PAKISTAN’S MINERAL RESOURCES

PAKISTAN’S MINERAL RESOURCES

Mineral Development Department:

This department was created in Sindh in 2001 in pursuance of the National Mineral Policy, 1995. The department has taken all necessary steps for further establishing its field office. The province of Sindh has large quantities of minerals. In all there are 24 minerals which are being mined at present. The province also has large quantities of coal and granite reserves. The granite area which was previously inaccessible has now been connected with Karachi by network of roads and other facilities like Rest House etc. It is also proposed that Granite Park should be established at Nagarparkar. Karunjhar Range of Mountains in Nagarparkar has huge reserves of granite and other rock types of extractable thickness which has the potential to compete the international market.

Mining and Quarrying:

Pakistan has a widely geological frame work, ranging from pre-Cambrian to the present that includes a number of zones hosting several metallic minerals, industrial minerals, precious and semi-precious stones. Although many effort have been made in developing geological products, institutional, academic and Research and Development infrastructure, much remains to be done to enable this sector to take full advantage of its endowment. As a result of various efforts devoted for the development of mineral sector, resources of several minerals have been discovered over the last many decades, including world class resources of lignite coal deposits at Thar, Sindh, porphyry copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan, Iron ore deposits at Dilband, Balochistan, Lead-zinc deposits in Duddar, Balochistan, gypsum, rock salt, limestone, dolomite, china clays etc in the Indus Basic, ornamental and construction stones in the various parts of the country and about 30 different gems and precious stone deposits in northern Pakistan.

Mineral industry in Pakistan shows that over the last few decades this sector has been allocated very small amount - 0.45% to 2.46% of the total public sector expenditure since first five year plan reflecting its contribution to Gross National Product (GNP) of just around 0.5%. The mineral resources of a country are valuable means and measures of its economic and industrial growth. These are still more important for Pakistan because of its favorable geological environment and a large number of mineral resources in the country. Considering that substantial scope exists for the development uncertainties, it requires Government support and recognition of mineral sector.

The Govt. is fully committed to making the mineral sector in Pakistan one of the most profitable for the country. During the current fiscal year, mining and quarrying sector has registered a growth rate of 5.7 percent as against 4.58 percent of last year. The increased growth was propelled by strong growths recorded in magnetite-30%, dolomite-26.1%, Limestone-25.2% and chromites. To make this sector thrive more in the upcoming year the Govt. has already started various initiatives which is evident from the discovery and development of world class copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan by Australian Firms that would fetch $500 million to $600 million per year during the lives of these mines Development of Thar Coal field, one of the largest good quality lignite deposits in the world on completion, would provide additional source of energy.

Important minerals in Pakistan:

1. COAL:

           

According to estimates prepared by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), Pakistan has total coal reserves of  185 billion tons, out of which 184 Billion tons are in Sindh – one of  the biggest good quality lignite deposit in the World.

Utilization of coal:

     Coal utilization in Sugar industry

·        There are 76 sugar mills in the country producing more than 10 million tons of bagasse.

PAKISTAN COAL RESERVES

Province	Resources Million Tons	Status
Baluchistan :
Hamai	76	Dev
Sor Range-Degari	50	Dev
Duki	50	Dev
Mach-Abegum	23	Dev
Pir Ismail Ziarat	12	Dev
Bar khan – Chamalang	6	Dev
Sub-Total	217
PUNJAB:
Salt Range	213	Dev
Markawal	22	Dev
Sub-Total	235
SINDH:
Thar Coal	175,506	Non Dev
Sonda-Thatta	3,700	Non Dev
Indus East	1,777	Non Dev
Jherruck	1,823	Non Dev
Lakhra	1,328	Dev
Ongar	312	Non Dev
Meting – Jhimpir	161	Dev
Badin	16	Non Dev
Sub Total	184,623
NWFP:
Hangu / Orakzai	82
Cherat / Gulla Khel	9	Dev
Sub Total:	90	Dev
Azad Kashmir:
Kotli	9
Sub Total:	9	Dev
Total	185,173

·        This bagasse is used mainly for burning in the boilers for producing steam in power generation to meet the electricity requirement of the mills

·        It has been estimated that the sugar mills based on coal need 4000-4500 tons of coal per day i.e. 1.0 to 1.5 million Coal per annum.

     Coal utilization in Cement industry.

·        Phased conversion of cement plants from fuel oil to coal is under implementation.                                   

·        Conversion of entire cement industry would require around 2.5 million tons of coal annually.

Production of Soft Coke for Foundry industries

Coal of Orakzai Agency is suitable for production of soft coke to meet the requirements of foundry and engineering industries

      Coal Washing

Indigenous coal contains high Sulphur and high ash contents due to which processing industry is reluctant to utilize it. To minimize such deleterious material in indigenous coal and to make it acceptable for processing industry, establishment of coal up-gradation/washing plants is needed.

     Manufacturing of Smokeless Coal Briquetters

·        A viable project to manufacture smokeless coal both for domestic and commercial uses as its calorific value (Btu/Rs) is highest as compared to wood, kerosene oil, Charcoal etc.

     Coal Utilization for power Generation

Can be used for power generation cement and other heat intensive industries.

     Use of Coal in Boilers

There are more than 4000 boilers in the country that use furnace oil or natural gas.Replacement of gas/oil with smokeless coal may be explored.

    

Gasification

Due to limited gas reserves in the country and to utilize Thar coal in best way, gasification is better-utilized option for Thar coal.

2. Copper

The significance of copper resources of Pakistan is widely known because of huge investment made in development of saindak copper deposit.   

       Potential Deposits

More than 1882.5 million tons of Copper reserves are found in Pakistan

      i) Reko Diq Copper – Gold Deposits

Location:  Distt Chaghi, Balochistan

Reserves:           837 million tons

.      Copper (0.64% with 50 millions tons)

                .       Gold (9 million ounces)

       

           

 ii) Saindak Copper – Gold Deposit Balochistan

                   -        Location:   40 km West of Reko Diq project

                -       Reserves;  400 millions tons

                -       Production:       15810 tons – blister Copper

                        (Per year   1.47 tons – Gold

                                        2.76 tons – Silver

Economic Benefits of Copper

         

                   -        Import substitution

                -       Indigenization of technology

-       Relatively cheaper copper available for export and for use in the local market for engineering and electrical cables

3. Zinc / Lead

More than 23.72 million tons of Zinc/Lead reserves are found in Pakistan. The Jurassic rocks of the Lasbela – Khuzdar Belt have the potential to host several WORLD CLASS’ zinc – lead ore deposits. Among the four better known deposits of Surmai Gunga, Dhungei Duddar is the most advanced.

i) Duddar-Gunga-Surmai Lead-Deposits

-        Detailed geo-scientific studies through mapping and drilling (46000 meters) an inferred plus indicated geological reserves of 14.31 Mt @  80.6 % Zn  and cut-off 3.2% Pb have been calculated for the Duddar Deposit using + 7% Zn Pb cut-off.

-       The resources of Duddar Deposit have been estimated at about 50 Mt.

4. Gypsum / Anhydrite

The gypsum resources in Pakistan have existence in at least three interesting areas in terms of their size, resource, quality, reserves and exploitability.

1.       Salt Range of the Punjab

2.       Kohat Banu Region of NWFP

3.       Suleman Range of D.G. Khan, Punjab

Resources:                     5-6 billion tons

Average Production:     384 metric tons per annum

Pakistan Gypsum Reserves

Province Punjab	Deposits
- Rakhi-Munh          -Safed Koh-Rodo area (Central           Suleiman Range)          -Dadukhel – Mianwali area          - Khewra	27 Mt. 15 Mt. 53 Mt . 25Mt.
NWFP: Dera Ismail khan           -Saiduwali           -Near Drazinda and Mughalkot Kohat	20 Mt. 70 Mt. 4,442 Mt. (above surface) 472 Mt. (down to dip of 30 meters.
Balochistan        -Near Spintangi        -Mawand – Khattan        -Barkhan – Chamalang	5 Mt. 20 Mt. 7 Mt.

Potential Investment Opportunities.

§  . Gypsum can be used as Corrector of Low Quality Tube wells     water.

§  Gypsum plaster sand blocks with gypsum mortar, may be considered for the construction of low cost houses.

5. Solar Salt

Bright prospects exist for the development of high purity solar salt facility around the coastal areas of Karachi. Solar salt so produced has export potential to the exponding southeast Asia Chemicals industries and for the growing industries established throughout.

6. Chromite Ore.

          Chromite occurrence is wide- spread yet its potential is far from being fully assessed judging from the favorable geological environment. For this reason, chromite deposits of Baluchistan and NWFP must be considered from a regional standpoint that could enable Pakistan to become a major exporter of chromite and /or ferrochrome.

Potential Deposits

i) Balochistan Chromite Deposits

-        In Pakistan, Muslim Bagh chromite deposits are of the major commercial source of chromite

ii) NWFP Chromite Deposits

-        In Dargai has been spectacular: estimated reserves 0.7 Mt of which 0.3 Mts are proven.

-       In Heroshah, open pit reserves of around 0.1 Mt have been proved.

-       Similary in Jijal-pattan and Chilas areas (Kohistan) Shunghail prospect appear to contain 0.2 Mt reserves.

7. Aluminum Deposits (Bauxite and Laterite)

Potential Deposits

          -        Reserves: about 74 millions tons

          -        Location:   Muzffarabad, Ziarat, Kalat, Khushabd

 Economic Benefits of Aluminum

Import substitution

Indigenization metals and row materials available in the market

Relatively cheaper, Aluminum available for export and for use in the local market for automotive, engineering and electrical