Faiza Tehseen

Fast-track mineral exploration and development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is crucial to exploiting the copper deposits. Their effective exploitation will significantly contribute to the country’s socio-economic growth, opined Principal Geologist at the Islamabad-based Global Mining Company Muhammad Yaqub Shah while talking to WealthPK. He said, “The KP province has an immense mineral wealth, particularly copper deposits. So, the existing terra firma there must be put in rapid action for sustainable mineral exploration and development. For example, the Waziristan Ophiolite Complex covering an area of about 500 sq. kilometres is a high potential target to serve the purpose. Economically, the gossans (highly oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock) in this complex are being worked out by the locals to produce copper concentrate”. Other than Waziristan, copper of good quality is reported from Dir. So, a full exploration of copper in Dir is a must. In Chitral, covering an area of about 150 kilometers, strong prospects amongst the metallic minerals occur including copper, antimony, and gold. These minerals are already being mined there. Unofficially, gold ore is mined there, and the government has to take a drastic action to stop it.

Full-scale development and exploration are necessary there. He said fast-track mining was necessary in the KP province to utilize its mineral sources, and it must be focused. He also underlined the importance of modern exploration techniques, including infrastructure development and investment in the mining sector, to enhance the province's mineral output. Talking to WealthPK, Chief Geologist of Balochistan-based Koh-e-Daleel Minerals (Pvt) Ltd Abdul Bashir said, “Fast-track mineral mining in KP is vital for its development. The Waziristan ophiolite complex is a potential place to mine valuable minerals. It is a series of basalt/gabbro rocks ranging largely between the separated area of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic faults. This area in Pakistan is spread from Hub in Balochistan province, and further from KP to Gilgit Baltistan up to the foothills of the Himalayan Range.” He said, “Sulfide-bearing ores are also associated with them. These high-temperature rocks  bear precious minerals and other valuable mineral concentrates, including copper, gold, silver, cobalt, and chromite. Among these minerals, copper and gold belong to the same family, while cobalt and chromite are of the same group.

Other than Waziristan, a lot of other places are also rich in mineral prospects”.  Explaining further, he said traditionally, mining engineering could be decomposed into three different stages — design, construction, and production/processing. Now, when the fast-tracking technique is applied, it can be an overlap of design and construction or the overlap of construction and production. In the end, the period of each phase will decrease. In short, a fast-track technique provides a theoretical logic and mechanism for an overall decrease in the cost and project duration. Besides the benefits of fast-track mining, it is also necessary to remember that it requires high-tech expertise, a pressure-bearing team, smart equipment, and streamlined infrastructure. He said, “On the other hand, fast-track mining and profit earning can be made possible through easy mining. It also reduces costs, time, and the need for manpower. For example, if we adopt the open pit mining technique, it is rather safe and less time-consuming with a good outcrop. The same is the way to easily extract high-value minerals. If we mine gold, it is a precious metal and its trading can accrue a lot of socio-economic benefits.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk