(; col. Bull. Univ. Peshawar, Vo1.30, pp. 191-207, 1997.
Regional Geochemical Prospecti inerals in Chitral,
ABDUL KHALIQ~,C. J. MOON^ & M. U. K. KHATTAK~ '~akistanAtomic Energy Commission, P.0 Box 734, Peshawar University, Peshawar, Pakistan. '~eolo~~Department, Leicester University, England, U.K. '~ationalCentre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
ABSTRACT: A comprehensive regional geochemical survey was curried out in Upper Chitral area. This survey was based on parzned concentrates sampling techniques, during which a total of 68 samples were collectedfrorn most ofmajor rivers and their tributuries covering an area of more than 1000 km2.
The aim of this geochemical investigation was to determine metals dispersion, their relation to mineralization, and regional distribution in the drainage system of the urea. Our research reveals that Chitral area l~usa high potential for mineralization. Some valleys contain polynzettalic anornulies while others have either precious or base metals.
Strong anomalies of precious and base metals, together with As and Sb were detected in the northernmost part (Tirich Go1 valley) of the surveyed area in which the respective ranges of A u, Ag, As, Sb, Cu, Pb, and Zn are 20- 2500 ppb, 2-22 ppm, 2- 1500 ppm, 1-18 ppm, 50-400 ppnz, 100-1200 ppnz, and 50-550 ppm. The signzj?cunt minerd occurrences are found north of Reshun Formation. The central part (Barzm, Pasti cmd Shoghor) of the survey area shows polymetallic signature with signflcant enrichment of precious metals Au=IO-200ppb, Ag=l-12pprn, As=10-200pprn andSb=I-lOyp171). The southern part, rnainly Kafiristan valley, is hig in Pb (100-1800 ppm) with some anomalies of Au (1-100 ppb) and Ag (2-1 7ppin).
New targets for mineral prospecting were located at several localities of Chitral valley. Important regional structures, such as faults, and their significance regarding mineralization were also defined during this investigation.
INTRODUCTION Chitral is difficult and usually takes several days walk on foot. The Chitral area Chitral district lies in the northwestern part of (Karakoram terrane) is separated from the the northern Pakistan on the leading southern Kohistan arc terrane by the Northern Suture edge of the Asian Plate (Fig. 1). It is connected Zone. The rock units of Chitral area are to Peshawar, the capital of N.W.F.P. province dominated by argillaceous succession and by road and plane service. The plane service is carbonate units of Ordovician to lower often subject to bad weather and the road from Cretaceous age (Austromineral, 1978a; Calkins Peshawar to Chitral town is closed for several et al., 1981, Tahirkheli; 1982, Pudsey et al., months in winter due to snow on the 3,200 1985). metre high Lowari Pass through which the road passes. The area is extremely mountainous and Due to its remoteness and inaccessibility rough. Accessibility to the remote valleys of this part of northern Pakistan has .not been so far systematically investigated either these metals in Chitral area. Leak (1984) and geologically or metallogenically. First attempt Leak and Haslam (1 985) undertook panned- on mineral exploration programme based on concentrate survey in some of the valleys of stream sediments sampling techniques was Chitral area for base metals and tungsten and carried out by Austromineral during i 974- concluded that such survey was effective in the 1978. Their main objectives were to explore area for detecting anomalies of mentioned the area for base metals and scheelite metals. The present study is mainly aimed at mineralization. They analysed stream locating gold and precious metals in the area in sediments for base metals and tungsten and contrast to the previous studies carried out for concluded that there was little potential for base metals only.
Fig. 1. Showing the three main geological units of N. Pakistan along with stud) area.
An orientation study carried out around the were collected from most of the major rivers known gold prospects at Shoghor area (Chitral) and their wet tributaries covering an area of demonstrated that of the three sampling 1000 sq, km. along strike north and southwards mods, panned- concentrates give the best from the known mineralization of Shoghor area ------anomaly/ basground contrast (Kl%aKq- 2 lJ3& 2rTkaimwas-trksttke-exk1rjb1vof Moon, in press). On this basis a comprehensive the Shoghor mineralization towards the regional panned concentrates sampling previously reported Pb- Zn sliows at Pakhturi programme was carried out in the upper Chitral in the NE and the Pb anomalies in Kafiristan during which 68 panned- concentrate samples reported by Leake and Haslam (1 985). Fig. 2. Location map for regional panned-concentrate samples, Chitral area.
Moreover, to have a complete picture of the volcano- sedimentary and intrusive rocks with a area, samples were also collected from Mastuj varying degree of metamorphism. The valley and Koghozi areas south of Reshun metamorphic rocks are mainly those of Formation. Sampling in the area is extremely greenschist facies of regional metamorphism, difficult and needs several hours walk on foot increasing to the amphibolite facies as the to collect 2 to 3 samples per day. An index map granite bodies are approached (Calkins et al., of Chitral showing various valleys of the survey 1981). Rocks of low metamorphic grade area is shown in Fig. 3. inciude slate, marble, chlorite- quartz schist, volcanic greenstone, graphitic schist and other GENERAL GEOLOGY types. Higher grade metamorphic rocks of the amphibolite facies and its equivalent include The Asian Plate lies north of the Northern garnet-biotite schist, garnet- biotite- stauroiite Suture and covers mainly the Chitral district schist and other types. These units have a and adjoining areas in Pakistan. The highly general strike fiom west to east and are mountainous Chitral district is characterized by dominated by an argiliaceous succession Palaeozoic- Mesozoic series of sedimentary, containing thick carbonate units of Devonian to Lower Cretaceous age (Austromincral, 1978a; investigated area general geology is comprised Calkins et al., 1981 ,-~ahirkheli, 1982). In the of the following lithologies.
Fig. 3. Index map of Chitral showing subdivision of the survey area.
(a) Arkari-Atak Group up to Hot spring in the north west of Chitral This unit is a (?) Mesozoic sequence of dark- district. In the area of Tirich Gol, the sequence grey slates to siltstones and fine- grained is intruded by Tirich Mir massif and obtains a quartzite with intercalations of thick layers of higher metamorphic grade. There are several limestones and calcareous schists. This group outcrops of crystalline limestones between . extends from west of Baroghil- Pass at the upper Tirich Go1 and west of Shah- Jinali Pass, northeastern boundary between Chitral and some of which outcrops are several kilometers Afghanistan through Shah- Jinali Pass, Turkho thick and extend laterally for several Valley, upper Tirich Gol, Arkari Go1 and right kilometers. (b) Owir-Awireth Group features are recognisable. The contact of this This is an upper Palaeozic sequence of dark to limestone with Chitral slate is a vertical fault dark grey slates to siltstones and fine- grained (Stauffer, 1975). Desio (1959) reported quartzites, calcareous schist, limestone and Orbitolinas from this limestone and on the dolomites with small intercalations of green basis of these fossils they assigned a meta- volcanics. This group parallels the Cretaceous age to this limestone. Arkari- Atak Group and extends from east of Baroghil Pass through the south of Shah- Jinali (e) Reshun Formation Pass, Lower Valleys of Turkho and Tirich Gol, This formation extends from the southwest of Owir Pass, southern slopes of Tirich Mir Reshun to northeast all the way to Baroghil massif, Awireth Go1 and into Kafiristan. It Pass and consists of massive light- brown contains several outcrops of fossiliferous conglomerate and beds of red siltstone and limestones throughout of its length. Calkins et shales. The name Reshun Formation was used al. (1981) mapped a continuous Devonian by Stauffer (1975). Southwest of the Reshun, carbonate unit at the southern boundary of this near Partsan, this formation interfingers with group. Shoghor limestone. The conglomerate contains pebbles and cobbles of limestone, quartzite, (c) Devonian carbonate unit greenstone, sandstone, acidic and intermediate This unit is dominantly carbonate and lies at volcanic rocks, and rare granites. The beds of the southern boundary of Owir- Awireth group conglomerate range from 3 to 15 m in and is a part of the same sequence. Southwards thickness. Additional lithologies include red it is bounded by the Reshun fault. This calcareous shales and massive pale grey carbonate unit possibly extends from Partsan micritic limestone with rudist remains of area in the west all the way to Baroghil Pass in Aptian- Albian age (Talent et al., 1982, Pudsey the east. It includes the Shogram Formation et al., 1985). Common among the pebbles are described by Stauffer (1975), which consists of greenstones of various types which are massive dolomite with fine- grained quartzites predominant in the lower part of conglomerate overlain by bedded dolomite with fossiliferous while limestone and dolomite are dominant in limestones and thin shales and is 800 metres the upper part (Stauffer, 1975). The age of thick. The most complete section of this unit is Reshun Formation is considered to be that found at Koragh along Mastuj river. Cretaceous or early Tertiary on the basis of the fossils found in limestone cobbles of Reshun (d) Shoghor limestone Formation (Hayden, 1915; Tipper, 1922). This limestone lies south of Devonian carbonate unit and has an eastern contact with (f) Chitral Slate Chitral slates. It extends from the Pakistan- Hayden (1915) was the first to report the Afghan border in the southwest of Chitral Chitral Slate which he described as the 'Slate district northwards up to Partsan area where it Series of Chitral' whereas Tipper (1 922) termed interfingers tectonically with the Reshun this slate the 'Chitral SIate Series'. It forms a formation. This subvertical to vertical belt extending from the Pakistan-Afghanistan limestone forms a high ridge flanked by very border in the southwest of Chitral district steep and high cliffs. It may be traced over 50 northeastward up to Reshun and consists km through the Chitral district and develops mainly of fine- grained dark- grey slate and steep gorges where intersected by tributaries of thinly liminated phyllite. Quartzite and dark Chitral River. In the Lutkho gorge near limestone layers are also found (Ivanac et al., f~korv~~~h~lkefton~s~~~ir#atelyL954, Calkins et al., 198 11, The quartzite layers ---- 2 krn thick. The limestone is massive, light grey are medium- grained and generally a few cm to pink recrystallised marble at places and no thick, but at some places, reach up to several original sedimentary texture or bedding metres. The layers of limestone within Chitral " slate are generally dark grey to black, medium- calcareous shale. Orbitolina are reported by grained, recrystallized, unfossiliferous, and Hayden (19 15) and confirmed by Calkins et al., range in thickness from a few cm to a few (1981). The reported fossils confirm a metres. The thinly laminated phyllite is Cretaceous age for this limestone. greenish and consists of micaceous minerals occurring in thin laminae. The Chitral Slate has (i) Mastuj Group a maximum thickness of 6 km in central part of This upper Palaeozoic unit is dominated by Chitral Valley. Tipper (1 922) collected some middle to dark grey slates and light to middle fossils from the Chitral slate from a calcareous grey argillaceous and calcareous schists. There layer within the Chitral slate in the valley of are also lenses and beds of white to light grey Chitral Gol. On the basis of these fossils he limestones, dolomites, meta- volcanics and gave a Palaeozoic age to Chitral slate. green schists. This group extends fiom the northern end of Gahiret limestone and runs (g) Koghozi Greenschist parallel to the Reshun Formation up to This unit lies between Chitral slates in the north Mirgrarn in the upper Mastuj Valley. Towards and Gahiret limestone in the south and extends northeast and southwest this unit becomes fiom Pakistan- Afghanistan boarder in strongly metamorphosed and partly granitized. southwest of Chitral district up to Reshun in the It contains outcrops of crystalline limestones northeast, almost parallel with the Gahiret which range in thickness fiom less than one limestone and Chitral slate. The Koghozi kilornetre to more than 2 km and runs for greenschist consists of fme- grained pale green several kilometers in east- west direction. This thinly laminated schists containing varying series may be equivalent to Darkot group which amounts of plagioclase, actinolite, epidote, is Permian- Devonian in age (Austroinineral, chlorite and quartz and probably represents 1978a). metamorphosed chloritic and somewhat calcareous, sedimentary beds and volcanic tuffs Cj) Plutonic rocks in the survey area (Calkins et al., 1981). Other rock types of this The Asian Plate metasediments are intruded by unit are quartzose sandstone, marble, a number of large, generally elongated, granitic calcareous phyllite and slate. Although plutons in the investigated area of Chitral. The different petrographically, the greenschists unit plutons are the Hot Spring, Tirich Mir and may be equivalent to the volcanic greenstone Kafiristan constitute the Hindu Kush ranges in unit of Shishi Valley which is Cretaceous in the area. They are of various ages, most of age (Calkins et al., 1981). It lies in them Cretaceous resulting fiom the subduction conformable succession SE of the Chitral Slate of Indian Plate under Eurasian Plate. The and is probably of Palaeozoic age (Stauffer, Tirich Mir granite which lies on the 1975). northwestern border of Chitral district forms an elongated NE trending belt that pinches out in a (h) Gahiret Limestone SW direction, and intruded calcareous and This limestone was first reported by Hayden phyllitic rocks of Wakhan Formation of Lower (19 15), who found a badly crushed fault slice Triassic age and the Atak group of Mesozoic of Orbitolina- bearing limestone near the town age (Diemberger, 1968). The batholith has a of Drosh. It extends northeastwards from the heterogeneous structure of several intrusive Pakistan- Afghanistan boarder near Mirkhani phases. In the central part of the batholith Fort, in the southwest of Chitral district, up to granites to aplites are predominant, whereas Barnis Go1 and runs parallel to th8 greenschist towards the southwest granite shows a gradual unit. The limestone is dark- grey to mid- grey, transition to granitic gneisses (Buchroithnerand massive to thin bedded and coarsely crystalline Gamerith, 1986). Desio et al. (1968), on the marble (Calkins et al., 1981, Pudsey et al., basis of Rb- Sr dating, assigned an age of 1 15 k 1985). It is interbedded with dark phyllite and 4 million years to this pluton. The plutons of Kafiristan are much older southern Chitral is 250- 370 and 370- 500 mm and belong to the Nuristan plutonic belt of respectively. During winter, from end of Afghanistan. This belt coixists of November to March, all of the mountains and peralurninous, more or less gneissic and rather low lands receive precipitation mainly in the often blastoporphyritic, biotite or two- mica form of snow while in summer the area gets granites, adamellites and granodiorites and sporadic torrential rains, mostly in the form of have sub- alkaline or calc- alkaline high floods, which cause catastrophic changes characteristics and has a Rb- Sr age of 483 Ma in fans, scree and flood plains in the valleys. (Debon et al., 1987). According to Sometimes after torrential rainfall the high Buchroithner and Gamerith, 1986) some floods wash out all of the suspension bridges similarity exists between the Tirich Mir and the and disrupt the communication system for Kafiristan batholith with regard to their mineral many weeks. During the winter period the area composition. From their geographical remains cut off from the rest of the province positions, the Kafiristan batholith can be and sometimes there is no com~nunication considered as an indirect continuation of the between different valleys. Tirich Mir batholith, but on the basis of their age they are very different. Very little is known Weathered material in this region can be about the Hot Spring pluton. According to seen in the form of either blocks ranging from a Desio (1964) the Hot Spring and Tirich Mir few cm to several metres or finer fraction such plutons are gneissose and well foliated and may as sand and silt. Probably, the first type which be of the same age and origin. is dominant in the area, is caused by mechanical weathering (Hewitt, 1968; RELIEF, CLIMATE AND WEATHERING Whalley, 1984) and the latter by chemical CONDITIONS weathering (Reynold and Johnson, 1972; Wellman and Wilson, 1965; Goudie, 1984). Relief, climate and weathering are the important factors which play important roles in According to these workers a major factor releasing and dispersing minerals grains from that controls the impact of temperature change host rocks into the drainage system of an area. on geomorphological activity is the large Relief of Chitral area is extreme and rough, upslope variation of moisture availability, forming up to several thousands metres high which in low altitudes (about 3000- 2000 m ridges at places. Steep gorges are found where and below) causes chemical weathering in the major rivers and their tributaries incise the form of salt efflorescence, desert varnish, and lithologies. Overall, slopes are steep and show weathering rinds, while in high altitudes 4000 roclcfall- scree, mass movements and slumped m and above, mechanical breakdown of rock is structures at many places. Quaterna~ydeposits predominant although chemical weathering can are found in the form of alluvial sand, gravel, be observed in the fom of desert varnish and and boulders in the stream beds; scree, talus, weathering rinds (Whalley, 1984; Whalley et and landslide debris on the slopes; and upland al., 1984). Hewitt (1968) noted that in the alluvium, including boulder fields in the high vicinity of snowline, 'freeze' condition cause basins and upper reaches of the main creeks. mechanical weathering in the form of shattered Alluvial fans and terraces are the common cliffs, rockfall, and blocky products of rock points of the human settlement and cultivation. while in semi- arid, sub- nival zone 'thaw' is Climate is arid to semi arid and the overall predominant and causes chemical weathering. precipitation is low, but climate changes with altitude as well as with season. Rainfall and Drainage system of a region is the major temperature data for the Cl~itralarea are show factor which controls the dispersion of the mean annual rainfall for northern and elements and minerals in the secondary environment- The drainage system of the area demonstrates that the area is enriched both in is well developed and structurally controlled. base and precious metals. The streams are widest in the areas where they cut soft lithologies such as shales, phyllites and To see the overall distribution and slates but become narrower when pass through concentration of different elements their results limestone and marble. Water is cold and are given in the following section. Base metal alkaline and a pH of 8 was measured for most anomalies (above 90 percentile) are widely of the streams during sampling. In the area of distributed in the survey area. The significant orientation study most of the catchments are anomalies are found in Tirich Gol, Barum, underlain by limestones, phyllites, and shales Pasti Go1 and Kafiristan area. The analytical which host the mineralization in the area. data indicate that copper concentration ranges from 40 pprn to 400 ppm with median and mean of 120 ppm and 140 ppm respectively. RESULTS AND DECUSSION The map of copper distribution is shown in Figure 4. The distribution map shows that high The results of target elements i.e. base and values of copper are found in Tirich Gol, precious metals along with arsenic and Barum Gol, and Khost areas while low to antimony are considered in detail in this study. moderate concentrations are found at Koghozi Statistical summary for analytical results is and Kafiristan, south of the Reshun Formation given (Table 1) for this survey which including Shoghor limestone.
Chitral frequency Panned Concentrates 20 10
Copper 0
Fig. 4. Chitral panned concentrates copper. 198 TABLE 1. STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF distribution indicates that the area south of ANALYTICAL DATA Reshun Formation is very low in lead except the Kafiristan, where high Pb values coincide Elements Range Medi Mean St.D with Ag, As and Cu. Cu pprn 40-400 115 135 75 Pbppm 33-2045 225 355 385 Anomalous zinc values are not widely Znppm 30-960 140 215 215 Au ppb 0-2400 20 85 305 distributed (Fig. 6) compared to copper and Ag ppm 0-21 1.2 2.5 lead anomalies and high values of Zn are As pprn 2-1500 25 135 330 clustered around Barum, Pasti Gol and the Sb ppm 0-17 1.5 2.2 Khost areas while moderate values are found in Tirich Go1 and one sample in Kafiristan is high In the present survey the concentration of containing (> 360 ppm) Zn. The concentration Pb ranges froin 30 ppin to 2050 pprn with of zinc ranges from 30 ppin to 950 ppm. The median of 115 pprn and mean of 140 ppm. The three high anomalies of Zn in Barum Go1 are high values are found in Barum Go1, Pasti Gol, associated with Owir Gol, the southern Tirich Go1 and Kafiristan areas as shown on the tributary of Barum Gol. Two out of these map of lead (Fig. 5). The distribution of Pb anomalies contain > 900 pprn Zn while the indicates that its high concentration coincides third anomaly reaches up to 550 pprn. The high with copper in Tirich Gol, Barum Go1 and values of Zn in Owir Go1 coincide with both Cu
Kafiristan valleys. The map of the Pb and Ph. +z~uency Chitral . 30 Panned 20 Concentrates lo
' Lead . O DPm . .
Fig. 5. Chitral panned concentrates lead. 199 Fig. 6. Chitral panned concentrates zinc.
Precious metals, arsenic and antimony are considered that these areas may be much high north of Reshun Formation like base anomalous if they would have been sampled by metals. Nevertheless, the Kafiristan area, south wet- sieving method. It is also possible that of Reshun Formation, has a similar signature of some of the tributaries of Tirich Gol, Barum anomalies. In the present survey the gold is Gol, and Kafiristan might contain gold high in Tirich Go1 and Barum Go1 areas and anomaIies but they were not picked up by one sample from Kafristan contains a panned- concentrates and it is possible that moderateIy high value as shown in the map for gold anomalies may be found if they were gold (Fig. 7). The overall concentration of gold sampled by wet- sieving method as was ranges from 0- 2400 ppb with median of 20 discussed by Khaliq and Moon (in press). The ppb and mean of 85 ppb. The Pasti, Khost and sampling techniques and the size of sample to Koghozi valleys show background values for be taken has always been a problem in the gold. Although, in regional panned samples exploration of gold and the present survey is gold anomalies were found in Tirich Gol, not an exceptional case. Sampling also requires Barum Go1 and Kafiristan areas, it is some precautions, as the sample representativity can be hampered by the if coarse grained gold is sought (Day and scarcity of gold particles in the sampled Fletcher, 1986, 1989). For disseminated gold materials. However, these problems can be deposits the fine fi-action of stream sediment reduced to acceptable level by taking a sample will be most useful in regional exploration. containing more than 20 gold grains especially
Chitral frequency Panned C.oncentrates Gold group .
Fig. 7. Chitral panned concentrates gold.
High silver anomalies are widely The highest concentrations of silver are found distributed in the survey area both north and at Tirich Gol, Barurn Go1 and Kafiristan areas south of the Reshun Formation. The as displayed in the map of silver (Fig. 8). High concentration of silver ranges from 0 pp~nto 21 silver values in Kafiristan coincide with high ppm in the survey area. The median and mean values of lead in the area. of silver is 1.2 ppm and 2.5 ppln respectively. Chitra 1 22 I 2 Panned 9 2 I Concentrates 0 Silver PPm
Geology -Major 'Fau Its /TJ Reshun Fm Grnn ites
Fig. 8. Chitral panned concentrates silver.
The arsenic distribution is similar to The concentration of antimony sanges precious metals as displayed on the map of from 0 ppm to 18 ppm with a median and mean arsenic (Fig. 9). The areas high ill Au and Ag values of 1.5 ppm and 2.2 ppm respectively. also have enhanced values of arsenic. The High concentrations of Sb are widely concentration of arsenic is from 2 pprn to 1500 distributed in the survey area and is displayed ppm with a median value of 25 pprn alld mean in Fig. 10. The highest concentrations are value of 135 ppm. The high values of arsenic found in Tirich Got, Barurn Gol and Kafiristan. are fourd at Tiric~~Gol, Barum Gol and The northeastern part of Khost and Koghozi Kafiristan areas. The Pasti, Koghozi and Khost areas are generally low in antimony. . areas are low in arsenic. Chitra 1 frequency Panned Concentrates Arsenic
------Geology -Major Fuu its Reshun Fm Granites
Fig. 9. Chitral panned concentrates arsenic.
This survey indicates that the northern DISCUSSION parts (Tirich Go1 and Barunl Gol) of tlie investigated area are higli in both precious and The regional survey of the Chitral area revealed base metals but tlie areas such as Pasti, Khost promising areas for minerals prospects. The and Koghozi which lie south of Baruin Go1 prominent anoinalies of base and precious shows anomalies only for base metals. metals with different valleys highlights the However, this table also reveals that Kafiristan minerals potential of this rugged terrane. On area has similarities with Tirich Gol and Barum the basis of this survey some of the areas are Go I. selected as new targets for detailed ~iiineral investigations. In order of priority these areas a new target for Pb, Ag, and gold. The high and their mineral potentials are described as cobalt value associated with these elements follows: probably indicate the source area in the ultra~naficrocks of the melange zone and needs Tirich Go1 area further investigation. This area has high a potential for gold mineralization with its association of Ag, Pb, CONCLUSIONS As and Sb. The mineralization is polymetaIlic and is associated with the northern tributaries. The regional survey of the Chitral district It is suggested that this area should be a major reveals that tlie area has a high potential for target for gold exploration. All of the northern mineralization. The survey deljneates a variety tributaries and their sub- tributaries should be of anomalies some of which consist of sampled carefully. The other suggestion is that poly~netallicmineralization while others have Tirich fault should be investigated along its either precious or base metals. Tlie significant wliole length. The results of this study and the mineral occurrences are found north of Reshun mineral shows reported by other workers seem Forniation. However, the Kafiristan area, south to be related to this fault. In addition, the of Reshun Formation, shows similarity with the southern tributaries of Tirich Gol should be aforesaid area. The mineralization in the investigated for base metals. northmost part (especially in Tirich Gol) of tlie survey area is dorninated by precious metals, Barum Go1 area arsenic, antimony and tungsten. The central The southern tributaries of the Barum Go1 are part of the survey (Barum Gol, Pasti Gol and the target for polynietallic mineralization. All Shoghor) shows a poly~netallicsignature with of the tributaries and their sub- tributaries significant enrichment of precious metals. The should be sampled in detail as the area has a southern part mainly Kafiristan is high in Pb sin~ilarsignature to the Shoghor area. There is with some anomalies of gold and silver. also a high possibility of finding more Pb-Zn mineralization. Tlie limestone units are the The mineralization appears to be probable source for this mineralization because controlled mainly by major faults. Tlie the samples are very high in Pb and Zn significant faults in the survey area are the downstream from the lin~estoneunits. As the Tirich, Reshun, Barum and Pasti faults. The known shows of Pb and Pb-Zn at Baig and Tiricli fault separates the Arkari- Atak Group Paklituri respectively are far away from the of (?) Jurassic age fiom the Owir- Awiretli sites of these anomalies, there is the possibility Group of Devonian- Permian age. In the Tirich of other mineralization of a similar source in Go1 area mineralization is associated with this the limestone units. fault. The Barum fault runs along Barum Go1 valley and the mineralization in the valley Pasti and Khost areas seems associated with it. However, tlie These areas are underlain by similar polymetallic mineralization in the southern lithologies. They are the new targets for base tributaries of Barum Go1 may be linked with metals specially for Cu and Zn but needs no Pasti fault which passes through the area. The investigations for precious metals. mineralization in Pasti Gol is associated with Reshun and Pasti faults. It is very difficult to Kafiristan area follow and investigate these major structure This area is high in Pb, Ag, Sb and Au. The due to various difficulties in particular the adjacent area with Awiretli Gol, the southern ruggedness and inaccessibility of these areas. part of the orientation study, is high in Pb, Ag Anyhow, there is high possibility of finding and Sb and should be for these elements. more mineral occurrences along them if they However, the Bumboret valley of Kafiristan is were carefully investigated. As far as Iithological control on mineralization of Shoghor area. However, the mineralization is concerned, the Arkari-Atak mineralization is zoned and probably represents group is high in precious n~etalswhile Owir- more than one association. Awireth Group have poly~~ietallicand base ------metal occ u rrences. In the IithologZs-oftKee Ti~dl-GT)+areaish@lyamalwb~tk latter group slices of limestone seems to be the for base and precious metals. Although, they main source of mineralization. This study may be from different sources. Probably the reveals that area north of Reshun Fault is of precious metals association is found north of main interest which shows mineralization over Tirich Fault and base metals south of it. The a strike of 80 Km from the Known area is much higher in gold in panned- concentrates than the known auriferous be investigated for arsenic and scheelite ~nineralizationof Shoghor area. It is also high mineralization eastward from the Tirich in silver and arsenic and probably has more Gol, however, westward this fault should potential for- minerals than any other area in the be explored for gold, silver, lead, arsenic Chitral district. and tungsten.
Barum area has a similar signature of (c) The limestone units associated with Owir- Shoglior polymetallic mineralization especially Awireth Group should be checked for Pb- the Owir Gol which drains the southern part of ZII mineralization and the Owir Gol of the valley. The northern part of the Barunl Gol Barum valley needs investigations for gold is high in base metals. Pasti area is high in Pb, and polymetallic n~ineralizatio~i. Zn and Sb and probably indicates a different suite than Barum area. The Khost area NE of (d) All of the tributaries of Bun~boretvalley of Barum is high in Cu and Zn and falls well north Kafiristan should be carefully sampled and of Reshun Fault and the contact of Shoghor investigated for gold. Moreover, the suture limestone which probably indicates a source in melange zone in the valley also needs the dark grey slates and shales. Koghozi area detail investigations for both precious and seems to be barren except some low a~nplit~~de base metals. anomalies for Cu associated with greet~schist series. The Kafiristan area is high in Cu, Pb. (e) Tir-ich Mir granites should be investigated Ag and Sb and shows similarities with Awireth for tin, tungsten and uranium Gol, the southern section of the Shoghor ~~iineralization. orientatioii study. This probably indicates the esteiision of Awireth Gol mineralization into REFERENCES Kafiristan area. But the Bumboret valley, southern part of Kafiristan, is also high in gold. Austron~ineral.1978a. Mineral exploration and Bumboret valley is also high in Pb, Ag, and As. mine development, Chitral district. Report There is the possibility of some mineralization for Sashad Developnlent Authority, associated with suture melange zone. Peshawar, Pakistan. Buchroithner, M. F. & Gamerith, H., 1986. On RECOMMENDATIONS the geology of Tirich Mir area, Central Hindu Kusli (Pakistan). Jb. Geol. B. A. The following recommendations are made 128,367- 38 1. for future minerals prospecting in the area: Calkins, J. A., Jamiluddin, S., Bhuyan, K. & Hussain, A., 198 1. Geology and mineral (a) Tirich Gol valley should be followed up resources of the Chitral- Partsan area, for precious metals as well as for arsenic Hindu- I