God has bestowed Gilgit Baltistan with rich deposits of gold, gemstones and minerals, such as, aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline, quartz, mica, marble and the famous serpentine, cherished for its magical healing power and ability to ward off poisons, which could support the deteriorating economic status of the people living here.
The need for the hour is for the government to set up a department where local people are given guidance and systematic efforts to exploit the enormous mineral resources for sustainable development can be undertaken.
Every year around Rs 500 million values are extracted from gemstones in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan and efforts are ongoing to explore other valuable minerals.
Almost all valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan have been confirmed to shed gold and base metals, but the need is an investment to explore them to change the area’s fate.
According to surveys carried out by Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) for gold and base metals and focused on Geochemical and hard rock samples.
Approximately 11 prospect areas have reported gold value ranging from 0.10 to 24 parts per million (PPM) in hard rock while 5 PPM of gold is economical in the world, the official in the GB Department of Tourism and Minerals
The official said a total of 3947 Geochemical stream sediment samples were collected from less than one sq-km to 250 sq-km, covering 45,500 sq-km of gold anomalies alone counted over 100, ranging from 5 PPM to 300 PPM in value. Around 500 samples of hard rock including river floats and outcrops were collected.
According to laboratory results, a total of 50 samples pertaining to 10 areas conform gold values ranging from 0.10 ppm to 24.0 ppm, the official said and added the gold washers also recover gold from Gilgit-Baltistan placer deposits.
The region is also rich with Shigar (Skardu), Nasirabad (Hunza) and Gupis (Ghizer) white-colored marble deposits which are considered to be of international quality.
Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Garnet, Fluorite, Pargasite, Spinal, Zircon, Topaz, Berylspar, Corundum, Morganite, Serpentine, Sulpher, Moonstone, Amethyst are the other gemstones which are extracted from the region.
The official said local government is taking a major policy initiative to expand Gilgit-Baltistan ‘s mineral sector and also to encourage both local and foreign investments in the sector.
| GEMSTONES | MINING AREAS |
| Aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline, apatite, sphene, morganite, and quartz | Skardu, Shigar, Shengus, Stak Nala and Tormiq Nala |
| Apatite, zoisite, rutile quartz, epidote, and morganite | Shigar district |
| Aquamarine, emerald-color tourmaline, apatite, morganite, topaz, and quartz | Kashmal, and Yuno (Shigar area, near Skardu, Baltistan) |
| Topaz (best golden color here), aquamarine, tourmaline, morganite, rare earth minerals, apatite, quartz, and new find emerald | Hyderabad, Teste, Dassu, Net Tahirabad, and Goyungo (Shigar area, Baltistan) |
| Tourmaline, aquamarine, garnets, diopside, ruby, pargasite, emerald, topaz, amethyst, scheelite, and quartz | Ap0 Ali Gon, Fuljo, Braldu, Bashu, and Karma (Shigar district Baltistan) |
| Aquamarine, amethyst, and fine golden rutile quartz | Khaplu, Saltoro near Siachen Glacier area (Ganche District, Baltistan) |
Read also: Gilgit Baltistan: A majestic land of hidden valleys
