MINERAL RESOURCES

What are Minerals?

 Minerals are inorganic natural substances and one of the natural resources of a country. They are
obtained from under the surface of the earth.

How are Minerals formed?

 Some minerals are originally formed from hot magma, which contains the minerals. When the
magma cools, crystals of minerals appear. Most minerals are formed underground when the heat
and pressure transform one form of the rock into another.
 Some minerals are formed near or on the surface, these occur when mineral-rich fluids, such as
silica-bearing water evaporate. They can also be formed when volcanic rocks are broken down by
the action of water and wind.
 Many minerals from crystals. The shape of a crystal is determined by the arrangements of its
atoms. If crystals form slowly these may become gemstones.

Mining Processes:

 Mining is a processes of digging rocks and minerals from the earth.

 Minerals are found at different depths.

What are the three main methods of mining?

1) Open Cast Mining:

 Some minerals like coal and iron often lie near the surface.
 Open Cast mining scoops up these minerals from near the surface.
 The mineral bearing crops are stripped of by giant excavators and power shovels, which then
load the material into Lorries or railway wagons to be carried away.
2) Adit Mining:
 An Adit is an opening or passage.
 Adit mining is done in hilly districts where a mineral seam is exposed on a hillside.
 Fig. 5.1 shows a coal seam exposed on a hillside.
 After the coal is dug out of an opening on the hillside, the miners create a passage as they go
deeper into the hill to dig out the coal.
 The passage may be horizontal or may slope up or down depending on the angle of the mineral
seam.
 Horizontal tunnels are dug into the side of a valley or hill to reach the mineral deposit as in the
case of the Sor coalfield near Quetta.

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 3) Shaft Mining:
 Vertical shafts are dug down to the minerals, especially for coal.
 Tunnels are then dug horizontally to the layers or seams of the minerals which is then removed
through the tunnels.
 This method is expensive and can be dangerous.

For both Adit and Shaft mining consideration must be given to the problems of ventilation and
underground transport. Dangerous gases are also present underground, with the risk of poisoning and
explosions, causing the tunnel roof to collapse. Another hazard is some areas is flooding. Minerals have
been trapped deep underground on many occasions.

Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals:

 Metallic minerals are one of the mankind’s most highly prized possessions.
 Many of the everyday articles in our homes are made from metallic minerals.
 A few metals such as gold and copper occur in pure form as “Metallic elements”.
 But most are found as “ores”, which are chemical compounds containing a high proportion of
metal.
 Mineral resources can be classified into two types:
Metallic and non-metallic.

Metallic Minerals Non-metallic Minerals

 Iron Ore  coal
 Copper  Sulphur
 Antimony  Rock salt
 Chromite  Barite

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  Celestite  Gypsum
 Manganese  Soapstone
 Gold  Fluorite
 Silver  Limestone
 Tin  Marble
 Bauxite  Clays
 Metallic ores are cut or blasted from surrounding rock.
 The ore is crushed and the worthless rock removed.
 The pure metal can be separated by heating.
 Mineral resources are non-renewable although many can be recycled and used again.
 Though we obtain minerals from quarries and mines, the seabed and sea-water are also rich in
minerals.
 Metallic minerals are those that are made up of a metal compound or resemble a metal, for
example; iron ore, copper, chromite, bauxite.
 Non-metallic minerals include gypsum, rock salt, marble, clay and limestone.
 Metallic and non-metallic minerals have some basic differences that can be identified, which
refers to the minerals derived from ores.

Metallic Minerals Non-metallic Minerals

 Minerals containing metals are called  Minerals which do not contain metals
metallic minerals are called non-metallic minerals
 Metallic minerals show lusture  Non-metallic minerals do not show
lusture
 When metallic minerals are melted  In case of non-metallic minerals you
new product are formed don’t get any new product after such
a process
 Economically more valuable  Economically less valuable except for
power resources e.g. oil, coal, natural
gas
 Generally hard, tough and shiny  Softer, rough and may not shine
 Can be stretched and compressed  Cannot be stretched or compressed

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 (natural gas can be compressed into
a liquid by cooling)
 Many are good thermal and electrical  Poor thermal and electrical
conductors conductors
 More reactive with water and acid  Less reactive with water and acid
(except limestone and salt)
 Can change shape without breaking  Breaks away when shape changed
(except oil and natural gas)

Limestone Quarrying:

 Limestone is a non-metallic mineral.

 When it outcrops on the surface it is extracted by quarrying.
 Quarrying is an open excavation from which any useful stone is extracted from building and
engineering purposes.
 Quarrying is carried out by different methods and equipment such as hand tools, explosives, or
power saws etc, according to the purpose for which the stone is extracted.
 Hand tools alone may be used for quarrying stone that lies in easily accessible beds.
 The principal hand tools are the drill, hammer, and wedge.
 A wedge is a solid block of iron that is thick at one end and thin at the other.
 It is used to split a lump of rock into two when hammering to break up the rock.

The Mining Industry in Pakistan:

 There are few deposits of metallic minerals but substantial deposits of some non-metallic
minerals.
 Large deposits of marble, chromite fuller’s earth, limestone, magnesite and natural gas.
 The presence of minerals does not suggest that the country is utilizing all the minerals.
 Exploration by the geological survey of Pakistan, foreign oil companies and other agencies is
continuing, but mineral production contributes only about 0.5% of the GDP (Gross Domestic
Product).

Mining and Economic Development:

 Development of the mining sector is essential for the economic development of Pakistan.
 Extraction of more mineral resources may bring the following economic benefits to Pakistan:
a) Industrial Uses
 Non-metallic minerals such as limestone, gypsum, and clays are used in construction industry
such as pavements alongside the roads, bridges, houses and other buildings (offices, shopping
plazas, etc).
 This boosts up the infrastructure development of the country.
 Metallic minerals are rather more precious as they are used as raw material in high value
industries.
 If metallic and non-metallic minerals are produced domestically, a country can have industrial
development.
 That can ensure more revenue generation for a country ensuring a sound economy.

Non-Metallic Minerals:

Name Description Uses

1.(a)Rock salt -Seams of rock salt vary in thickness from -Used for cooking and preservative

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 between 20 to 100 metres thick. purposes and for the manufacture of
-Rocks are white or pink in color. soda ash, bicarbonate of soda, caustic
-salt is overlain by gypsum and clay. soda and other sodas for laundries,
(b)Brine textiles, and tanning.
-Used in chemical and fertilizer industry
2.Limestone -Limestone is a major sedimentary -Used in manufacture of bleaching
deposit and is widespread in Pakistan. powder, glass, soap, paper, paint and
-It is main raw material for cement. lime.
-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 aerate soil and treat
salinity.
3.Coal -Pakistan has low-quality coal. -Coal is mainly used in brick kilns.
-Some is used to make coke and coal
briquettes and a small percentage is
used for power generation.
-It is planned to build a thermal power
station to use the coal from a new
coalfield in That District.
4.Natural Gas - - Domestic and Industrial uses.
5.Mineral Oil - -It is used as power resource, as a
(Petroleum) lubricant for machines, motor fuel.
6.Gypsum -Found in grey, white and pink color. -It is used in the manufacture of paints,
fertilisers and prefabricated construction
boards.
-White gypsum is used for making
cement and plaster of paris.
-Spread on saline soil to help land
reclamation for farming.
7.Marble -Found in bands of white, grey, yellow -It is used in buildings.
and brown. -It is also used for making chips for
flooring and decorative pieces.
8.Clay -Clay are fine-grained minerals. -China clay is used in ceramic industry,
-In Pakistan the most important industrial for a special type of cement and has
clays are China clay, Fires Clay and other industrial uses.
Fuller’s Earth. -Fire Clay, a 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.
9.Magnesite -It has a high percentage of magnesia -It is used in manufacture of cement
(about 50%). fertilizer, rayon, paper pulp, chemical
and pharmaceuticals.
10.Sulphur -Sulphur is used in chemical industries to
- manufacture sulphuric acid, paints
corrosive material, dyes, rayon and
fertilisers.

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Metallic Minerals:

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.
2.Iron Ore -Steel making.
-Construction.
-Transport Industry.
3.Copper -Making electrical wires.
-And other electrical appliances, especially switches that carry current.
-Also used in making wires alloys, water pipes and tanks.
4.Manganese -Used in making batteries, paints.
-It is 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 product.
6.Celestite -Found in cavities of sedimentary rocks.
Uses: Tracer bullets, fireworks, ceramics, paints and plastics

b) Agricultural uses:
 Minerals also help to promote the agriculture sector as well.
 Cement is used for lining canals, making dykes in agricultural fields, building of reservoirs for
irrigation etc.
 Metallic minerals are used for making agricultural implement, tractors, gates of the barrages etc.
 With substantial reserves of minerals resources agriculture can also be developed on modern
lines.
 That ensure increased income for the country boosting up its economy.
c) Improving balance of payment:
 Export of metallic minerals and mineral products have high value in the international market.
 This will increase the value of exports and increase foreign exchange earnings.
 If Pakistan produces minerals for its industries domestically, it might not need to import valuable
minerals.
 That will save the precious foreign exchange resources of Pakistan.
 For example, import of mineral oil is a major part in Pakistan’s import bill causing negative
balance of payment.
d) Employment in the mining industry:
 Development of the mining sector can provide employment opportunities in mining industries and
other mineral-based industries.
e) Generation of Electricity:

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 Sime non-metallic minerals such as coal, oil and natural gas help to produce thermal electricity.
 If a country makes maximum use of these minerals, an electricity crisis can be avoided.
 For example, if Thar Coal Fields are fully utilised, Pakistan’s electricity problem can be solved to
a great extent.
f) Development of remote areas:
 Extraction of minerals such as coal, natural gas, copper, chromite etc.
 Promotes economic development of remote areas such as the Balochistan Plateau and the
Western Mountains bordering Afghanistan
 Where other economic activities such as farming are difficult due to climate and topography.
g) Increase in GDP (Gross Domestic Product):
 Production of minerals will eventually increase a country’s domestic income and will improve its
financial position.
Problems of Mining Industry:
1) Lack of financial resource.
2) Lack of technical experts.
3) Inaccessible mineral deposits.
4) Security of mining companies.
5) Low priority given to mineral extraction.
6) Institutional mismanagement.
 The presence of mining deposits does not mean that a country is making use of all the mineral
resources.
 There are certain uses problems associated with the mineral sector due to which the mineral
deposit cannot be put into use for developmental purposes.
 A number of problem exist in the development of mining sector.
1. Lack of financial resources:
 Pakistan does not have enough money to invest in the exploration of minerals.
 A number of institutions mentioned below are working for the development of mining.
 But their efforts are not very successful due to lack of financial resources.
2. Lack of technical experts:
 Mining operation have gone through major technical changes in developed countries of
the world.
 Mining requires high-tech experts with in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of
geology, computerized mining operation, specialized mining machinery, etc.
 In Pakistan very few technical institutions produce such professionals.
 As a result we have to hire technical experts from other countries.
 In Pakistan most of the mining activities are carried out in a traditional way low production
of minerals and health hazards to miners.
3. Inaccessible mineral deposits:
 Most of the metallic and non-metallic minerals in Pakistan are found in those areas where
transport links are poorly developed.
 For example coal, copper, Sulphur, Natural gas and chromite are found in Balochistan.
 This province has poor infrastructure and low population density.
 Therefore most of the minerals cannot be exploited due to their inaccessibility.

4. Security of mining companies:

 This issue has been created after 9/11 due to increase in terrorists’ activities in Pakistan.
 Many of the foreign mining companies are reluctant to carry out their mining operations in
Pakistan due to the possible terrorist attacks on their employees.
5. Low priority given to mineral extraction:

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  Pakistan is primarily an agricultural country which has been historically developed to
produce agricultural crops.
 Development of the mining sector requires:
a. Infrastructure development (transport electricity, telephone lines, water supply etc).
b. High cost mining machinery.
c. Hi-tech knowledge.
d. A large industrial market to exploit minerals.
e. Training of miners on modern lines.
 On the other hand it is much easier to develop the agriculture sector which has all the
requisites for development.
 Therefore the mining sector is somewhat ignored by the higher authorities.
6. Institutional mismanagement:
 Like most of the departments in Pakistan, mineral offices are also victims of corruption
and low standard of works.
 This has resulted in low productivity in the mining sector.
 For example, Thar coal reserves were discovered in 1998 but up till now electricity
generation has not been started due to conflicts and administrative problems.
Institutions to develop minerals resources in Pakistan,

Organistaion Starting year Function

1.Geological survey of Pakistan 1947 For the investigation and mapping
of mineral deposits.
2.Pakistan Mineral Corporation 1974 For the exploration and marketing
of all the minerals
3.Resource Development 1974 To investigate and develop copper
corporation of Pakistan mines at saindak, Balochistan
4.Gemstone Corporation of 1979 To develop gemstone resources
Pakistan

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9
10
Chromite Mining in Balochistan:

 There are number of small deposits of chromite in various parts of Pakistan.

 Commercial production has been almost entirely restricted to Balochistan.
 In the past, the most significant and the best known area in the whole of Pakistan was the Zhob
valley, which had privilege of being the only-chrome ore producing centre in the country.
 Other occurrences of chromite include those of the Muslimbagh, Ras Koh Range in western
Balochistan and the wad deposits of the Khudzar district in southern Balochistan.
 In these areas chromite is mostly mined by open pit method.
 However, in some areas underground mining methods are also practiced depending on the
nature of the chromite deposits.
 This deposits vary in size and form.
 In the wad area, chromite is lumpy in nature and of high quality.
 The Zhob Valley deposits in north-eastern Balochistan are the best known both nationally and
internationally.
 Total estimated reserves of chromite in the province are not exactly known.
 However previously one million tons of chromite mining started in 1903 on a small scale, and is
continuing today at the rate of 15,000 - 20,000 tons per day.

Saindak Copper and Gold Mining Project:

 Two Australian countries have explored the proven deposits of copper, gold and silver in district
chagai, Balochistan.
 The Chinese Metallurgical Construction company and two other companies will do the extraction
of metal for the next six years on lease.
 The Chinese built the Saindak Plant and also arranged for the water supply, which is considered
enough for the next 200 years.
 The German and French companies provided the power supply system ensuring a power supply
system of 40 megawatts at the plant site.
 The Federal government had already picked up the international credit to make payment to those
companies on schedule.
 The project will provide job opportunities to the skilled and unskilled laborers and, according to an
estimate there will be a turnover of around $80 million a year.
 From 1996 to 2000, the project was closed for want of working capital and mismanagement in
government departments.
 The project was restarted in 2001.

Effects of Mining on the Environment:

 Minerals are part of the physical environment but when people take them from the Earth and use
them, they make changes to the physical environment.
 If human activities are not planned and environmental concerns are not taken into consideration,
there could be gradual environment degradation.
 However mining is carried out in such a way that environmental losses are kept to the minimum,
then the economic benefits could be enormous for the people and economy of Pakistan.
 The following chart shows how the mining may affect the physical environment.
 When minerals are extracted, the vegetation has to be cut down which result in soil exposure and
natural landscape is deformed.
 In order to provide infrastructure facilities to the miners, roads and houses are constructed.
 During the mining process, rocks are blasted which results in vibration and noise pollution.
 In the underground mining the earth is dug.
 If the depressions are not filled, they may become flooded by heavy rainfall.

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  In Pakistan mostly traditional mining is practiced which is very hazardous to the health of miners
because no hygienic or safety standards are taken into consideration.
 When minerals are taken out, heaps of mineral waste pollute the land.
 Sometimes mineral waste enters into rivers or lakes polluting the water supply.
 The smoke and dust during the mining activities pollutes the air we breathe in, which has been
severely damaged as a result of unplanned mining.

Sustainable Development and Mining:

 In mining Sustainable Development implies that the mining raw material needs of society are met,
without compromising the ability either of future societies to meet their needs, or of the natural
environment to sustain them indefinitely.
 That means exploring, extracting, producing, adding value to, using, re-using, recycling and,
when necessary, disposing of mineral and metal products in the most efficient, competitive and
environmentally responsible for manner.

 To have sustainable development in the mining sector, the following measures should be taken.
 The government should consider the concept of sustainable development when making
policies which affect the minerals and metals industry.
 The application of science and technology to enhance the industry’s competitiveness and
environmental protection.
 The discharge of toxic substances and release of heat, in such quantities or
concentrations which is harmful to environment.
 It should be strictly checked in order to ensure that serious or irreversible damage is not
inflicted upon ecosystems.

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Question Answers

Q: Describe the mining methods.

Ans: Adit mining: The seam of mineral is exposed on a slope and is approached through a tunnel from the
side of a hill.
Shaft mining: Vertical shaft goes down the hill till it reaches the seam of mineral. Then direction of mine
can be changed according to seam of mineral deposit.
Open cast mining: If the seam of mineral lies close to surface. The mineral is scoop up with the help of
excavators and power showel.
Quarrying: is an open cast mining, the useful part of rock is cutoff with help of hand tools, power saw and
explosives.

Q: Name one non-metallic mineral extracted in Pakistan.

Ans: Marble, lime stone, china clay and sulphur.

Q: How metallic and non-metallic minerals are different?

Ans: Metallic minerals are hard, tough and shiny, metals can change shape without breaking, metals can
be stretched and compressed, many metals are good thermal and electric conductors, metals are more
reactive to water and Acid.
Non-Metallic minerals are soft, rough, break away when shape is changed, poor thermal conductor, less
reactive to water and acid.

Q: State the meaning of terms mineral exploration and mineral extraction. (2)
Ans: Mineral exploration means searching out for minerals. This is called prospecting.
Mineral extraction means working and taking out the mineral from mines.

Q: What are the hurdles in the way of mineral development?

Ans: Lack of capital, technical knowledge, experts, government priority and mismanagement. Remote
deposits have difficult access.

Q: Describe the measure and policies which has been introduced in Pakistan to promote the exploration
of minerals.
Ans: (1) Geological survey of Pakistan was established in 1947 for mapping of workable mineral deposits.
(2) In 1961 oil and Gas Corporation of Pakistan was set up to explore, develop, refine and sell oil and
gas.
(3) Resource Development Corporation was founded for development of Saindak copper project.
(4) Gemstone Corporation of Pakistan was setup to developed gemstone resources.
(5) National mineral policy was announced in 1995 offered attractive incentives to attract local and foreign
investors.

Topic: Rock Salt.

Q: Describe the factors that help and those hinder the production of raw material in Khwara.
Ans: Khwera salt mine covers an area of 25 sq miles. Factors that have helped are vastness of the
deposits, thick layer of salt and the purity or quality of salt.
Factors that hinder the production of salt are lack of latest mining machinery and storage facility and
shortage of electricity.

Q: Name the places where rock salt is extracted.

Ans: Karak, Jatta and Bahadur Kheil in K.P.K, Khewra and Warcha in Punjab,

Q: In what ways is rock salt important to industry and to people?

Ans: Rock salt is used in cooking and as food preservation. In chemical industry it is used in
manufacturing of different kinds of sodas like caustic soda, washing soda, soda bicarbonate. Rock salt is
also used in textile, tanning and laundries. Earn foreign exchange by exports and generate employment
by mining.

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Q: What is mixture of rock salt and water called?
Ans: Brine.
Topic: Lime Stone.
Q: Describe the distribution of lime stone deposits in Pakistan?
Ans: In Punjab it is found in Khwera, Dandot, Daud Kheil, Rawal Pindi and D.G Khan. Nowshera, Khot,
Pezu in K.P.K. Harnai in Balochistan. Kot Deji hills, Ganjo Takar, Mangopir and Murli hills in Sindh.

Q: What are uses of lime stone?

Ans: Lime stone is raw material for cement. It is used in manufacturing glass, soap, paper, bleaching
powder and paints. It is painted on tree trunks to protect them from termite and treat salinity.

Q: Which of mineral has deposit each for Karachi and Hyderabad that enables to establish cement
factory?
Ans: Manghopir hills and Murli hills limestone deposit Karachi. Ganjo Takar hills of lime stone near
Hyderabad.

Q: Which of the mineral has the most wide spread deposits? (1)
Ans: Lime stone.

Q: Why is the supply of lime stone to the most areas likely to be cheaper than rock salt?
Ans: Deposits of lime stone are wide spread throughout the country and are used in cement so they are
cheap whereas salt deposit are found mostly in the north of country costs lot of transportation charges to
supply it to all parts of country.

Topic: Gypsum.
Q: Name one Gypsum deposit in salt range.
Ans: Khwera. (Also Dendot and Daud Kheil)

Q: What are uses of gypsum?

Ans: It is raw material for cement and plaster of paris. It is used to manufacture fertilizer, paints, and
prefabricated boards and used to treat salinity.

Q: Name the places of gypsum deposit.

Ans: Dandot, khwera In Punjab. Chamlong, spintangi in Balochistan. Saiduwalin in K.P.K.

Topic: Marble.
Q: Name the places form where marble is extracted.
Ans: Mullagori, Maneri and Ganai Tarko from K.P.K. Chagai, in Balochistan. Thano Bula khan in Sindh.

Q: What are uses of marble?

Ans: It is used for making decoration pieces and floors.

Topic: Clays.
Q: Name a place from where china clay is extracted.
Ans: Shah Deri in K.P.K.

Q: What are uses of china clay?

Ans: It is used to make ceramics and special cement.

Q: What are uses of fire clay?

Ans: It is used to make fire bricks of refectories and insulating bricks. Used in pottery and chemicals.

Q: Name the places of extraction of fuller earth?

Ans: Sulaiman range.

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Q: What are uses of fuller earth?
Ans: it is used in steel making, oil drilling and oil refinery.

Topic: Sulphur.

Q: Name the places where sulphur is extracted.

Ans: Kohi Sultan and Sanni in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of sulphur?

Ans: Sulphur is used in manufacturing of sulphuric acid, fertilizer, paint, dyes, rayon and explosives.

Q: Name a place from where copper is extracted.

Ans: Saindak in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of copper?

Ans: It is used in making electrical wire, water pipes, tanks and alloys.

Q: Name the places where iron is extracted.

Ans: Dommel Nissar, Marai Bala, Mazari Tang in K.P.K. Kala Bagh in Punjab. Chil Gazi in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of Iron ore?

Ans: Steel making, construction and transport.

Q: Name a place from where magnetite is extracted.

Ans: Spin Khan and Kohi Moran in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of Magnesite?

Ans: (Magnesium carbonates a white mineral)
It is used in manufacturing of cement, pulp, paper, rayon, fertilizer and medicines.

Q: Name the places where manganese is extracted.

Ans: It is extracted from Lasbela and Zhob in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of Manganese?

Ans: (A grayish white metallic chemical element, hard and brittle, rust like iron and is non-metallic)
It is used in making dry batteries, paints. It is vital alloy in steel making, flares and flash bulb.

Q: Name a place of Chromite extraction.

Ans: Muslim Bagh in Balochistan.

Q: What are uses of Chromite?

Ans: (a black mineral with metallic luster) it is used in chromium electroplating, steel making, making
engineering tools, lining in metallurgical furnace.

Q: Suggest why the production of minerals, such as chromite, varies from year to year.
Ans: (1) Lack of Investment and funding.
(2) Demand and orders varies.
(3) Due to loss many companies have left Pakistan.
(4) Problems with machinery.
(5) Reserves of chromite are reducing.
(6) Due to difficult landform of Balochistan it is difficult to find new reserves.
(7) Terrorism, poor law and order in Balochistan is a hurdle.

Q: Name a place of extraction of celestite?

Ans: Thano Bula khan in Sindh and Daud Khel in Punjab.

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Q: What are uses of celestitie?
Ans: (1) Tracer bullets (2) firework (3) paints and (4) plastic.

Q: Name a place of extraction of Bauxite?

Ans: Muzafarabad in Kashmir.

Q: What are uses of Bauxite?

Ans: (Aluminum oxide) Aluminum is extracted from Bauxite used in Utensils, tin and cans.

Q: How environment is damaged by unscientific mining?

Ans: (1) Deforestation is done to construct roads and mining.
(2) Large pits are dug are filled with rain water may cause flooding.
(3) Air pollution is caused due to blasting. Noise pollution is caused due to use of explosives
(4) Wild life also disturbs from blasting.
(5) Mining waste cause water pollution.
(6) cause health problems in miners.

Q: How problems due to unscientific mining can be reduced? [4]

Ans: (1) Laws should be introduced by government to check the activities of mining companies. (2) Tree
planting the area around mine should be properly planted with trees so that atmosphere will remain
healthily.
(3) Land restoration the land should be leveled and depressions should be filled.
(4) Personal health and safety – wearing of masks against the dust, ear defenders, and regular medical
checkups should be provided to miners.
(5) Mining waste should be properly treated.
(d) To what extent can more extraction of mineral resources help to increase development in Pakistan?
Ans: In favor Increase trade and exports while reduce imports. Raise GDP and GNP, increase the
economy Increase employment. Raise taxes and government earnings. Attracts foreign investment.
Causes Rural development and Provides more fuel or raw material to industry so increase
Industrialization for example mining of coal and iron ore can develop steel industry. Develop skills of work
force.

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Q: Which of the minerals has the most widespread deposits?

Ans. Limestone.

Q: Which of the mineral has deposits only towards the north of Pakistan?

Ans. Rock salt

Q: Name one source of limestone that has led to the development of a cement factory in Karachi.

Ans. Manghopir / Murli Hills.

Q: Name one source of limestone that has enabled a cement factory to be built in Hyderabad.

Ans. Ganjo Takar.

Q: Explain your choices in (iii) and (iv).

Ans. Limestone / lime is bulky / very heavy / needed in large amount

Not a valuable mineral

Not economic to transport it far.

Q: Look at Fig.7 and name one gypsum deposit in the Salt Ranges.

Ans. Dandot / Daud Khel / Khewra.

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Q: For each of the mine A and B, name the type of mine.

Ans: A – adit / drift B – Shaft

Q: Explain why that is the type of mine there.

Ans. A – Coal (seam) exposed on a slope / can dig tunnels along the seam.

B – Coal (seam) underground.

Q: Name three ways by which coal is mined.

Ans. Shaft, Adit / Drift, Open cast.

Q: Describe the environmental problems that can be caused by mineral extraction.

Ans. 1.Loss of vegetation / deforestation

2.Land deformation

3.Loss of soil, dust

4.Smoke / gasses produced

5.Soil erosion

6.Loss of farmland, noise / vibration.

Q: How can these problems be reduced?

Ans. 1. Tree planting

2. Laws / legislation

3. Land restoration Personal health and safety measures

4. Medical checkups.

Q: What are the benefits of extracting mineral resources for local people and the national economy? Ans.
Local People:

1. Employment opportunities in mines

2. Higher / more stable incomes

3. Higher living standards / settled lifestyle

4. Business opportunities for local people / ancillary industries / service

5. Improvement to local infrastructure such as roads / electricity

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6. Local use of raw material.

National economy:

1. Raw material for industry and agriculture

2. Revenue / taxes for government

3. Increase exports and foreign exchange

4. Reduces national debt / deficit

5. Reduces imports

Q: To what extent can more extraction of mineral resources help to increase development in Pakistan?

Ans: In favour:

1. Increase trade / exports / reduce imports

2. Rise in GDP / GNP / increase the economy
3. Increase employment
4. Government earnings
5. Foreign investment, industrialization / more industry
6. Rural development, Better infrastructure
7. Provides more fuel or raw material, Education / skills.

Against:

1. Lack of funds, lack of machinery

2. In remote areas
3. Lack of infrastructure
4. Competition from other countries
5. Environmental damage
6. Lack of skills / expertise

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Q: 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. 10. You should choose from the following list: gypsum - limestone
- rocksalt

Ans. Location NW – rocksalt / limestone / gypsum

Central – limestone / gypsum

S – Limestone

Uses

Rocksalt: Cooking / preservation / soda (used in laundries / textiles / tanning) flavoring 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.

Q: Using Fig. 10 and your own knowledge, suggest difficulties there may be in getting minerals to export
markets.

Ans. 1. Heavy / bulky commodities

2. Expensive to transport

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 3. Roads and railways from mining areas poorly developed / or not connected

4. Mostly extracted far inland / away from ports / Karachi / distance from markets / takes a long time /
remoteness

5. Mountainous / rugged terrain

6. Theft

7. Inappropriate / inadequate vehicles to transport minerals.

Q: What is GDP and how can we increase the GDP in mineral sector?

Ans. The total domestic output of the country including exports called Gross Domestic Product. We can
increase the GDP in mineral sector by the following factors:

● Mining should be done on modern lines to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative effects.

● Proper training should be given to workers.

● Provision of infrastructure (transport, power, telephone lines, water supply etc).

● Hi-tech knowledge, machinery and experts should be available.

Protection (of the Environment from Mining Hazards):

In order to minimize the environmental degradation due to mining, the following points should be
considered.

1. Mining should be done on scientific lines to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative effects.

2. When mining is done in an area, special precautions must be taken to prevent environmental losses.

3. The land should be leveled and the depressions should be filled in after the mining activity to avoid
deformation.

4. All the mining waste including gases, fumes and semi-solid waste should be properly treated before
their final disposal.

5. The people involved should be provided with proper protective clothing to prevent the effects of gases
and dust.

6. The area around the mine should be properly planted with trees so that the atmosphere may remain
healthy and when minors come out of the mines, they may have fresh air to breathe

7. Water treatment plants should be set up to supply clean water to the workers living near mines.

In order to conserve the environment and prevent its degradation there should be:

1. Compulsory afforestation programmes near the mining centers.

2. Proper disposal of the mining waste products, better safety measures in the mines.

3. Improved working conditions for the miners.

Effects (Mining on Environment)

1. Starting extraction of minerals

2. Vegetation cut down resulting in soil exposure

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3. Natural landscape deformed due to construction of roads and miners’ houses

4. Rock blasting or digging of earth.

5. Depressions caused by subsidence of land may become flooded. 6. Noise pollution and ground
vibration from blasting.

7. Traditional mining methods are hazardous to the health of miners.

8. Land pollution due to mining waste.

9. Water supply polluted from mineral waste.

10. Air pollution from dust and smoke.

11. Environmental loss

Problems (Underground Mining):

1. Ventilation and underground transport problem.

2. Dangerous gases may produce which are dangerous for workers life.

3. Due to use of explosive material, the roofs of tunnel may be collapse.

Problems in Mineral Sector:

1. Lack of finance.

2. Lack of experts.

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3. Low priority given to mineral extraction.

4. Lack of technical knowledge.

5. Inaccessible mineral deposits

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