Mineral Resources of Swat Valley Pakistan

Swat Valley is rich of GOD gifted mineral resources. Most of the minerals in swat be
to family 10 in periodic table.Therefore these minerals are valueable and internationa
recognised. They include Sulphides, oxides and Hydroxides, Nitrats, Carbonates and
Borates, Silicates and other unclassified minerals. The list having 18 entries in that 1
are valid minerals. Following are the minerals, which have been already found and
successfully explored for commercial use.

China Clay or Kaolin:

China clay or kaolin is used for white ware and special type of cement and as paper
rubber filler. The largest mine of China clay is found in a village called Shahderai, ha
the finest quality of China clay in Pakistan. The total reserves were estimated 2.8 mi
tons.
The same type of China clay has also been found in Shahdin and Doshagram near
Matta. But the important issue is the ceramic factory is situated 200km away from th
mines ( near Attok ). which is a matter fo disgus for local peoples, decreasing the
chances of jobs in Swat valley.

Marble

Natural stone (a crystalline form of calcium carbonate, CaCO3), which is, recrystalize
limestone, which is both durable and beautiful. Marble can stand heavy use but can
stained or scratched. It is also brittle and must be handles carefully during installation
Dark marble is harder than light or white marble. More commonly used for fireplace
mantels, counter tops or as flooring, it can also be used on the exterior of a building.
In various part of the valley a good quality of white and green marble are found and
mined for local base industries also goes to the near by district. The reserves are loc
in Saidu sharif, Spal bandai , khadag, Ghaligai, Parrai, Malam Jabba and Ghakhai
Kandao.

Emerald Mines
Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromiu
and sometimes iron. It is highly prized as a gemstone and ounce for ounce is the mo
valuable gemstone in the world, often made more so by inclusions. Beryl has a hard
of 8 on the 10-point Mohs scale of hardness. Emerald is the birthstone for May.

The mine is located in the outskirts of Mingora in Fizaghat. This is deep green color
exceptional clarity and excellent quality. The production of Gem grade emeralds mad
during 1978-1988 was 280671.96 carats. The reserves are estimated to 13.2 million
The finest quality is the best to export to the international markets. There is an expor
potential of millions of dollars if is excavated and cut for international standards.

Dolomite/Lime stone

Dolomite and Limestone are sedimentary rock occur in regular bed, lime stone is cal
carbonate mix with impurities and Dolomite having clay, sand other impurities both
occurs in various colours and shades. They are used for manufacturing cement and
used in bleaching powder, glass industry, soap, paint, also used filler and as ingredie
chemical process etc. A number of lime stone deposits are found in swat valley. The
deposits are located in Nawagai, kot, Manyar, Panr, Serai, Ghaligai, Shagai, Salam
Marghuzar, Mingora and Saidu sharif.

Granite

A very hard, crystalline, plutonic rock, gray to pink in color, consisting of feldspar, qu
and smaller amounts of other minerals, which is produced naturally under intense he
and pressure. Often used as floors in office buildings or as kitchen and bathroom
countertops in homes.

This is excavated from Cham, Khwar Mandaona, Nawe Kalai, Fatehe pur, Malakand
Utrar and Barikot. A valuable green colour grinate is also mined from Saidu. The
Malakand Granite is well known and located on the Malakand top opposite to Gibralt
hill, the labours blasting and cutting in to blocks for coomercial use. Many of Govt
buildings in malakand are constructed by this stone.

Feldspar

It is also one of the important mineral. They generally composed of aluminum-silicate

Potassium, sodium and calcium. They generally occur in white or light colours but al
exhibit in other colours. This is used in specialized electrical porcelain, scouring soap
used in glass industry, pottery making, artificial teeth also used as filer and alkalis. T
mineral is obtained from Ramial, Gharai, Darmai, Azad banda, Tiligram, Chuprial, Sp
Bandai, Asharban, Kabal, Chinklai, Puronai, Kokari etc

Mica
A group of minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium which a
common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Mica vary in color from pale brown or y
to green or black and characteristically split into very thin leaves. Sheets of mica use
insulation and electrical equipment because of their resistance to electricity. The
transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc.
The reserves of mica are found in various places of Mingora, Shaladar and Barbak
Bands.

Quartz

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust. It has a hexagonal
crystal structure made of trigonal crystallized silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2), with a
hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Density is 2.6g/cm³. The typical shape is a six-side
prism that ends in six-sided pyramids, although these are often distorted, or so mass
that only part of the shape is apparent from a mined specimen.

The deposits or quartz are in Chuprial, Biakand and Ghari. Hornbelendite at Shakard
Ball clay in Laikot and the reserve of Sarpentine are also mined in Swat valley.

Barite
Barite, a name that was derived from the Greek word "barus" (heavy), is the
mineralogical name for barium sulfate. In commerce, the mineral is sometimes referr
as "barytes." The term "primary barite" refers to the first marketable product, which
includes crude barite (run of mine) and the products of simple beneficiation methods
such as washing, jigging, heavy media separation, tabling, flotation, and magnetic
separation.
Barite can be found in kabalgram, sabunai.

Pyroxine Group
The crystals of Pyroxine can be used as semi precious- to precious material in
ornaments and jewellery. Enstatite is green Varity of pyroxine, which are mined in
different sited in swat valley.

Garnet Group
Naturally is consisting of primarily of great Varity Almandine. The mineral is abundan
deep colour mostly used to abrasive purposed but large grain having god luster and
fractures can be used for gem purposes.