Mineral Resources of Swat Valley Pakistan

Swat Valley is rich of GOD gifted mineral resources. Most of the minerals in swat belong to family 10 in periodic table.Therefore these minerals are valueable and internationaly recognised. They include Sulphides, oxides and Hydroxides, Nitrats, Carbonates and Borates, Silicates and other unclassified minerals. The list having 18 entries in that 14 are valid minerals. Following are the minerals, which have been already found and successfully explored for commercial use.

China Clay or Kaolin:

China clay or kaolin is used for white ware and special type of cement and as paper and rubber filler. The largest mine of China clay is found in a village called Shahderai, having the finest quality of China clay in Pakistan. The total reserves were estimated 2.8 million tons.
The same type of China clay has also been found in Shahdin and Doshagram near Matta. But the important issue is the ceramic factory is situated 200km away from these mines ( near Attok ). which is a matter fo disgus for local peoples, decreasing the chances of jobs in Swat valley.

Marble

Emerald Mines

Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes iron. It is highly prized as a gemstone and ounce for ounce is the most valuable gemstone in the world, often made more so by inclusions. Beryl has a hardness of 8 on the 10-point Mohs scale of hardness. Emerald is the birthstone for May.

The mine is located in the outskirts of Mingora in Fizaghat. This is deep green color exceptional clarity and excellent quality. The production of Gem grade emeralds made during 1978-1988 was 280671.96 carats. The reserves are estimated to 13.2 millions cts. The finest quality is the best to export to the international markets. There is an export potential of millions of dollars if is excavated and cut for international standards.

Dolomite/Lime stone

Dolomite and Limestone are sedimentary rock occur in regular bed, lime stone is calcium carbonate mix with impurities and Dolomite having clay, sand other impurities both occurs in various colours and shades. They are used for manufacturing cement and lime, used in bleaching powder, glass industry, soap, paint, also used filler and as ingredient in chemical process etc. A number of lime stone deposits are found in swat valley. The deposits are located in Nawagai, kot, Manyar, Panr, Serai, Ghaligai, Shagai, Salam pur, Marghuzar, Mingora and Saidu sharif.

Granite

A very hard, crystalline, plutonic rock, gray to pink in color, consisting of feldspar, quarts and smaller amounts of other minerals, which is produced naturally under intense heat and pressure. Often used as floors in office buildings or as kitchen and bathroom countertops in homes.

This is excavated from Cham, Khwar Mandaona, Nawe Kalai, Fatehe pur, Malakand and Utrar and Barikot. A valuable green colour grinate is also mined from Saidu. The Malakand Granite is well known and located on the Malakand top opposite to Gibraltar hill, the labours blasting and cutting in to blocks for coomercial use. Many of Govt buildings in malakand are constructed by this stone.

Feldspar

It is also one of the important mineral. They generally composed of aluminum-silicate. Potassium, sodium and calcium. They generally occur in white or light colours but also exhibit in other colours. This is used in specialized electrical porcelain, scouring soaps, used in glass industry, pottery making, artificial teeth also used as filer and alkalis. This mineral is obtained from Ramial, Gharai, Darmai, Azad banda, Tiligram, Chuprial, Spal Bandai, Asharban, Kabal, Chinklai, Puronai, Kokari etc

Mica

A group of minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium which are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Mica vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black and characteristically split into very thin leaves. Sheets of mica used in insulation and electrical equipment because of their resistance to electricity. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc.
The reserves of mica are found in various places of Mingora, Shaladar and Barbak Bands.

Quartz

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust. It has a hexagonal crystal structure made of trigonal crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2), with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Density is 2.6g/cm³. The typical shape is a six-sided prism that ends in six-sided pyramids, although these are often distorted, or so massive that only part of the shape is apparent from a mined specimen.

The deposits or quartz are in Chuprial, Biakand and Ghari. Hornbelendite at Shakardara, Ball clay in Laikot and the reserve of Sarpentine are also mined in Swat valley.

Barite

Barite, a name that was derived from the Greek word "barus" (heavy), is the mineralogical name for barium sulfate. In commerce, the mineral is sometimes referred to as "barytes." The term "primary barite" refers to the first marketable product, which includes crude barite (run of mine) and the products of simple beneficiation methods, such as washing, jigging, heavy media separation, tabling, flotation, and magnetic separation.
Barite can be found in kabalgram, sabunai.

Pyroxine Group

The crystals of Pyroxine can be used as semi precious- to precious material in ornaments and jewellery. Enstatite is green Varity of pyroxine, which are mined in different sited in swat valley.

Garnet Group

Naturally is consisting of primarily of great Varity Almandine. The mineral is abundant n deep colour mostly used to abrasive purposed but large grain having god luster and fractures can be used for gem purposes.

Magnesite

This mineral is used in iron and steel industry, rubber, paper used in animal feed and pharmaceutical industry, as insulation as primarily alloying to aluminum. Manganese is found at Serai etc

Tourmaline group

This is a crystalline mineral it has prismatic or elongated hexagonal found in various colours but black variety is more abundant. It has crystal can be used as precious material.

Vermiculite

This found and mined in swat, mostly used in constructional lightweight concrete, fire proof coating, packing materials as carried and extender for insecticide and herbicide, plastic and paint etc

Kyanaite

Written by: Umar Khan   From: Mingora   Veiwed: 6089 Times since Date:2005-09-10