SIACHEN REGION- ITS MINERAL POTENTIAL ON THE BASIS OF REGIONAL GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION DATA.

Preamble

Even though General Zia Ul-haq, a known military dictator in the history of Islamic Republic of Pakistan had once dismissed an Indian move in the Siachen Areas of Pakistan by saying that “Not even a blade of grass grow at this location” but contrarily, on the basis of available geochemical data as well as field observations of several geoscientists, it could very safely be stated that Nature has cultivated abundant quantity of precious metals in this part of the world.

The aforementioned submission is the result of motivation of my thoughts consequent to observing a pair of camera pictures (given below) recently sent for my comments by one of my co-professional, Dr. Anwar Hussain Alizai, presently working as Dy. Director General Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), Southern zone Karachi, which were taken by someone in Giary valley of the Siachen Areas.

Therefore, the entire statement given here as under is an outcome of compiling of geological data from my field diaries for the years1992-1996.

Location & Access

Pakistani part of the greatest non-polar Siachen glacier can be approached through 3 valleys namely Chulung, Gyong and Ghayari from Goma village (Lat. 35.149627°N, Long.76.792715°E). As shown on the google map blow, Goma is the last village of Saltoro valley that is situated 185km east of Skardu in Ganche district which in turn could be approached through a 67km. fair weather blacktop road from Khaplu (the Dist. Hqrs. of Ganche).

Geochemical exploration sampling in the Siachen valleys

Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) Islamabad, (a public sector mineral Exploration & Development Entity) during 1991-2001 conducted a mineral exploration program in the entire Gilgit-Baltistan Region, that comprised of systematic drainage sampling where meaningful samples of panned concentrate and -80 mesh samples were collected from pre-planned sample locations, each represented a measured drainage cell area followed by its chemical analyses for gold and other related precious and base metals. Main purpose of implementing this project was to initiate exploration programme for identifying and locating gold and related minerals source rocks leading to the discovery of economic mineral deposits and ultimately development of profitable mining operations. Second most important purpose was to generate sufficient field data supported by laboratory analyses to demonstrate the mineral potential of Gilgit-Baltistan to facilitate private sector investment (National & Multinational) in the mineral industry of Pakistan.

The entire Saltoro valley was thus covered under the sampling system as mentioned above including follow up studies of the anomalous areas but unfortunately du to security constraints only 3 geochemical samples could be taken which despite of having high anomalous gold and silver values could not be followed up for locating source rocks of these metals. However geo-scientific data given at the table below strongly signals out towards occurrence of gold, silver and platinum bearing source rocks in the 3 valleys. This statement is further supported by the fact that the catchment drainage cells of all the 3 samples lies North of Shyoke Suture Zone and within the Karakorum plate which are composed of the outcrops of banded gneiss intruded by younger granitoid and lamprophyre dikes that are considered as host rocks for precious metals mineralization.???

Recommendations

Detailed follow up geological investigations are therefore strongly recommended for locating source rocks for gold, silver, platinum and other metals bearing rocks of economic interest.