ISLAMABAD Gemstones worth around Rs500 million are extracted annually in Gilgit-Baltistan and efforts are under way to explore for precious minerals. According to surveys carried out by experts of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), around 11 prospect areas held gold deposits ranging from 0.10 to 24 parts per million (PPM) in hard rock.
According to an official of the Tourism and Mineral Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, 5 PPM gold was considered economical.
He said that around 500 samples of 10 areas confirmed gold values ranging from 0.10 PPM to 24 PPM, adding that gold washers were still recovering gold from deposits in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said that Shigar (Skardu), Nasirabad (Hunza) and Gupis (Ghizer) held rich deposits of white marble considered to be of international standard.
The gemstones found in the area include ruby, emerald, sapphire, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, fluorite, pargasite, spinal, zircon, topaz, berylspar, corundum, marganite, serpentine, sulpher, moonstone and amethyst.
The official said that the local administration planned to expand the mineral sector and encourage local and foreign investment, adding that many exploration licences and mining leases had been granted to national and foreign investors and more applications for licences were under process.—APP
