ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN

Economic geology is the branch of geology that dal with economically valuable geological materials or
study of how geological deposits can be used as an economic resource.
The economy of all the countries in the world depend upon natural resources.
Pakistan economy 40% depend on natural resources e.g. oil, gas, coal and water
GEMSTONE
Most of gemstone ore reported from northern areas of Pakistan. Although variety of gemstone occur but
only emerald by Swat is being exploited on a substantial scale at present. The swat emerald mines are
situated near the town at Mingora. The emerald hearing area is composed of low-grade metamorphic
rocks of green-schist facies, particularly Chlorite mica Schist talc mica schist, graphite mica schist.
Emerald found in the soft talc schist which outcrop for about 15km with an average thickness of 200m.
Other places where emerald mineralization is known include Nawe Dand in Mohmand Agency and Tora
Tigga micaceous schist
Except for emerald economic potential of other known gemstone is not get clear however list of gemstone
occurrences are
1) SAPPHIRE
Illaga khorming Baltistan gilgit , mochel padror Kashmir
2) RUBBY
Bashe – higher and strakin randu gilgit Baltistan
3) CORRUNDUM
Timergara, dir, shah dehri and kalam swat
4) TOPAZ
Katlang, mardan, lutkha valley chitral, haramosh ranges gilgit
5) AQUAMARINE
Lutkho valley chitral, dir, dassu and khoplu, gilgit, indus Kohistan and kaghan valley, neelum
valley, azad Kashmir
6) SPINEL
Baltistan – hunza Baltistan
7) TOURMALINE
Khaplu, gilgit Baltistan
Haramosh – swat area

GOLD
Gold is precious metal
>Major composition in jewelry > Gold occurs mainly as native metal, or alloyed with silver and other
metals as tellurides. >It is commonly associated with sulphides of iron, silver, arsenic, antimony and
copper.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The richest gold deposits commonly occur in some fissure veins/though much larger quantities are
contributed by more extensive medium-grade deposits.
Gold deposits occurs as hydrothermal, metamorphism and replacement deposits or as cavity fillings in
fissures) Stockwork, saddle reefs, braccias and conglomerate.
Also occurs as nuggets and grains in placer deposits.
OCCURENCES IN PAKISTAN
In Pakistan sharing and deposits of gold have been noted in several localities.
CHAGAI DISTRICT
In Chagai magmatic arc, a number of porphyry type deposits which may contain appreciable quantities of
gold along, with copper and silver.
Vein type and skarn type deposits also occur in the Chagai arc area.
It is expected that world class gold deposits may be discovered in Chagai district of Balochistan province.
Andesitic Rock – volcanic
NORTHERN AREAS
Due to frequent occurrence of gold in placer deposits and existence of favorable metallogeny for gold
mineralization in northern area.
DROSH
Metallogen:
Study of the genesis and regional to global distribution of mineral deposits with emphasis on their
relationship in space and time to regional petrologic and tectonic fracture of earth crust.
PLACER DEPOSITS
In geology, a placer deposits or placer is an accumulation of valuable minerals formed by gravity
separation from a specific source rock daring sedimentary process. Spanish word meaning Allovial sand.
SARGODHA DISTRICT
The Precambrian shield rocks exposed in Chiniot area of Punjab and Thar parkar area of Sindh are also
favorable for the occurrence of gold.
Traces of gold have been found in the volcanogenic hematite iron ore near Chiniot.
GRAVITY SEPARATION: Is an industrial method of separation two components either suspension or
dry granular mixture. i.e. the components of mixture have different specific weight.
DIR DISTRICT
Significant gold, silver and copper anomaly have been reported in the Dir volcanic group, near zaluka
village. (250km N OF PESHAWAR)
The host rock comprises a sub porphyritic to porphyry sequence.
There is a 6m wide alteration zone, containing visible malachite and azurite.
The ore mineral contains covellite, bornite and chalcocite.
12 samples from this zone yielded 3 to 11 ppm gold 6 to 200 ppm silver 1-6.5% cu.
MANGANESE ORE
The mineral which comprises manganese ores are pyrolusite (manganese dioxide), Mno2 rhodonite
(manganese silicates) and braunite (manganese oxysilicate), manganite (Mn203H20)
USES
Today its main use is in production of iron and steel (as an alloying element with several non ferros
metals mainly alluminium).
Used to make dry cell batteries
Used n glass industry
Alloy – a metal made y combining two or more metallic elements especially to give greater strength or
resistance.
Manganese deposits occur areas as secondry enrichment deposits and as hydrothermal deposits several
small deposits of manganese ore occur in Pakistan mainly associated with the volcanic rocks in the
ophiolitic thrust belt extending from Bela through Zhob and Waziristan to Parachinar.
In this belt, veins and lenses of manganese ore occur in the volcano sedmintary
OCCURENCES IN PAKISTAN
No commercial deposits of manganese has so for been found in Pakistan
In known deposits the ores contain less than 35%.
BELA OPHIOLITE DEPOSITS
In Bela ophiolitic thrust belt, lenticular manganese ore bodies are associated with volcanic rocks.
They occur in frequencies and siliceous horizons overlying basaltic lavas.
The more important localities ore Kharrari nai, Siro dhoro, Gadani ridge and Dadi dhro
The total estimated reserves of manganese ore in Pakistan are about 0.5m.t and annual production has
varied from 100 to 600 tones.
Most of this production comes from the Las Bela region.
LEAD AND ZINC
Lead and zinc due to their close association in nature ore being deal together
Both these metals form important alloys having varied industrial uses
USES
Lead is used in storage batteries ( lead acid)
 Cable covering > Lead pipes
ZINC USES
Uses of zinc ore based on its properties of low melting, high electrochemical activity and its ability to
alloy readily with copper to Make brass.
It is mainly used in paints > photocopying > ink
The most common minerals of economic significance ore galena(Pbs) and sphalerite
Setting
Lead and znc deposits largely occur as stratbound deposits, volcano sedimentary deposits, as vein or
contact metamorphic deposits.
The stratabound deposits are commonly hosted in limestone or dolomites. Volcano sedimentary deposits
comprise massive sulphide bodies interlayered with volcanic or sedimentary rock
FORM
Lamination ( stratification )
Cross cutting veins
Open space filling in bracciated list ( they are usually irregular and discordant)
OCCURRENCE IN PAKISTAN
DUDDAR – Baluchistan
Duddar deposits occur in the upper part of the Shrinab formation and ore of sedimentary exhalative type.
The lower part comprises a Zn-Fe sulphide zone.
Middle part is high grade ZnPb sulphides zone
Upper zone is Fe- sulphide zone
At duddar proved reserves pf 6.86 million tonne and inferred reserves of 3.43 mt with 11.34% zinc and
2.01% lead.
GUNGA DEPOSITS
11km SE of Khuzar, is hosted by Early to middle Jurassic anjira fm.
The mineralization zone extends over a distance of 1,200m and is easily distinguished as a silicic gossan.
The gossan continues 3-4%Pb and Zn the deposits explored through 14 drill holes
The ore body contains over 6% zn and 15%Pb
Proven reserves of 6.5mt
Probable reserve of 3mt
Possible reserves of 3.3mt
SURMAI DEPOSIT
Is located about 1km South of the Gunga deposits
Here the mineralization is hosted in list of loralai formation and is of the Missippi valley type
Reserves of 2.93mt of ore with Pb-Zn content
LAHOR PAZANG
Lead zinc deposits have been located in the lahor-pazang area near Besham
These are located within a fault zone in a highly tectonised region close to MMT
The ore occurs in the veins and as disseminations in the metavolcanics and metasediments of Proterozoic
Pazang fm
An average the ore contains 3.1- 3.4% lead and 4.2-6.2% zinc
Reserves are estimated at 1.5mt
IRON
Rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be extracted economically.
Iron are used for the extraction of iron which is the most commonly exploited metallic mineral in the
modern world.
Fe, being the third most abundant element on the earth crust
USES
Fe is used for making almost every iron and steel object that we use today from proper clips to
automobiles
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
Fe is found in a variety of geological environment
All three major class of rocks i.e. igneous , metamorphic and sedimentary serves as host for the
mineralization of iron ore
Iron ore occurs in banded sedimentary iron formations (of Precambrian age) as a residual or replacement
deposits – such ore contains 50% - 68% Fe. (banded formation deposits)
Iron ore also occurs as oolitic ironstone (in paleozoic to cretaceous) sed sequences and mostly contain
25% - 35% iron. (iron stone deposit)
Massive iron ore deposits of igneous origin, comprising magnetic and hematite (occur in pre-cambrian
rocks)
These type of deposits form as magmatic segregations of magnetic xlls in magma or as sheet like bodies
formed by injection of magnetite – rich solutions into the host rocks
They also occurs as pyrometasomatic deposits formed due to replacement of limestone or volcanic rocks
by magnetite near their contact with intrusive igneous rocks such deposits contain up to 65% iron
Occurrences of iron ore are widespread in Pakistan
They are largely in the form of lateritic beds along major unconfirmities, volcanogenic ores or contact
metasomatic deposits
FORM
 Lense form > Oolites
Groups pf beds confined to a certain stratigraphic interval
OCCURENCES IN PAKISTAN
32km south of Drosh in Chitral district
It occurs close to the main karakoram thrust and is a contact – metasomatic deposit of magnetite that
occurs in garnet – epidote meta – volcano sedimentary rocks intruded by glendiorite. The magnetite being
skar bodies are lenticular or irregular in shape
The ore contains small amounts of speculates
The gangue minerals include garnet, epidote, calcite, quartz and rock fragments
The ore contains Fe 50-65% (average 48.6%) Sio2 4 – 15%, Cao 1 – 5%, Al2O3, 0.5 – 4% an Mn > 0.5%
It is a small deposit and the reserves are estimated at about 6.5 million tones
LANGRIAL IRON ORE
This deposit occurs about 30km south of Abbotabad
It is a lateritic deposit hosted within limestone beds at the cretaceous – paleocene boundary
The ore form layers of oolitic, lateritic or ferruginous sandy material as much as 6 – 7 m thick
The ore is speed along a distance of 45 km and due to structural complications has been repeated 22 times
It varies both vertically and laterally
The langrial ore reserves are estimated at about 30m tones
KALABAGH IRON ORE
Iron ore deposits are located in the surghar range in the vicinity of kalabagh
These are the largest deposits of iron ore (abt 300 million tones) in Pakistan and occur in the cretaceous
chichali formation which is largely comprised of glauconitic s.st and shale
This formation is exposed along a belt from Makarwal in surghar range to Kalabagh and Sakesar in the
Salt range
The ore is of low grade and varies considerably in minerology and chemical composition
34.60 + 206 + 52 – reserves
 Chamosite-siderie glauconite-siderite transitional type & glauconite-siderite

PEZU IRON ORE

(Chichali type) low grade laterite iron ore occurs in shield buclin hills about 2.5kms southeast of pezu
village
The iron ore beds are formed in cretaceous strata (similar to the chichali fm)
The deposit is comprised of an upper reddish ferruginous bed which has a lower iron content and alower
yellowish brown bed which has a higher iron content ranging from about 30 – 34% ( it is comparable to
the chichali ore)
NIZAMPUR IRON ORE
The nizampur deposits are 24km from Kharan bridge of National highway on Indus river
The ore is of the sed type and is found at the base of Datta formation (of early Jurassic)
The reserves are estimated at about 100 million tones of ore – consisting of hematite
The iron content varies from 25 – 30 %
DILBAND IRON ORE
The iron ore deposits recently discovered ny the GSP at Dilband
It is considerable economic significance
The ore horizon occupies the top of chichali limestone of Jurassic age and is overlain by Parh group
sediments of cretaceous age
This horizon is 1 to 7 m thick exposed in a wide area
MINEROLOGY
Mineralogically it predominantly consist of hematite with calcite , quartz and chlorite
It contain 35 – 48% Fe
Reserves of iron ore – 200 million tones
Diland iron ore is considered better than any other iron ore known to occur in Pakistan
PACHIN KOH CHIGENDIK IRON ORES
These deposits are located 88kms NW of Nokkundi town in chagai district
The ore is largely comprised of magnetite and hematite
The ore contain Fe03 67 – 82%
These are 27 small magnetite – hematite bodies
The ore reserves are estimated at 5mt at chigendik and 45mt at Pachin Koh
30 mt ore proven
CHILGAZI IRON ORE
The chilgazi iron ore deposit is located about 52km NW of Dalbandin town in chagai district
The deposit occurs in the sinjrani volcanos
The iron ore is largely comprised of massive magnetite and layers of magnetite
Ore body contain 32 – 55% Fe
Reserves of high grade 3.36mt. & low grade 25-30% Fe in 20mt