Faiza Tehseen

Greenfield exploration of vanadium can bring fortune to Pakistan provided policymakers focus on this important segment of the mineral sector.

Talking to WealthPK, Muhammad Yaqub Shah, a geologist at an Islamabad-based mining company, said vanadium occurred in at least 65 minerals. “Some of them are vanadinite, carnotite, roscoelite and patronite, while some of the prominent ore minerals of vanadium are ilmenite, hematite, magnetite and rutile.” He said from January 1992 to June 2001, Pakistan Minerals Development Company had carried out geological exploration and evaluation of gold and base metals in northern parts of Pakistan to find greenfield exploration targets. He said about 1,379 samples were collected and chemically analysed in Ultra Trace Labs, Perth, Western Australia. “Only 22 samples of -80 mesh size contained vanadium content between 500 to 1000 grams per tonne.” “Excluding only two samples as they were taken from the main river system, the remaining samples strongly advocate the greenfield exploration targets to find the vanadium-bearing source rocks from the entire region.” He said geographical markings on the tectonic map of Gilgit-Baltistan disclosed that a whole lot of the samples, according to their respective drainage domains, fell within the jurisdiction of the Kohistan-Ladakh Island Arc sequence of rocks – situated between the two continental plates (Indian plate and Eurasian plate).

“These plates are separated here through two thrusts ‘Main Mantle Thrust (MMT)’ and ‘Main Karakoram Thrust (MKT)’.”  “The Kohistan-Ladakh Terrane in GB is comprised of a layered mafic-ultramafic association of rocks; meta-plutonic rocks; and metamorphosed mafic volcanic; and marine sediments. These are intruded by a wide-ranging suite of tholeiitic to calc-alkaline plutons and their volcanic equivalents, i.e., pegmatites, aplite, and numerous likely associated minor intrusive.” “This particular arc represents a series of geological environments, including Island Arc, Cordilleran Arc, deep crustal level mafic and ultramafic cumulate complexes, and post-collision crustal melt intrusive. After closely examining the anomalous vanadium-bearing samples in context to their respective float rock occurrences (in the respective drainage catchment cells), it may be concluded that sulfide zones within layered ultramafic/basic rocks of the Chilas Complex, Chalt, and Shamaron/Teru Volcanics may be the potential sites to find vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) deposits.” Concluding his remarks, Yaqub Shah said that all the pre-described evidence was a strong indication of vanadium findings. “It must be considered for the greater benefit of the country. It will show its far-reaching advantages in the future,” added Yaqub Shah, also a former general manager of PMDC. 

The global vanadium market is projected to grow to $4.49 billion by the year 2032 at a compound annual growth rate of 5% from $3.04 billion in 2023. Silvery white vanadium is hard and ductile and has anti-corrosive propertiessss.For industrial purposes, it is used in certain metal alloys to manufacture crankshafts, axles, tools, piston rods, vehicle bodies, shock-resistant sheets, space crafts, aircraft carriers, vanadium steels, and armour plates. Vanadium is also used in nuclear reactors. Oxides of vanadium are used as catalysts in sulfuric acid, dyes and pigment in ceramics. In the pharmaceutical industry, vanadium is used to treat bad cholesterol, heart disease, anaemia, syphilis, tuberculosis, water retention, cancer, and diabetes. It also helps to improve insulin sensitivity. It is also a part of supplements for athletes. In the human body, it helps in bone growth and is a trace element in a variety of human diets.   The increasing use of vanadium in the steel and automobile manufacturing industry makes it an important metallic mineral. Although it occurs in abundance, it is one of the most expensive elements to recover. Generally, the recovery ratio is 1.5%. So, Pakistan may get assistance from friendly and resourceful countries in both technical and financial aspects. It is high time for the policymakers in Pakistan to consider the importance of mineral resources in the country, including vanadium.

Credit: INP-WealthPk