Environment of Pakistan (Geography) ©STUDENTS RESOURCE

Chapter 5: MINERALS
Types of Mining
Open Cast Mining
If a seam of mineral is near the surface, digging through excavators takes place for getting the
mineral.

Adit Mining
Horizontal tunnels are dug to enter and then extraction takes place.

Shaft Mining
Vertical shafts are dug deep, than horizontal digging takes place to extract the minerals.

Quarrying
Open excavation method, when a seam of the rock is observed on the surface especially soft
rock, limestone. It can be extracted with the help of power shovels, hammer, wedges and
spades.

How are minerals formed? (Consult book)

Problems of Mining industry
 Lack of technology/machinery
 Poor infrastructure
 Lack of expertise
 Lack of skilled labor
 Less capital
 Lack of interest by government for the sector
 Institutional mismanagement
 Inaccessible mineral deposits areas due to lack of infrastructure as roads, electricity etc.

Solutions
 Government should provide capital
 Machinery should be imported
 Government should subsidies the machinery
 Government should provide education for developing expertise and skilled labor
 Government should be willing to promote it
 Develop infrastructure to explore minerals
 Attract private companies for investment through various scheme

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Major Organization Working for Mineral Exploration

 Geological Survey of Pakistan: For the investigation and mapping of mineral deposits.
 Pakistan Mineral Corporation: For the exploration and marketing of minerals
 Resource Development Corporation: To investigate and develop copper mines at Saindak
 Gemstone Corporation of Pakistan: To develop gemstone resource

Effects of mining on Environment

 Noise pollution because of drilling and blasting
 Air pollution from dust and smoke
 Deformation of landscape. Depressions are caused.
 Destruction of natural habitat
 Water pollution if mining waste will not be properly disposed
 Deforestation as vegetation is cut down

Solutions
 Mining should be on scientific lines to minimize the damage
 Waste of mining should be properly disposed
 Land should formally leveled after mining
 Plantation in the mining area for better environment(oxygen)

Effects of mining on minors

 Poor health condition
 Explosions
 Poisonous gasses can kill them
 Lungs and skin diseases
 Lack of pure drinking water
 Lack of precautionary measures as masks
 Many poisonous gases can result in suffocation and death of the miners.
 Rock blasting can block the miners inside the mine.

Solutions
 Proper health facilities
 Safety precautions as emergency exists
 Pure drinking water should be available
 Improved working hours
 Recreational activities
 Proper protective clothing
 Safety masks to save from poisonous gases

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Difference b/w Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals

Metals Non-metals
Economically more valuable Economically less valuable except for the
power resources as oil gas and coal.
Hard, tough and shiny Softer, rough and may not shine.
They can change shape without breaking. They break away when shape is changed.
Metals are more reactive with water and Non – metals minerals are less reactive with
acids. water and acid
Many are good thermal and electrical Poor thermal and electrical conductors.
conductors.
They can be stretched and compressed They cannot be stretched or compressed.

Q: Differentiate between metallic and non – metallic minerals? [4]

Sustainable Development
 The government must introduce concept of sustainable development when making policies.
 The application of science and technology to enhance the industry’s competitiveness and
environmental protection.
 Discharge of toxic substances and the release of heat which is harmful to environment
should be checked.
 Mining should be done in a way that it does not effects ecosystem.

Q: Describe some measure for the sustainable development of mining? [4]

Non Metallic Minerals

Rock Salt
The rocks are white or pink in color. The salt is overlain by gypsum and clay. Rock salt is used for
cooking and preservative purposes and for the manufacture of soda ash, bicarbonate of soda,
caustic soda and other sodas for laundries, textiles, and tanning.

Brine
Used in the chemical and fertilizer industry.

Limestone
Limestone is major sedimentary deposit and is widespread in Pakistan. It is the main raw
material for cement. It is also used in the manufacture of bleaching powder, glass, soap, paints
and lime. It is used to treat sugarcane waste to produce alcohol fuel. It is painted on
barks of trees to counter pests and termite attacks. Also used to treat salinity.

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Coal
Pakistan has low-quality coal. Coal is mainly used in brick kilns, some is used to make coke and a
small percentage is used for power generation. It is planned to build a thermal power station to
use to coal from a new coalfield in Thar District.

Natural Gas
Domestic, industrial and transportation uses.

Mineral Oil (Petroleum)

It is used as power source, as a lubricant for machines, and as motor fuel.

Gypsum
Found in grey, white and pink color. It is used in the manufacture of paints and fertilizers. White
gypsum is used for making cement and Plaster of Paris. Spread on saline soil to help land
reclamation for farming.

Marble
Found in bands of white, grey, yellow and brown. It is used in buildings and for making chips for
flooring and decorative pieces.

Clays
Clays are fine-grained minerals. In Pakistan the most important industrial clays are China Clay,
Fire Clay and Fuller’s Earth.

 China Clay is used in the ceramic industry, for a special type of cement has other industrial
uses.
 Fire Clay, fine clay capable of enduring high temperature to make fire bricks and insulating
bricks. It is also used to make pottery and chemicals.
 Fuller’s Earth is used to manufacture steel, oil drilling machine and in the process of oil
refining.

Magnesium
It has a high percentage of magnesia( about 50%). It is used in the manufacture of cement,
fertilizer, paper pulp, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Sulphur
Sulphur is used in chemical industries to manufacture sulphuric acid, paints, explosive material,
dyes and fertilizers.

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Name Uses
1. Chromite Chromite gives hardness and electrical resistance to steel.
It is used for bridges and railway carriages. It is also used as a lining in
metallurgical furnaces and for making engineering tools and stainless steel
etc.
2. Iron Ore Steel making, construction and the transport industry.
3. Copper Making electrical wires and other electrical appliances, especially switches
that carry current, also used in making alloys, water pipes and tanks.
4. Manganese Used in making dry batteries, paints. It is a vital alloy in steel making, flares
and flash bulbs.
5. Bauxite Aluminum is mainly obtained from bauxite and is a valuable metal.
Uses: utensils, tins, cans etc. and many other products.
6. Celestite Found in the cavities of sedimentary rocks.
Uses; tracer bullets, fireworks, ceramics, paints and plastics.

Q: Name any two minerals and describe their uses? [ϰ]

Study Fig. 3 which is a map showing the locations where three different non-metallic minerals
are extracted in Pakistan.

Fig. 3

(i) For any two locations, state the name of the mineral extracted and a use for this
mineral. Write your answers in the spaces provided on Fig. 3. [4]

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You should choose from the following list:

Gypsum limestone rocksalt
Answer:
Study Fig. 3 which is a map showing the locations where three different non-metallic minerals
are extracted in Pakistan.
You should choose from the following list: gypsum limestone rocksalt
Location
NW – rocksalt / limestone / gypsum
Central – limestone / gypsum
S – limestone
Mark any two correct

Uses
Rocksalt: cooking / preservation / soda (used in laundries / textiles / tanning) flavouring
food
Gypsum: paints / fertilisers / boards / cement / to treat saline soil / plaster of paris
Limestone: for building / cement / bleach / glass / soap / paints / to treat saline soil /
bleaching powder / paper

Study Fig. 4 which is a diagram of a coal mine.

Fig. 4

Choose two terms from the list below and use them to label the diagram in any two of the
spaces provided.
Adit cage shaft open-cast seam tunnel [2]

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