Sector Overview
Pakistan is endowed with significant mineral resources and emerging as a verypromising area
for exploration of mineral deposits. Based on available information,country’s more than 6, 00, 000 sq.kms
of outcrop area demonstrates varied geologicalpotential for metallic / non-metallic mineral deposits.
Exploration by government agencies as well as by multinational miningcompanies and
various regional geological surveys, conducted in the recent past haveconfirmed the great potential of
Pakistan in the metallic minerals like copper, gold,silver, platinum, chromites, iron, lead and zinc. As
regards industrial minerals there is avast potential of multi- coloured granite, marble and other
dimensional stones of highquality for export purposes.
Currently about 52 minerals are under exploitation although on small scale. Themajor production
is of coal, rock salt, and other industrial and construction minerals.The value addition in the mineral sector
is mainly concentrated in five principalminerals, namely, limestone, coal, gypsum, sulphur, crude oil, and
natural gas.
The current contribution of mineral sector to the GDP is about 0.5% and likely toincrease
considerably on the development and commercial exploitation of Saindak &Reco Diq copper deposits,
Duddar Zinc lead, Thar coal and Gemstone deposits
Realizing the vast potential of major reserves, there is great opportunity for themultinational
companies to invest in this sector, which will be beneficial for theeconomy and the investors in the long
run.
Top Fifteen Minerals of Pakistan
1. Aluminium
2. Iron Ore
3. Copper
4. Chromite Ore
5. Zinc / Lead
6. Coal
7. Gypsum / Anhydrite
8. Phosphates
9. Rock Salt
10. Solar Salt
11. Magnesite
12. Limestone for lime
13. Kaolin (China Clay)
14. Natural Stones as Building Materials
i) Granite
ii). Marble and Onyx
15. GemstonesMineral
(Mineral Map of Pakistan)
anuary 8, 2010
Mineral Resources in Punjab
Iron ore:
Iron ores are present in large deposits in punjab. The major depositsare in Kalabagh
in Mianwali district.
Coal:
In Punjab coal is present in Salt Range and Markawal.The estimated deposits of coal in
this region are 235 million tons. It is average quality coal found in Pakistan in comparison
with other provinces.
Gypsum:
Punjab stands 2nd in gypsum deposits.The major deposit of it is in Dadukhel in
Mianwali area which is about 53 million tons.Other resources are in Rakhi-Munh,Khewra
and Safed koh-Rodo area. Gypsum is also found in Suleman Range of D.G. Khan, Punjab.
Salt:
In Pakistan salt deposits occur in the salt Range (160 kms in length, east and west
trending mountainous arc between Rivers Jhelum and Indus).Rock salt is produced at
Khewra, Warcha, Kalabagh, Bhadurkhel, Jatta and karak salt Mines by Pakistan Mineral
Punjab Mineral Development Corporation operates Chakwal and Khushab salt mines.According to
Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, the rock salt reserves within thearea of their mining operation
are around 600 million tons.
Lime stone:
Lime Stone is present in salt Rang, Potwar Plateau, Margalla Hills and Zinda
Pir (Attock) in large deposits.
Aluminum:In Punjab Aluminium is found in Khushab district. It is graded as low quality
Aluminium.
Calestine:
It contains about 83% Strontium Sulphate. In the year 1984-85 it was 650 tons.Celestite is used in signal
rockets and flares, tracer bullets, transportation warning fused andfire-works. It also used in Strontium
compound Ceramics, luminous paints, plasticsindustries. In Punjab It is found in Daud Khel in the
Western Salt Range
Natural Oil:
In Punjab all large an d renowned oil fields are loccated in potwar region. In
following table a brief description of Oil fields is given.
Natural gas:
In Punjab the only major gas resource is located in Uch near Multan.An other
gas field is Adhi gas field located in Rawalpindi district, supplies 18Mcf/dayof gas ,62
tons/day of LPG,300 Barrels/day of Natural gas liquid(NGL).
Marble:
It is one of the country foreign exchange earning. In Punjab its reserves are in
Dalbandin Hills in Attock District.
MINERAL DEPOSITS OF SINDH
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 Million Tons Billion
tons are in Sindh, one of the biggest good quality lignite deposit in the World.
ECONOMIC MINERAL DEPOSITS OF PAKISTANJanuary 8, 2010
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.
Limestone:
Pakistan is bestowed with extensive deposits of suitable quality of limestone inSindh.In
sindh it is found in Ganjo Takkar, Murli Hills, Mango Pir, Cape Monze, Kot Dijiand Ranipir.It is used mainly
in the manufacture of cement. Road making, buildingconstruction and in the chemicals industries.
Alum:In Sindh Alum is found in Kirthar Nits.
Development Corporation.
Punjab Mineral Development Corporation operates Chakwal and Khushab salt mines.According
to Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, the rock salt reserves within thearea of their mining
operation are around 600 million tons.
Lime stone:
Lime Stone is present in salt Rang, Potwar Plateau, Margalla Hills and Zinda
Pir (Attock) in large deposits.
Aluminum:
In Punjab Aluminium is found in Khushab district. It is graded as low quality
Aluminium.
Calestine:
It contains about 83% Strontium Sulphate. In the year 1984-85 it was 650 tons.Celestite
is used in signal rockets and flares, tracer bullets, transportation warning fused andfire-works. It also used
in Strontium compound Ceramics, luminous paints, plasticsindustries. In Punjab It is found in Daud Khel
in the Western Salt Range.
Natural oil:
In Punjab all large an d renowned oil fields are loccated in potwar region. In
8, 2010
Aluminum:
Aluminum is present in Baluchistan in large deposits. It is found Kalat, Ziaratand Loralai
districts. The mine atKhakhan-China spring in Loralai district produces 2000tons annually.
Iron Ore:
More than 903.4 million tons of iron ores are found in Pakistan and potential ore
deposits in Baluchistan are the following:
Location
Potential
Quality
Dilbandin (Chagai)
3 million tons
Good(55% iron)
Nok kundi
-
Good(+64% iron)
Mastung
-
-
Copper:
The significance of copper resources of Pakistan is widely known because of
hugeinvestment made in development of saindak copper deposit.Copper reserves are present inSaindak
and Reko-diq in Baluchistan.
Copper Project
Location
Reserves
Reko Diq
Distt Chaghi, Balochistan837 million tons
Saindak
40 km West of Reko Diq
400 millions tons
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2009-PET-37
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project
Dasht-e-Kain
Dalbandin
400 millions tons
Ziarat Pir
Dalbandin
200 millions tons
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, chromitedeposits of
Baluchistan and NWFP must be considered from a regional standpoint that couldenable Pakistan to
become a major exporter of chromite and /or ferrochrome.
In Baluchistan, Muslim Bagh, Noshki, Ras-koh, Dilbadin, Miran shah, Wana,Khuzdar, Bela,
chromite deposits are of the major commercial source of chromite.
Zinc:The Jurassic rocks of the Lasbela – Khuzdar Belt have the potential to host several
World class’ zinc – lead ore deposits. Its deposits are also found in Duddar
Gungawhich are estimated over 160 million tons.
Coal:In Baluchistan about 217 million tons of coal are estimated. Thèse Resources are
distributed in Hamai, ,Duki ,Mach-AbegumPir Ismail ZiaratBar khan – Chamalang.
Natural Gas:
Total Natural gas reserves in Pakistan is estimated about 31 trillion cubic feet.InProvince
of Baluchistan,its reserves are in Pirkok, Sui,Mazarani,Golarchi.Sui gas field is thelargest field of
Pakistan, which covers over 75 sq. miles.
Manganese:In Baluchistan Manganese is found in Lasbela and Khuzdar Total estimated
resources in these two regions are 0.477 million tons. .
Limestone for Lime:
Pakistan is bestowed with extensive deposits of suitable quality of
limestone in the province of Balochistan. The average annual production of limestone is 8697
Metric tons used mainly in the manufacture of cement. Road making, building construction
and in the chemicals industries. It is graded as high quality limestone found in Pakistan.
Magnesite:In Baluchistan it is found in Muslim bagh and Bela.
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Gypsum:According to geological servey of Pakistan, about 2000 million ton gypsum
resources are present in different areas of Baluchistan.
Marble:Large deposits of marble are present in Baluchistan,About 2 million ton high quality
Marble is present in Chagai district.
Gems:Early discoveries of most of Gem materials in Balochistan by GSP in connection with
investigations for other mineral commodities, during the course of geological mapping
•In Chagai: Malachite, Azurite,Garnet, Brown Garnet, Zircon, Obsidian, Jade, Jasper, Lapis
•In Panjgur: Auriferous Quartz
•In Kalat: Brown Garnet, Fluorite
•In KillaAbdullah: Aragonite
•In Khuzdar: Agates
•In Loralai Amethyst
