Kalat district, Uthal in Lasbela district of Balochistan and
Nizampur area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are of great economic significance.
Present estimate of available ore in the country is over 1,400 million tonnes. The reported
average annual production is 341,651 metric tonnes (2010-2011). It must be noted that the
production of iron ore has registered a tremendous increase (about 1300%) during the last 3-4
years as compared to the average production. During the last 10 years the average production
was 24,322 metric tonnes.
2.5.2. USES
The primary use of iron ore is in the production of iron. Most of the iron produced is then used to
make steel. Steel is used to make automobiles, locomotives, ships, beams used in buildings,
furniture, paper clips, tools, reinforcing rods for concrete, bicycles, and thousands of other items.
It is the most-used metal by both tonnage and purpose.

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Iron is used to manufacture steels of various types. Powdered iron is used in metallurgy products,
magnets, high-frequency cores, auto parts and catalyst. Radioactive iron (iron 59) is used in
medicine and tracer element in biochemical and metallurgical research. Iron blue has use in
paints, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, paper dyeing. Black iron oxide is used as pigment in
polishing compounds, metallurgy, medicine and magnetic inks.

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Iron ore deposits of Pakistan

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2.6. Lead and Zinc
Lead and zinc ores are usually found together
with gold and silver. The two principal
minerals containing lead and zinc are galena
and sphalerite. These two minerals are
frequently found together along with other
sulfide minerals, but one or the other may be
predominant. A lead-zinc ore may also contain
lead sulfide, zinc sulfide, iron sulfide, iron
carbonate and quartz. When zinc and lead
sulfides are present in profitable amounts they
are regarded as ore minerals. The remaining rock and minerals are called gangue.
The lead produced from lead ore is a soft, flexible and ductile metal. It is bluish-white, very
dense, and has a low melting point. Lead is essentially a co-product of zinc mining or a
byproduct of copper and/or gold and silver mining.
Zinc is a shiny, bluish-white metal. Zinc metal is never found pure in nature. Zinc minerals are
generally associated with other metal minerals, the most common associations in ores being zinc-
lead, lead-zinc, zinc-copper, copper-zinc, zinc-silver, or zinc only.
The Geological Survey of Pakistan has discovered several deposits of lead and zinc ore in
Lasbela-Khuzdar region of Balochistan Province. These deposits are associated with carbonate
rocks of Windar Group and Shirinab Formation. Three of these deposits namely Gunga, Surmai
and Duddar have been investigated in some details by GSP with the help of UNDP and JICA.
The results of these investigations were found very encouraging (Ahsan et. al. 1994). PMDC
with the technical and financial assistance of UNDP undertook the preliminary evaluation of
lead-zinc deposits at Duddar and evaluated 6.86 million tonnes of proved reserves and 3.43
million tonnes of inferred reserves with 11.34% zinc and 2.01% lead (Jones and Shah 1994).
These deposits have been jointly evaluated for development by Pakistan Mineral Development
Corporation (PMDC) and Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) and the earlier estimates
of reserves have almost been doubled. The preliminary investigations by the GSP have indicated
the availability of over 10 million tonnes of lead-zinc ore along with baryte at Gunga near
Khuzdar, Balochistan with about 8 percent total metal value (Ahsan et.al.1994). At Surmai,
exploration work carried out by GSP and JICA proved the presence of 2.93 million tonnes of ore
with average metal content of 6.5 percent (Ahsan et.al. 1994). Further exploration may reveal
additional reserves in the area as only a very small part of the deposit was investigated during the

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project period. Present estimate of available ore, in the country, is over 23 million tonnes.
Production of lead-zinc commenced during 2010-2011 with total metal production of 12692
metric tonnes (Lead + Zinc).
2.6.2. USES
Lead is one of the most widely used metals and over 60% of all lead produced is used in lead–
acid batteries for the storage of energy. Other uses include lead foil, plumbing, solder, sound
proofing, ammunition, addition to glass to block harmful radiation from television and computer
screens and as an ultraviolet ray protector in PVC plastics. Lead is toxic in some applications and
environmental and health concerns have reduced its use in paint pigments and anti-knock
additives in petrol. Over 50% of the supply is recycled from scrap, particularly lead–acid
batteries of which more than 90% are recycled.
Zinc is the third most used non-ferrous metal after aluminium and copper. About 50% of
production is used for galvanizing steel to protect it from rust. Zinc compounds and dusts are
used in cosmetics, plastics, rubber, ointments, sun screen creams, soaps, paints, ink, fertilizers
and batteries. Around 30% of zinc used in the western world comes from recycling.
2.7. Manganese
Manganese ore is a silver-gray metal with a pinkish tinge. It is a hard metallic element although
it is quite brittle. Manganese ores are found in metamorphic rocks or sedimentary deposits.
Elemental manganese readily
combines with oxygen, carbon, and
silicon to form a long list of
manganese minerals. Manganese
ores generally contain 25 to 45
percent manganese, mostly in
oxide (or hydroxide) and carbonate
minerals. Manganese ores are
widespread, but most of the
world’s supply is from a small
number of manganese mining
districts.

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Manganese ores are found at many localities in Lasbela, Kharan, Chagai and Zhob districts in
Balochistan. The host rock of almost all the manganese deposits in the Lasbela district is the volcanic
assemblage of olivine basalt and pillow lava belonging to Bela Volcanic Group. The manganese minerals
are mainly psilomelane, and pyrolusite which occur in the jasperoid layer above pillow lava and below
shale sedimentary rocks. The manganese occurrences in Chagai district are found as veins cutting
limestone beds and basalts of Cretaceous age. These occurrences are reported from Ras Koh (Charkohan
area) Siah Koh and Sotkinoh in Chagai district of Balochistan. The manganese deposits reported from
Zhob district occur in altered siliceous limestone associated with pillow lava of Cretaceous age. The
manganese localities in Zhob district of Balochistan are at Naweoba and Warsak Killi area.
Present estimate of available ore, in the country, is over 600,000 metric tonnes and the average annual
production is 2,712 metric tonnes. Current production of manganese has shown an increase over the
past few years, as earlier it was about 1,500 metric tonnes per annum.
2.7.2. USES
As much as 90 percent of manganese consumption, both in the United States and globally, is
accounted for by the steel industry. Manganese removes oxygen and sulfur when iron ore (an
iron and oxygen compound) is converted into iron. It also is an essential alloy that helps convert
iron into steel. As an alloy, it decreases the brittleness of steel and imparts strength. The amount
of manganese used per ton of steel is rather small, ranging from 6 to 9 kilograms. About 30
percent of that is used during refinement of iron ore, and the remaining 70 percent is used as an
alloy in the final steel product. Manganese is used also as an alloy with metals such as aluminum
and copper. Important nonmetallurgical uses include battery cathodes, soft ferrites used in
electronics, micronutrients in fertilizers, micronutrients in animal feed, water treatment
chemicals, colorant for automobile undercoating, bricks, frits, glass, textiles, and tiles. The
product “manganese violet” is used for the coloration of plastics, powder coatings, artist glazes,
and cosmetics.
Manganese metal is used as a colourant in bricks and ceramics and is a catalyst and oxidizer.
Manganese dioxide is used in dry cell batteries, in black paints to quicken drying time, to
decolour glass and in the manufacture of ferroalloys. Manganese sulphate is used as a
micronutrient in fertilizers and animal feeds. It is an important trace nutrient in animals and
humans as it cofactors with enzymes and is a detoxification agent. It aids the body in absorbing
Vitamin B1 and makes bones strong and flexible. In the form of Potassium Permanganate it is
used as a bactericide and algaecide in water and wastewater treatment. Manganese dioxide is
used to depolarize dry cell batteries, to reduce discoloration of green glass and even to help dry
black paint.

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3. SOLID FUEL
3.1. Coal
The recent work by GSP has proved that Sindh Province has very large reserves of coal. The coal
resource base of this province alone exceeds 185 billion tonnes out of the total coal resources of
the country exceeding 186 billion tonnes. Sindh province, especially huge lignitic resources at
Thar make the future hope of Pakistan for production of thermal /electrical energy based on coal
fired power stations. The coal resources base of the Punjab Province is over 235 million tonnes.
Balochistan Province has a coal resource base of over 217 million tonnes but due to thin and
steeply dipping coal seams, obtaining large production is not possible. Small power plants based
on local coal may however, be planned for Chamalang, Mach, Sor Range - Daghari, Pir Ismail
Ziarat, Khost - Shahrig - Harnai and Duki areas. Coal also occurs in Kotli district of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir and in Cherat and Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Orakzai Agency in
FATA.
Almost the entire production of indigenous coal is being used for firing brick kilns and some
industrial units. Two coal fired power plants with 7.5 MW capacities each were operational since
1964 near Quetta but have since been closed. Three coal fired power plants of 50 MW capacities
each based on fluidized bed technology have been set up at Khanot near Hyderabad.
Present estimate of available coal resources in the country is over 186 billion tonnes. The
reported average annual production is 3.3 million metric tonnes.
The GSP had discovered over 175 billion tons of lignite coal in Thar desert in 1992. The project,
“Creation of New Processing Facilities for handling and purification of Coal Gas (HPCG)
produced by underground coal gasification” was approved in the CDWP meeting. The aim of the
project was to create new processing facility for handling and purification of coal gas produced
by underground coal gasification located in Tharparkar. (GSP Publication, 2011).
According to Sindh Coal Authority (Govt. of Sindh), coal deposits of Pakistan are as:

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Coal resources of Baluchistan in million tonnes are:

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Location map showing coal resources of Pakistan.
4. OIL AND GAS
The average production of May, 2016 is as:
Oil = 83,054.90 bbls/day
Gas = 4009.87 mmcf/day
LPG = 1670.76 m. tons/day.

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33 rigs are active and total area under exploration is 360716.44 Sq.kms.
5. GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES
Some of the important gemstones, which have given Pakistan a recognized position amongst
supplier of precious and semi-precious stones in the international market, include emeralds,
rubies, topaz (golden and white), tourmaline, garnet, beryl, zircon, rutile, quartz, rutile quartz,
morganite, apatite, spinel, pargasite, sphene, agate, zoisite, epidote, emerald-colour tourmaline,
diopside, amethyst, scheelite, moon stone, aquamarine and fluorite. Mainly these deposits have
been found in Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
In the Chaghai area of Baluchistan, chrysocola, malachite, azurite, turquoise, glossularite garnet,
brown Garnet, zircon, obsidian, jade, jasper, phrolusite, lazurite, lapis lazuli and spar has been
reported but only limited work has been done there so far.
Varicolored agates, chrysoprase, chalcedony, geodes, citrine and smoky quartz from Chaghai
area, pistachio green vesuvianite, serpentine and idocrase from Zhob area, green quartz from
Wad area, citrine, smoky quartz and jasper from Kharan and Lasbela area, auriferous quartz from

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Panjgur, brown garnet, fluorite from Kalat area, blackish greenj jaberjet from Kharan area,
aragonite from Killa Abdullah area, agates in loralai amethyst from Khuzdar has been reported.
6. CERAMIC MINERALS
6.1. Barytes
Barytes (or barite) is the naturally occurring
mineral form of barium sulphate. Its main
properties are its high specific gravity (4.5),
very low solubility; it is non-toxic, and also
chemically and physically unreactive.
The barytes deposits of Balochistan province were discovered by the Geological Survey of
Pakistan (Ahmad and Klinger, 1967). These deposits are located in the area between Uthal and
Khuzdar. The production from indigenous deposits meets the total requirement of barytes for oil
well drilling and barium based chemical plants of the country. The barytes deposits of the
country are sufficient and suitably located for large scale production to meet local demand and as
well as export. Total reserve of barytes in Pakistan has been estimated at 13.71 million tonnes
and it is believed that more resources are available in the country. The reported average annual
production is 33,312 metric tonnes.

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6.1.2. USES
Barite is the main ore of the element barium. The high specific gravity of barite makes it suitable
for a wide range of industrial, medical, and manufacturing uses. Barite also serves as the
principal ore of barium. Most barite produced is used as a weighting agent in drilling muds in Oil
industry (80%). Other uses are in chemical - electronics, TV screen, glass, ceramics and medical
applications (barium meals) (10%) and fillers - car, rubber and paint industry, radiation shielding
(9%).
6.2. China Clay
China clay, as the name suggests, is a
material known as kaolin, which was first
used in China more than ten thousand years
ago to make fine white porcelain.
One of the purest of the clays, composed
chiefly of the mineral kaolinite usually
formed when granite is changed by
hydrothermal metamorphism.
China clay deposits are found at Shah Dheri, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Nagar Parkar,
Sindh. Some smaller deposits have also been found in Dir, Hazara and Gilgit. The Geological
Survey of Pakistan discovered both the Shah Dheri and Nagar Parkar deposits (Moosvi 1975;
Kazmi et. al. 1973) and investigated these deposits in detail with the help of detailed geological
mapping, channel sampling and physical and chemical tests. The Shah Dheri deposits have been
evaluated to contain 29.8 million tonnes (Moosvi 1975) of raw china clay. Plagioclase rich
leuco-quartz diorite is the parent rock from which kaolin has been formed as a result of alteration
of feldspars. Kaolin zones occur as patches, pods and streaks in unaltered rock. Typical analysis
of Swat china clay is as follows:
Overall estimation for the country has not been worked out but it is believed that huge resources
are available in the country. The reported average annual production is 22,790 metric tonnes,
registering about 50% decrease over the past few years.

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6.2.2. USES
China clays have long been used in the ceramic industry, especially in fine porcelains, because
they can be easily molded, have a fine texture, and are white when fired.
Paper, Kaolin performs two quite separate functions in papermaking. As a filler or loading, it is
incorporated within the body of the paper, both reducing its overall cost and improving its printing
properties. It is also a coating pigment, enhancing the surface properties of the paper, such as brightness,
smoothness and gloss, thus allowing the accurate reproduction of color printing.
6.3. Feldspar
Feldspar is the most abundant mineral group in the
Earth’s crust. There is more feldspar (60%) than all
the other minerals combined in the outer (13-17) km
of the crust.
Feldspar is the name given to a group of minerals
distinguished by the presence of alumina and silica
(SiO2) in their chemistry. This group includes
aluminum silicates of soda, potassium, or lime.
Feldspars include three compositional end members:
K-feldspar (KAlSi3O8), albite (NaAlSi3O8),
anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8).
Large deposits of both sodic and potassic feldspars
with over 6 billion tonnes of reserves have been
found near Mingora and Bunair in Swat district of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Badshah 1994). Feldspar is widespread in pegmatites in Chitral, Gilgit
and Skardu. Deposits of orthoclase feldspar are also present in Nagar Parkar area of Sindh.
Overall estimation for the country has not been worked out but it is believed that large resources
of feldspar are available in the country. The reported average annual production is 150,487
metric tonnes. Production of feldspar has shown tremendous, about 500% increase, over the past
few years.

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6.3.2. USES
Feldspar-rich rocks are used as an aggregate. Clay deposits are derived primarily from feldspar-
rich rocks. Feldspars are primarily used in industrial applications for their alumina and alkali
content. Feldspars are raw materials for glass and ceramic industries. Ca-rich plagioclase
feldspar has some potential as an aluminum ore, but currently it is more economical to extract
aluminum from bauxite. They are also used in metallurgy. Some iridescent feldspars are valued
as gemstones and many feldspar-rich rocks are valued building and monument stones. Feldspar
is used as a flux to lower down the melting point e.g., glass.
6.4. Fuller’s Earth
Fuller's earth is any clay material that has the
capability to decolorize oil or other liquids
without chemical treatment. Fuller's earth
consists primarily of hydrous aluminum silicates
(clay minerals) of varying composition. Common
components are montmorillonite, kaolinite and
attapulgite.
Punjab and Sindh provinces have very large resources of Fuller’s earth. In Sindh these deposits
occur at Thano Bulla Khan (District Dadu), Shadi Shahid (District Khairpur) while in Punjab the
main deposits are found in D.G. Khan. Fuller’s earth is formed along the flood plains of ancient
river channels. The Paleocene-Eocene rivers which deposited coal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh also deposited Fuller’s earth in the adjoining areas. The present
production is being utilised in oil refining and other industries in the country. It is also being
used by insecticide, foundries vegetable oil, ghee and steel industries. Thus a sharp rise in the
demand of Fuller’s earth is expected in future. Overall estimation for the country has not been
worked out but it is believed that huge resources are available in the country. The reported
average annual production is 6,774 metric tonnes, showing notable decline in production over
the past few years as earlier it was about three times of this figure.

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6.4.2. USES
Fuller’s Earth clay is sedimentary clay that has been widely used as a skin-lightening agent and
is best known for its ability to be applied as “facial bleach.” Because of its enormous drawing
capabilities, Fuller’s Earth is the number one choice for oily. It has oil-absorbing, cleansing and
antiseptic properties that make it very helpful in treating various hair and skin conditions. It
literally draws oil from the skin and has been used industrially for this same purpose. This clay
has been around for quite some time and recent developments in the natural cosmetics and
skincare industries have helped to recontextualize this useful clay as more than just a solvent that
simply soaks up spilled automotive oil. It has also been used as bulk garage clay that many
mechanics use to soak up oil and other automotive spills. It is a useful base ingredient for facial
clay recipes and adds a nice finishing touch to clay products promising to aid its user with their
battle against oily skin.
6.5. Fire Clay
Clay capable of withstanding high temperatures,
chiefly used for making firebricks. Fire clay is a
normal mud, simple as that, but a mud with
higher Alumina (AL) content. Has usually
whiter-lighter color. A good fireclay should have
24-26% plasticity and shrinkage after firing
should be within 6-8% maximum. It should also
not contain more than 25% Fe2O3.
6.5.1. OCCURRENCE IN PAKSITAN
Sizable deposits of fire clay are found in the province of Punjab, which is also the main
consumer of this commodity. Large deposits occur in Mianwali, Sargodha and Attock districts.
Fire clay is also found in Thatta and Dadu districts of Sindh and D.I. Khan district of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. These are residual sedimentary deposits generally found at the base of Patala
Formation of Paleocene age in the Punjab and at the base of Sonhari beds of Paleocene age in
Sindh. The bulk of the present production is obtained from Mianwali and Sargodha deposits
which could be classed as heavy duty refractory clay. It is used mainly for furnace lining in

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cement and other industries. Total reserves of fire clay in Pakistan are over 100 million tonnes
and reported average annual production is 289,573 metric tonnes.
6.5.2. USES
Because of the abundant supply of fireclay and its comparative cheapness, the refractory bricks
made out of it are the most common and extensively used in all places of heat generation, like:
in boiler furnaces
glass melting furnaces
chimney linings
pottery kilnsblast furnaces
reheating furnaces
Fireclay is classified under acid refractories. Acid refractories are those which are not attacked
by acid slag. In blast furnaces, the lining is done almost entirely with fireclay bricks. Pouring
refractories like sleeves, nozzles, stoppers and tuyers are made of fireclay.
6.6. Silica sand/Glass sand
Silica Sand is nearly pure silica (SiO2) up to
95% quartz that over time, through the work of
water and wind, has been broken down into
tiny granules. Silica sand is one of the most
common varieties of sand found in the world. It
is used for a wide range of applications.
Datta Formation of Jurassic age and its equivalent formations contain thick beds of silica sand in
Khisor and Marwat Ranges, between Paniala and Pezu, over a length of 16 km with an estimated
reserve of 20 million tonnes (Raza and Iqbal 1997). In Salt Range and Surghar Range glass sand
beds occur in Datta Formation and Patala Formation (Late Paleocene). Near Mallakhel, glass
sand beds with over 99% Si O2 occurs in Lumshival Formation of Lower Cretaceous age
(Ahmad 1959, Shah 1980). In Hazara high grade silica sand occurs as thick layers within a 150
m thick sequence of metamorphosed calcareous sandstone at Mand Kachcha (Raza and Iqbal
1977). Large deposits of glass sand are found in Dadu District of Sindh province in Eocene and

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Oligocene sediments. Large lenticular bodies of silica sand occur in meta sediments in Mohmand
Agency with reserves of over 537 million tonnes. Total reserves of silica sand in Pakistan are
estimated to be 557 million tonnes and reported average annual production is 317,225 metric
tonnes. The production of silica sand has also shown an upward trend and it has increased about
20% over the past few years.
6.6.2. USES
Commercial Silica Sand is widely used as a proppant by companies involved in oil and natural
gas recovery in conventional and unconventional resource plays. The resource is also used in
industrial processing to make everyday items such as glass, construction materials, personal care
products, electronics, and even renewable materials. Construction applications include tile
adhesives and grouts, cement-based self-leveling compounds, renders, mortar additives, fire
cements, block paving and roofing felts. For industrial and manufacturing applications, deposits
of silica-yielding products of at least 95% SiO2 are preferred. Silica is hard and chemically inert
and has a high melting point, attributable to the strength of the bonds between the atoms.
From water filtration, to glass manufacture, to industrial casting, to sand blasting, to producing
concrete, to adding texture to slick roads, silica sand impacts every aspect of daily life.
7. FERTILIZER AND INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
7.1. Gypsum and Anhydrite
Gypsum is soft white or gray evaporite
mineral most commonly found in layered
sedimentary deposits in association with
halite, anhydrite, sulfur, calcite, and
dolomite. Gypsum (CaSO4
.
2H2O) is very
similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The
chemical difference is that gypsum contains
two waters and anhydrite is without water.
Gypsum is the most common sulfate
mineral. Compared to gypsum, anhydrite
exhibits cleavage in three directions at right

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angles and has a greater hardness. Its right angle cleavage and lack of acid reaction allows it to
be distinguished from calcite. Compared to halite, anhydrite is insoluble and slightly harder.
Pakistan has very large reserves of gypsum/anhydrite found in all the provinces of the country.
Major deposits are those of Daud Khel, Khewra and D.G. Khan Punjab, Kohat Region in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. and Spintangi and Chamalang in Balochistan. Smaller deposits occur in Dadu
district of Sindh and Lasbela district of Balochistan. Present estimate of available gypsum
resources in the country is over 4,850 million tonnes. The reported average annual production is
1,041,972 metric tonnes, registering an increase of about 100% over the past few years.
7.1.2. USES
Gypsum uses include: manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil conditioning, a
hardening retarder in portland cement. Varieties of gypsum known as "satin spar" and "alabaster"
are used for a variety of ornamental purposes; however, their low hardness limits their durability.
Anhydrite can be substituted for gypsum in some of its uses. Both minerals are crushed for use as
a soil treatment, and in this purpose anhydrite is superior. One ton of anhydrite has more calcium
than one ton of gypsum because gypsum is about 21% water by weight. This yields more
calcium per ton in a soil application. Anhydrite also has a higher solubility, which helps it benefit
the soil quickly. Small amounts of anhydrite are used as drying agents in plaster, paint, and
varnish. It is also used along with gypsum to produce plaster, joint compound, wallboard, and
other products for the construction industry. Anhydrite has also been used as a source of sulfur in
the production of sulfuric acid.
7.2. Magnesite
Magnesite is a natural ore identified as a magnesium
carbonate, occuring as a primary mineral in igneous
and sedimentary rocks.
Magnesite (MgCO3) is an ore for magnesium
production and the source of a range of industrial
minerals. When pure, magnesite contains 47.8%
magnesium oxide and 52.2% carbon dioxide. Natural
magnesite almost always contains some calcium

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carbonate as the mineral calcite and iron carbonate as the mineral siderite. Magnesium also
occurs in dolomite, which has the formula CaMg(CO3)2
and in which MgCO3 constitutes 45.65%
(equivalent to 21.7% MgO) and CaCO3 54.35%.
Magnesite is found at Wad and Muslim Bagh in Balochistan and Malakand & Hazara in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa along fractures, joints and faults in ultramafic rocks. The Kumhar magnesite
deposit of Hazara Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been estimated to contain 8.75 million tonnes of
total reserve. The magnesite from this deposit has been found suitable for production of
refractory bricks and fused magnesium phosphate (Hirayama et. al. 1995). The magnesite
resources in Pakistan have been estimated at 12 million tonnes whereas the average annual
production is 9,844 metric tonnes, registering an increase of about 200% over the past few
years.
7.2.2. USES
Magnesite is an important ore of magnesium, and used as insulating material. There are two main
uses for magnesite. The first is as feedstock in the production of dead-burned magnesia and for
refractory brick use in lining furnaces in the steel industry and non-ferrous metal processing units and
cement kilns. The second use is for processing to caustic calcined magnesia which is used principally as a
food supplement in agribusiness and in fertilizers as well for fillers in paints, paper and plastics. Raw
magnesite is used for surface coatings, landscaping, and ceramics and as a fire retardant. The largest
single use for magnesium metal is in aluminium alloying, accounting for about 50% of the total
magnesium metal consumption. The addition of magnesium to aluminium produces high-strength,
corrosion-resistant alloys. About 20% is used in castings and wrought products including machinery,
tools and other consumer products such as mag wheels for cars.
7.3. Rock Salt
Halite commonly known as rock salt is a
type of salt, the mineral form of sodium
chloride (NaCl). Khewra Salt mine is
world’s second largest mine said to have
been discovered by Alexander the
Great's horse. Covering an area of 110
sq. km, 228 meters or 748 feet deep

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(with 11 separate stories), the massive mine has over 40 kilometers of tunnels running some 730
meters, or nearly half a mile into the mountain under which the salt deposits are found. To keep
the huge space from collapsing in on itself, only fifty percent of the salt found is mined; the other
half serves as support columns to hold up the mine. With such a massive area, a large workforce,
and the ease of carving and building with salt bricks, some interesting sights have been built
within the salt mine.
Huge deposits of rock salt are located in the Salt Range in Punjab province and in Kohat district of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Salt mining has been traditionally carried out by the government since annexation
of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the British rule, but recently some private parties have also
started salt mining.
In the late fifties, the mining engineers working in Khewra salt mines had reached a conclusion that
the salt deposits of the area were nearing exhaustion and that the mining operations would be closed
down within a short period. Consequently, GSP was requested to evaluate the salt deposits of Khewra.
Detailed exploration and evaluation of these deposits by GSP proved the existence of inexhaustible
reserves of rock salt in the Salt Range (Asrarullah 1962).
The rock salt resources of Pakistan stand at 800 million tonnes and the reported average annual
production is 2,021,008 metric tonnes, showing an increase of about 30% over the past few years.
About 40% of the total output is consumed by soda ash, caustic soda and leather industries and rest
is marketed for domestic / human consumption. A certain amount of rock salt is also exported to a
number of countries.
7.3.2. USES
Himalayan Pink salt is one of the purest salts available for culinary, therapeutic and cosmetic
uses. This luxurious and delectable salt has beautifully formed crystals which range in color from
off-white to a lustrous pink. Himalayan Pink salt is a pure, hand-mined salt that is derived from
ancient sea salt deposits, and it is believed to be the purest form of salt available.
It should be noted that most of the commercial supply on the market today is coming from the
mountainous region of Pakistan.
Himalayan crystal salt is far superior to traditional iodized salt. Himalayan salt is millions of years old
and pure, untouched by many of the toxins and pollutants that pervade other forms of ocean salt.
Known in the Himalayas as “white gold,” Himalayan Crystal Salt contains the same 84 natural minerals
and elements found in the human body. This form of salt has also been maturing over the past 250 million
years under intense tectonic pressure, creating an environment of zero exposure to toxins and impurities.

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7.4. Soapstone and Talc
Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate mineral with a chemical composition of Mg3Si4O10 (OH) 2.
Although the composition of talc usually stays close to this generalized formula, some
substitution occurs. It is the softest known mineral and is assigned a hardness of 1 on the Moh’s
Hardness scale. Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that is composed primarily of talc, with
varying amounts of chlorite, micas, amphiboles, carbonates, and other minerals.
Soapstone deposits occur in Parachinar area, Kurram Agency; Jamrud, Khyber Agency; Dargai,
Swat district; Sherwan, Abbottabad district; Muslim Bagh & Wadh-Uthal areas in Balochistan.
The Sherwan deposit is the major producer of soapstone in the country but other deposits of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA/ FANA have also started producing and are expected to
increase the production as the demand rises. Soapstone deposits of Kurram Agency have been
estimated to contain 1.6 million tonnes of reserves (Badshah 1994).
Overall estimation of soapstone has not been worked out but it is believed that huge resources
are available in the country. The reported average annual production is 147,250 metric tonnes,
showing about 337% increase over the past few years.
7.4.2. USES
A form of talc known as "soapstone" is also widely known. This soft rock is easily carved and
has been used to make ornamental and practical objects for thousands of years. It has been used
to make sculptures, bowls, countertops, sinks, hearths, pipe bowls, and many other objects.
Although talcum powder and soapstone are two of the more visible uses of talc, they account for
a very small fraction of talc consumption. Its hidden uses are far more common. Talc's unique
properties make it an important ingredient for making ceramics, paint, paper, roofing materials,
plastics, rubber, insecticides, and many other products. Talc is a very important industrial
mineral. Talc is crushed into powder to form talcum powder, which is the main ingredient in
many cosmetics as well as some baby powders. Ground talc is used as a lubricant in applications
where high temperatures are involved. It is able to survive at temperatures where oil-based
lubricants would be destroyed. Talc powder is used as a carrier for insecticides and fungicides. It
can easily be blown through a nozzle and readily sticks to the leaves and stems of plants. Its
softness reduces wear on application equipment.

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8. BUILDING AND DECORATIVE STONES
Pakistan is blessed with a variety of exquisite building and decorative stones throughout the
country. The most commonly used and mined in large quantities are marble, onyx marble,
various types of limestone and igneous rocks, mainly granite, diorite and gabbro.
Large reserves of re-crystallized limestone and marble occur widely in the Gilgit and Skardu
region, in Chitral, Khyber Agency, Swat and Mardan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bajaur
and Khyber Agencies of FATA, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Asrarullah and Hussain 1985).
Onyx marble of high quality is found in Chagai District of Balochistan Province (Ahmed, 1965).
Other forms of building stones like slate, sandstone, boulders and gravels etc are abundantly
available throughout the country. Attractive and good quality granitic, dioritic and gabbroic
rocks occur in Gilgit, Chitral, Swat, Raskoh, Chagai, Lasbela and Nagarparkar areas.
Baluchistan is giving 3.3 million tonnes annual production of marble, granite and onyx from
different localities including Chagai, Bela, Kalat and Khuzdar.

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9. OVERALL MINERAL UNDER EXPLORATION AND
EXPLOITATION

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10. MINERAL STATISTICS (GSP PUBLICATION 2011)

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All the above mentioned data is based on the publication of Geological Survey of Pakistan “An overview
of Mineral Potential of Pakistan” Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. It mostly gives the
statistics of 2010-2011.
11. MINERAL PRODUCTION DATA OF 2014- 2015.
PAKISTAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS (GOVT. OF
PAKISTAN)

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12. SUMMARY
Pakistan has more than 5,000 operational mines employing nearly 300,000 workers. Many
mineral resources have been identified but only few are properly mined in commercial quantity.
All important metallogenic zones are located in Balochistan. Most important metallogenic belt
extends from Yugoslavia - Turkey - Iran - to Pakistan. It contains world class deposits of copper,
Gold and Silver. Sandak & Rekodiq porphyry copper gold deposits are part of this belt.
Iron ore and exploitable deposits of Sulphur are present in the same belt. Presently MCC of
China is producing 15,000 tonnes of copper, more than 1.5 tonnes of gold and more than 2.8
tonnes of silver per annum from Sandak copper/ gold deposits. Reko Diq gold- copper reserves
are more than 5 Billion tonnes with 0.64% Copper and Gold. 0.4 but mining could not properly
start due to litigation. Occurrence of platinum group elements in the area has also been reported.
Some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, FATA, FANA and Azad Jammu &
Kashmir have immense potential of precious and semi-precious stones. International
organizations like WB, TFBSO, USAID, UNDP and a few such others has come forward for
extending technical and financial assistance to Pakistan in accordance with their mottos and
slogans for the development of such viable business opportunities in the country.
According to Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayettee, IN, Unites States, Chillas complex
of layered mafic-ultramafic rocks is potentially a major storehouse of mineral wealth and a most
promising host to Platinum, Nickel, Copper, Chromium and Vanadium ore deposits. A very rare,
Rare Earth Element and highly radioactive thorium bearing mineral Chevkinite has also been
reported from Tangir Valley located within this rock Complex. The physical appearance and the
textural morphology of this mineral from this specific area suggest a basic pegmatitic nature of
the mineralization. However, detailed geological studies are urgently required as the mineral is
being mined out by the locals and on the pretext of gemstones and smuggled out from Pakistan at
very high price thereby directly supplementing the financial resources of the deep rooted people.
Punjab is rich in ceramic, fertilizer and industrial minerals including clays, sands, gypsum,
anhydrite, limestone, dolomite, rock salt, bauxite and laterite. Some coal fields of economic
importance are present in salt ranges. Many mills, killn and textile, ceramic and cement
industries are located in Punjab. Iron ore deposits are located in Kalabagh (Chichali), D. G. Khan
(Rakhi Munh), Sargodha and Chiniot area.
Sindh has world’s 5th largest reserves of coal in Thar which can serve for many decades. Only Thar
Lignite Coal reserves, spread over 9,600 square-kilometres possess the power generation
potential of 100,000 MW consuming 536 million tonnes coal a year. 15864 million tonnes of
grey and pink granite and adamellite deposits are present in Nagarparkar area of Tharparkar near
the Runn of Kutch.

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Comparison of Pakistan with some mineral rich countries:
The reason for non development of mineral sector in Pakistan is the huge gap between geological
exploration and mineral development and utilization. To fill this gap geological, mining,
metallurgical, mineral economics, mineral/ore processing and dressing advancement is needed.
Investment in mineral sector, increase in institutional capacity and strategic actions related to
cluster development are the need of the hour.

A Compilation Report on the Mineral Ores of Pakistan

A Compilation Report on the Mineral Ores of Pakistan

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