Copper Deposits in Pakistan

Deposits and showings of copper ore are largely confined to the ophiolitic thrust
belt and suture zones, Kohistan magmatic arc, Karakoram block and the Chagai
magmatic arc. In these regions copper ore is intimately related to igneous
intrusions and volcanic rocks, and occurs as (a) vein deposits with silver, gold and
other metals (e.g., epigenetic, polymetallic and metamorphic deposits in Chitral),
(b) strata-bound disseminations in volcanogenic sequences (e.g Manto-type
copper depoSit at Talaruk), (c) massive sulphide bodies in volcanics (e.g.,
Kurokotype Ann Dhora deposit in Las Bela and others in the Gilgit region), (d)
contact metasomatic-type small deposits (e.g. Kundi-Baluchap and Mashki Chah
in Chagai area), (f) porphyry coppermolybdenum deposits (e.g. Saindak and
Dasht-e-Kain in Chagai area), (g) complex, multiphase, ophioliteassociated
massive sulphide (e.g., Boya in Waziristan), and as a minor contituent in
volcanogenic magnetite deposits (e.g., Dommel Nissar in Chitral and Chilgazi in
Chagai area). Associated with the magmatic and volcanic sequences in the Bela
ophiolite belt, Waziristan ophiolite belt, Chagai magmatic arc, Kohistan island arc
and the Tirich Mir zone of the Karakoram block, there are numerous and
extensive alteration zones and gossans. Some of these contain traces of copper
and other metal .

Copper ore in different area and there geological setting

Himalayan crystalline zone
In Himalayan crystalline zone copper deposits occur with association of minerals
Chalcopyrite, malachite and fluorite in Babusar, Phalkot and Galdanian area. The
geological setting of the area is such a way that quartz veins cutting Precambrian
meta sediments( Minearlization associated with late Mesozoic to early tertiary
granites and diorites), In veins cutting Hazara formation and in sandstone
associated with hematite deposits respectively.
Fore land fold and thrust belt
Copper deposits occur with association of mineral cuprite and in the form of
native copper in Katha, Musakhel, Nilawahan Gorge and warcha areas. The
geological setting is such a manner that native copper and copper minerals occur
as a nodules, specs and stains disseminated in Sardhai shale and Warcha
sandstone (late Paleozoic).

Ophiolitic thrust-belt and suture zones

Copper occur in the area of Shinkai ( Waziristan) with the association of minerals
chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite, azurite, cuprite and tenorite. The geological
setting involve Several copper deposits occur in the Shinkai and adjacent regions,
in the Khost suture (Beck et a!. 1995), associated with the ophiolites and volcanics
of the Waziristan igneous complex and the melanges. The igneous complex has
been thrust eastward on Mesozoic deposits and includes a sequence of basal
ultramafics, an intermadiate zone of gabbros and dolerites and an upper part of
volcanics, interspersed with tectonic slices of melanges and intruded by granites
and diorites (calcalkaline magmatism). Mineralisation largely along "Boya-
Spinkamar-Preghar line". 15 mineralised bodies occur in this zone as sheet breccia
in contact with dolerite sill along margin of ultramafics. Copper in quartz veins
occur at Kambat, Gabbari, Mami Rogha, Sarpunga, Papure Tip; in alteration zones
at contact of sedimentary and volcanic rocks at Papure Tip; in diorite,
granodiorite, and volcanic rocks at Lwargi and Dangarkonr.

Kohistan magmatic arc

Copper occur in Bagrote Nala(18 km E of Gilgit), Nomal(16 km N of Gilgit),
Henzel(10 km NW of Gilgit) and Sher Qila(33 km NW of Gilgit) with association of
minerals Pyrite, malachite magnetite, azurite and magnetite. The geological
setting involve the Extensive weathered zones, comprising a powdery yellow
mass, cover the hill slopes on right bank of Hunza River. The weathered zone
contains sulphur and alum. Scattered rock outcrops beneath the weathered zone
contain sulphide mineralisation. There is widespread silicification and
sericitisation and the mineralised zone occurs at the contact of metavolcanics and
granodioritic intrusions.

In Sher Qila there is a 100 ft thick red, brown, and yellow gossan zone in
metavolcanics, close to their contact with granitic intrusions. Quartz veins in
granite, along minor faults.

Copper mines in Pakistan

Reko Diq copper mine: The Reko Diq mine is located near Reko Diq town
in Chagai District, Baluchistan, Pakistan.[1] It is a large copper mine located in the
west of Pakistan in Balochistan. Reko Diq represents one of the largest copper
reserve in Pakistan and in the world having estimated reserves of 5.9 billion
tonnes of ore grading 0.41% copper.

The Reko Diq area is part of the Tethyan Magmatic Arc, extending through central
and southeast Europe ( Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece) Turkey, Iran and
Pakistan through the Himalayan region into Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and
Papua New Guinea. It contains wealth of large copper-gold ore deposits of varying
grades.

Saindak Copper-Gold Mine: It is located near Saindak town in Chagai

District of Balochistan, Pakistan. The discovery of copper deposits at Saindak was
made in the 1970s in collaboration with a Chinese engineering firm. The Saindak
Copper-Gold Project was set up by Saindak Metals Ltd, a company fully owned by
the Government of Pakistan.

References
 Saindak project: Govt to extend Chinese firm's gold, copper mining
contract". The Express Tribune. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
 "Magic mountains: The Reko Diq gold and copper mining project". Herald
(Pakistan). 11 November 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
 "The mineral industry of Pakistan" (PDF). minerals.usgs.gov. 2011.
Retrieved 2013-06-25.