Other Minerals

Pakistan has considerable deposits of non-metallic minerals, including rock salt, gypsum, china clay, limestone and marble. Metallic minerals found in some quantity are chromite, antimony, and iron ore.

Iron Ore

Iron ore deposits occur at many localities. The more important are as such:

KALABAGH: iron ore occurs near Kalabagh in the Surghar Range and near Sakesar in the Salt Range. They are the largest deposits in Pakistan, but the ore is of low grade (30-35 percent iron) and of irregular composition, broadly classified into two main types, Chichali and Kutch. Reserves are estimated about 300 million tons.

DOMMEL NISAR : Magnetite deposits in southern Chitral, about 20 miles south of Drosh, have an iron content of 55-65 percent. The ore occurs in lenticular bodies and reserves are estimated at 3 million tons.

LANGRIAL, GALDANIAN AND ABBOTABAD ore. Langrial iron deposits are in the vicinity of Langrial village in Haripur tehsil, about 20 miles south of Abbottabad. The area is highly folded and faulted, and the ferruginous beds occur discontinuously. The iron content varies widely between 9 and 50 percent. The Galdanian deposits, about 10 miles north-east of Abbottabad, have an average iron content of 20 percent. The Abbottabad deposits occur on the eastern side of the city. Iron content varies from 14-46 percent. Total reserves in Hazara District are estimated to be more than 100 million tons.

CHILGHAZI : magnetite deposits of various magnitudes have been discovered in Chagai District, near Dalbandin. Reserves of high grade ore (55 percent iron or more) are estimated over 3 million tons, and of low grade ore (25-30 percent iron) at 20 million tons.

Chromite

Large deposits of chromite occur in the Hindubagh area of the Zhob valley. These are the best known of the chromite deposits in Pakistan, and have been extensively exploited. Most of the producing mines are in Jang Torgarh and Khanozai. Other deposits are in Chagai and Kharan, along the flanks of the Ras Koh Range, and north of Hari Chand village in Charsadda District.

Chromium is used in making stainless steel, high speed tools and precision instruments, dyes, and in photography. Total production, almost all of which is exported, amounted to 27,300 tons in 1970/1.

Rock Salt and Brine

All the rock salt deposits in Pakistan occur in the Salt Range, and particularly at the base of the Salt Range escarpment, from Junate to Mari Indus. The most important mines are in Khewra, Warcha, Kalabagh and Jatta.

KHEWRA is the most extensively worked area with seams attaining a thickness of as much as 60 ft. Khewra is the terminus of the Makarwal branch of the Pakistan Railway. The deposits have been worked since 1872. Present production is 220,000 tons a year.

WARCHA is 10 miles north-west of Gunjital railway station. The mine has five seams, with a maximum thickness of 50 ft., and produces 40,000-45,000 tons a year.

KALABAGH salt deposits are located on the right bank of Luni Wahan nullah. The seams are irregular and contorted and production is small.

JATTA, BAHADURKHEL AND KARAK salt deposits are located in the trans-Indus extension of the Salt Range. The thickness of the rock salt in the Bahadurkhel area is 350 ft. while in Jatta and Karak, it is over 100 ft. Production from this area almost equals that of the Warcha mines. The reserves, however, are thought to be very large.

Salt is also obtained from brine and salt lakes, but the amount obtained from these sources is relatively small compared with that of rock salt (344,000 tons in 1970/7). Salt is harvested in the Tharparkar area of Sind, where a 6-foot layer of salt covers an extensive area, and obtained by evaporating sea-water at Mauripur, near Karachi, and along the Makran and Lasbela coasts. Large deposits of concentrated brine have been discovered at Dharyala near Khewra. Various chemicals and fertilizers may be manufactured from this brine at a potash factory proposed for Dharyala.

Gypsum

Gypsum deposits occur frequently in the western mountains of Pakistan. Those at Khewra, Dandot and Kaudkhel are the best known. The deposits vary in thickness and colour. Light grey to white and reddish pink are most common. Total production amounts to 164,000 tons. Gypsum is used in the manufacture of cement, plaster of Paris, fertilizers, and prefabricated construction board.

Limestone