A review on the mineral and coal resources of northern and southern Punjab,

M. Sadiq Malkani Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan

The Northern and Southern Punjab includes sedimentary basins like the Potwar (Upper Indus) Basin and part of Sulaiman (Middle Indus) Basin. The Northern and Southern Punjab has high potential of minerals/rocks like indigenous iron, radioactive minerals, rock phosphate, coal, gypsum, rock salt, laterite/bauxite, ochre, silica sand, natural gas and oil, dolomite, limestone (marble), sandstone, gravel, sand, silt and different type of clays, etc., and low potential of celestite and potash salt.

Coal in Punjab is found in Makarwal and Salt Range. It is developed in Tobra Formation of Lower in the Buri Khel area of Western Salt Range, Hangu Formation of - (K-Pg) boundary to Early Paleocene in the Makarwal, and Patala Formation of late Paleocene in the Eastern and Central Salt Range. In Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajan Pur districts, some coal showings are reported like the coal from Late Eocene Domanda Formation of Rakhi Munh, Mahoi and Zain BMP post areas of Dera Ghazi Khan District and Upper Tuso, Nabi Bakhsh Thal Nala and Khan BMP post area of Rajan Pur District, Late Eocene Drazinda Formation from Haft Gath/Shaheed Ghat area (Zinda Pir area) of D.G. Khan District and Chitarwata Formation in Khandor BMP post area of D.G.Khan District. Deep coal is also reported near Multan. Further the Cholistan areas are most significant for coal and have vast areas for exploration of petroleum, and water resources. Working coal mines in Punjab are the Makerwal (22 million ton), and Salt Range (213 million ton) coalfields of Punjab with total reserves of about 235 million ton. Due to energy crises, it is necessary to find new coalfields and also to properly utilize already explored coalfields.

Some commodities are being utilized and some are being exported but most of the commodities are waiting for their utilization and developments. Cement raw materials are present in the Daman areas of D.G.Khan and Rajan Pur districts. Therefore, the installation of more cement industries can help in improving the socio-economic condition of the area. Further terrestrial water resources are two much and rain water is going into sea creating flood and loss in the agricultural lands and population, so building of smaller dams along with major dams are vital for Pakistan because its population is increasing rapidly. Huge gypsum deposits in Pakistan are found in Sulaiman foldbelt but are not properly utilized so far. Punjab is rich in energy resources like coal, solar, terrestrial water, biomass and wind but is still deficient in energy. All these deposits need to be exploited for the development of the country.

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