Man's
progress in civilization from the historic stage has been punctuated by his mastery over
technology in extracting the mineral resources from different geological formations of
diverse ages and in utilizing these mineral resources in various industries for the
manufacture of essential products for human life. Economic edifice of any country depends
upon is industrial growth, which in turn is dependable upon the availability of mineral
resources of that country. Minerals are broadly grouped into two categories.
(1)
Metallic and
(2)
Non-Metallic
Metallic
minerals find their use in the manufacture of a small pin up to an aircraft and big
vehicle. The non-metallic minerals are used in Tailoring trade, agriculture, and medicine
and in big industries for the manufacture of various items of our daily use. Ever since
man's emergence from the Neolithic, pursuit for metals and the development of metallurgy
has been the keystone of his economic and industrial progress. Minerals thus form one of
the modern world's important resource in support and fulfillment of human life. The wide
range of their uses has made great exploitation on the world's stock of minerals and in
some cases to such an extent that their accessibility stock in the earth's crust is
reaching depletion point. The diminishing resource of minerals have called forth warning
note from geologist and industrial economists. Researchers and technologists have made
exhaustive efforts to minimize the consumption of metals and to use non- mineral products
such as plastic in place of metals so that the exponential rate at which our civilization
is consuming the land based mineral resources be put off.
The
state Jammu and Kashmir particularly the district Rajouri which is rounded by Riasi in
east, Mirpur district (Occupied by Pakistan) in west and Kashmir valley in north and
Poonch district in northwest is endowed with metallic, non- metallic minerals and solid
fuel. The terrain of the Rajouri is mountainous having maximum altitude of 4535 m in
Dhakiar-rupri area on the Pir Panjal Range, the southwestern flank of which forms the
northern periphery of the area, whereas the Sivalik and murree hills from the southern
part of the area. The Nowshera tawi and Ans rivers are the main rivers of the district
Rajouri, which joins river Chenab at Arnas and Chamb respectively. Coal, Limestone,
Bauxite and Iron ore. The main mineral resources present in this area are:
COAL
The
basis source of energy for the industrial development is the coal, the solid or fossil
fuel as it is called and the district Rajouri has Kalakote, Methka, Moghla, Chokkar the
main coal. The coal is of semi-anthracite having fixed carbon for percentage from 79 to
80, which is related to Himalayan. The intense and complex tectonic movement has
restricted the economical limits of these coalfields. However, these can meet the
increasing demand of local consumption and industrial development of Jammu region.
LIMESTONE
Limestone
is an important raw material used in the manufacture of cement and in chemical,
metallurgical, paper making glass manufacture and sugar refining. It is also used in
bleaching powder and caustic soda. Extensive deposits of limestone associated with
carboniferous sequence of Kalakote, Methka and Thannamandi area of Rajouri district can be
placed in any of its above industrial use only after conducting systematic geological
investigation.
BAUXITE
It
is good source of aluminium and can be used for extraction of aluminium metal. It can be
used for refractory purposes and also for the extraction of gallium. It is a blanket type
of deposit occurring unconformable over the great limestone of Kalakote, Methka, Moghla
and Chakkar area. It is generally dark gray to cream in color and exhibited diasporic
variety.
IRON
ORE
Though
district Rajouri is devoid of any significant occurrence of iron ores but in
Gagrot-Khandli devi area iron ore occurs in a lenticular band associated with carbonaceous
and fessuginous shake and slate.
BENTONITE
It
is clay type of deposits usually shows whitish color and gives soapy touch. It is used in
oil well drilling, oil refining, paints, sealing in reservoirs and irrigational canals. It
also finds its use in agricultural spray insecticides. Thick bands of bentonite are
located in three different places near Budhal. In addition to these minerals resources
present in Rajouri district, the Panjal trap has a massive volcanic rock, which forms the
northern and northwestern. Envisions of Rajouri city can be used in building purpose. With
the increasing demand of the stone industry, polished slabs of Panjal traps can be
manufactured after arriving at their physical mineralogical and textural properties.
MURREE
Murree
formation supposed to be the main source of hydrocarbon is predominantly developed in this
area. Unfortunately success in exploring the oil and natural gas commission workers have
not achieved petroleum in saruinsar area due to certain technical problems, extensive
efforts are being made by these workers in Rajouri district also to locate sports for
exploration of petroleum in future.
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