Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan has vast deposits of zincite – a colourless or yellowish orange brittle semi-precious mineral – scattered in the Salt Range of the Punjab and the southwestern province of Balochistan, reports WealthPK.

The country imports zinc oxide – core extraction from zincite – for various industrial purposes as it is manufactured at a low scale which is not enough to meet the local industrial needs. The imports cause reduction in the hard-earned foreign exchange. Talking to WealthPK, Principal Geologist at Islamabad-based Global Mining Company, Muhammad Yaqub Shah said  zinc oxide is a rare mineral also used as a gemstone. Commonly, it occurs in sedimentary rock formations including shale, dolomite, and limestone. Zincite naturally forms in small quantities as a secondary mineral associated with zinc ore deposits.

The most significant zinc ore deposits in Pakistan are found in different places, including the Salt Range of Punjab and Khuzdar and Koh-i-Dalil areas of Balochistan. Its occurrence is the result of alteration and weathering effects of primary zinc minerals, such as sphalerite, said Yaqub. He said, “The nano-particles of zincite are used in different scientific industrial applications, such as biomedical applications being antifungal and biocompatible. It is also used for a multitude of cures and treatments. It is anti-inflammatory for diabetes, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antifungal and is also used in bioimaging and sunscreen to prevent skin from harmful Ultra Violet (UV) rays, etc.”

Colourless or yellowish orange brittle Zincite keeps a hardness level of 4 at the Mohs scale of hardness. Zincite is a superior transition metal applied in many fields, including chemical sensors, ceramics, piezoelectric transducers, anti-UV additives, photocatalysts, agriculture, photoelectric fields, etc. Zinc oxide is an inert white compound used at a great scale for several commercial purposes, such as filler or bulking agent, white pigment, used in rubber, ironstone, glass industry, corrosion inhibitor in paints, as a catalyst in the chemical industry, etc.

The global market of zinc oxide is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% by the year 2030 from US$ 4.92 billion in 2021. Pakistan has substantial zinc reserves. Apart from mining, the indigenous processing and value addition of zinc ore is very important and both government and private mining companies must consider it. After the refining and processing of zinc ore, its ingots, zinc oxide, and a multitude of other zinc-based products can be produced.

Proper policy to use this precious ore to process both gem and other industrial components is very important to strengthen the mining industry. The establishment of proper mining units concerning zinc will not only open new work opportunities but the communities related to the mining business will also earn a sustainable livelihood.

Credit: INP-WealthPk