PERFORMANCE OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PAKISTAN DURING 1998-99

 Introduction

The FY 1998-99 has been a year of severe financial constraints. With its operational funds cut by 50 percent due to economy measures after the national emergency in May, 1998, the Geological Survey of Pakistan had to cope with the uphill task of meeting the national needs of basic geoscience data and information. Besides the scarcity of funds, the activities of the GSP were also seriously handicapped due to an acute shortage of field worthy vehicles. Inspite of these difficulties, the department has been able to achieve substantial progress through a better directed and more coordinated team effort. It has not only field surveyed an area of over 10,000 sq. km. through its geological mapping, geophysical surveys and other specialized studies but has also taken some new programme initiatives with the support of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. These included the establishment of new Divisions of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology.

The most outstanding feature of the 1998-99 programme has been the completion of the initial exploration of Dilband iron ore deposits in Mastung District, Balochistan. This work has given the country its first economically viable iron ore deposit. Ore mined from this area can be blended with imported ore to produce pig iron.

 Regional Geological Mapping and Updating on 1:50,000 Scale

An area of 10,700 sq. km. has been mapped and updated during 1998- 99. The province-wise detail of the work carried out is as under:-

a) Balochistan
An area of 3,430 sq. km. has been mapped and updated in various parts of Balochistan. The areas mapped are:- Toposheet Nos.39 E/7, Zhob District; 39 G/1, Kohlu District; 39 F/16, Barkhan District; 34 C/8, Chagai District; 34 N/15, Pishin District and 34 N/4, Quetta District.

b) Sindh
An area of 1,280 sq. km. has been mapped in Sindh province. The areas mapped are:- Toposheet Nos. 35 O/3 & 7, Dadu District. Compilation work on these maps is in progress.

c) NWFP
An area of 1,280 sq.km. has been mapped in NWFP. The areas mapped are:- Toposheet Nos.43 A/2, Chitral District and 38 K/11, Thal District.

d) AJK
An area of 4,880 sq. km. has been mapped and updated in Azad Kashmir. The areas mapped are: Toposheet Nos. 43 G/10,12,14,15,16; 43 F/10, 15; 43 J/1; 43 L/1,5 and 43 K/4 have been mapped and updated in Muzaffarabad, Kotli and Mirpur districts.

 Regional Geophysical Survey

An area of 2,800 sq. km. has been covered by magnetic and gravity surveys in various parts of the country. This included 1,000 sq. km. between Jhelum and Gujrat in Punjab covered by about 950 observations and an area of 1,800 sq. km. in Musakhail and Barkhan districts of Balochistan covered by about 880 observations.

The regional gravity and magnetic surveys have been carried out to provide data on subsurface configuration of rocks and will be most useful in future exploration of oil & gas.

 Mineral Exploration & Economic Geology Studies

a) Preliminary Exploration of Dilband Iron Ore, Mastung District, Kalat Division, Balochistan
Iron ore deposits discovered by GSP in Dilband area, Mastung District, Balochistan, assumed importance and became economically significant as Pakistan Steel successfully produced sinter and pig iron blending 10% of the Dilband ore with the imported ores. Detailed sampling of the deposits initially estimated to be over 200 million tonnes has been undertaken. More than 300 samples have been collected for chemical and mineralogical studies. Analysis of these samples is in progress. An initial report on the evaluation of these deposits has been issued. Recently extension of Dilband iron ore horizon has been found in Spezand near Quetta but the ore is of low grade.

b) Study for Radioactive Minerals in Thar Desert, Sindh
Presence of radioactive minerals in the horizon above the Thar coal bed in Sindh was discovered by GSP and a report has been issued after initial study. The occurrence is now being studied in detail by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

c) Evaluation of Kaolin Prospects in Coal Measures of Pakistan
Good quality kaolin in the cores of Thar coal field, has been identified and studied. A report is under preparation.

d) Study of Titanium Occurrence in Ziarat Laterite, Ziarat, Sibi and Loralai Districts, Balochistan.
Titanium metal is assuming great strategic importance due to its usage in aerospace industry. Reconnaissance sampling of the laterite zone in Ziarat area in Sibi and Ziarat districts, Balochistan has been undertaken. The zone contains anomalously high values of titanium. Analysis of the samples is in progress.

e) Gypsum Deposits
Large deposits of gypsum exceeding 100 million tonnes have been found in the Marri-Bugti hills ( toposheet Nos.39 G/6, 39 F/8, 12, 15 & 16, Barkhan District), Balochistan during the course of regional geological mapping.

f) Tectonic Setting and Emplacement of Magmatic Rocks of Koh-i-Dalil, Chagai District, Balochistan
A number of porphyry prospects have been identified in Chagai District, Balochistan. Koh-i-Dalil is the most promising prospect. It has been chosen for research studies leading to exploration modelling for the rest of Chagai District. Field studies and sample collection have been carried out. Analyses of samples and compilation work are in progress.

g) Nizampur Iron Ore Occurrence
An occurrence of low to medium grade sedimentary iron ore has been studied in the Nizampur area of Nowshera District, Peshawar Division, NWFP. Studies conducted by GSP have established the existence of about 100 million tonnes of ore containing about 30- 35% iron.

 Groundwater Studies

Under the newly established Hydrogeology Division, resistivity survey for groundwater potential has been carried out in the premises of Karachi University, Karachi; Attock Cement Factory, Lasbela District, Balochistan and in Splengi area in Mastung District, Balochistan. In addition, some groundwater flow modelling studies for Lahore, Quetta and Tharparkar have also been initiated.

 Environmental and Urban Geology

a) Study of Fluorosis Menace in Mastung Valley, Balochistan
Fluorosis is a common disease caused by the presence of excess fluorine in the drinking water and results in bone and tooth decay. This disease is common in Mastung valley in Kalat Division, Balochistan. Study of the hazardous areas in the valley has now been undertaken as the first systematic project under Environmental Geology Division.

Water samples from wells and tubewells have been collected from parts of Quetta, Mastung and Kalat districts. Analyses of these samples are in progress. The GSP has acquired the capability of detecting 1 p.p.m. fluorine in water samples, through its own efforts. An analytical precision of this kind does not presently exist anywhere in the country.

b) Updation of Urban Geological Map of Quetta Valley
Urban geological maps are of significant importance to the planners, environmentalists, city administrators and hydrogeologists. Keeping in view the rapid growth and fast changing landscape GSP has initiated this project. Mapping of a part of Quetta valley has been completed and compilation work is in progress.

 Collaborative Research Projects

a) Biostratigraphy, Faunal and Environmental studies of Upper Siwaliks.(A GSP- Sheffield University, UK Jiont Project.)
Field work has been completed and some important fossils documented.

(b) Evaluation of Whales and Eocene Mammals (A GSP-Michigan University, USA Project)
Field work has been carried out and a new horizon containing Eocene mammal bones has been discovered. Processing and identification of samples collected are in progress.

 Geological Road Logs

GSP has started an innovative project of preparing geological roads logs for all the major highways in the country. In the first instance road logs have been prepared for Lahore-Islamabad Motorway; Islamabad-Peshawar and Peshawar-Torkhum Highway and the Karakorum Highway covering all sections from Islamabad to Khunjrab on Pak-China border. These logs will not only be of great interest to geologists but will equally fascinate mountaineers, hikers, trackers, infra-structure developers, tourists and the general public at large. Printing of these road logs is scheduled by December, 1999.

 Compilation of Geological Maps on 1:250,000 Scale.

a) Geological Map of Marri-Bugti Area, Balochistan
Compilation work of toposheet Nos. 39 G&C covering an area of about 20,000 sq.km. is in progress.

b) Geological Map of Kala Chitta Range, Punjab
Compilation work has been completed covering an area of about 2,000 sq. km. A draft report has been completed.

c) Geological Map of Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab
Geological maps of toposheet Nos.39 J & K covering an area of about 20,480 sq. km. have been completed. Report writing is in progress.