Mineral Resources of Pakistan: Types, Locations and Uses (O Level Geography)

The mineral resources of Pakistan topic is fact-heavy but predictable: learn each mineral with one location and one use, and you can answer most questions.

Quick answer: Pakistan’s minerals are classed as metallic (copper, gold, chromite, iron ore) and non-metallic (rock salt, limestone, gypsum, coal, marble). Most metallic minerals are in Balochistan, while the Salt Range in Punjab is rich in rock salt, limestone and gypsum.

Non-Metallic Minerals

• Rock salt: Khewra in the Salt Range — cooking, chemical industry.
• Limestone: Salt Range, Potwar, near Hyderabad and Karachi — cement.
• Gypsum: Salt Range and Balochistan — cement, plaster, fertiliser.
• Coal: Thar and Lakhra in Sindh, around Quetta, and the Salt Range — power generation and brick kilns.
• Marble: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — construction and decoration.

Metallic Minerals

• Copper and gold: Saindak and Reko Diq in Chagai, Balochistan.
• Chromite: Muslim Bagh, Balochistan — stainless steel; largely exported.
• Iron ore: Kalabagh and other deposits — generally low grade.

Importance of Minerals

• Raw materials for industry (cement, chemicals, steel).
• Export earnings and jobs in remote areas.
• Energy supply from coal and gas — see energy resources of Pakistan.

Problems of Mining

• Deposits are in remote, mountainous areas with poor roads.
• Shortage of capital, modern machinery and skilled workers.
• Safety risks for miners and damage to land and water.

Exam Tip

Make a three-column table: mineral, location, use. Then practise marking locations on a map of Pakistan — location questions are among the easiest marks in Paper 2. Also revise industries of Pakistan, since the two topics are often linked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which mineral is found at Khewra?

Rock salt is mined at Khewra in the Salt Range, Punjab. It is one of the largest salt mines in the world.

Where are copper and gold found in Pakistan?

Copper and gold are found at Saindak and Reko Diq in the Chagai district of Balochistan.

What is limestone used for?

Limestone is the main raw material for the cement industry and is also used in construction.