Irresponsible extraction of placer gold, uncommon earth components (REEs) and customary minerals from the black sand downstream of the Indus River on the historic Attock Bridge isn’t solely harming the atmosphere but in addition depriving Pakistan of giant income, experiences WealthPK.
Mercury is basically used to amalgamate gold from the gravel concentrates. When the entire amalgam is heated, mercury evaporates shortly, reconsolidates inside a second and falls freely in the identical place, leaving gold behind.
Speaking to WealthPK, Principal Geologist at Islamabad-based International Mining Firm Muhammad Yaqub Shah stated owing to lack of expertise and consciousness, the untreated gold tailings and chemical compounds used to acquire gold and to maintain the associated tools operating should not solely harming the atmosphere but in addition depriving the state coffers of giant sums of cash. This irresponsible observe should be strictly checked, he emphasised.
“A few of gold washers work manually whereas some use mechanical strategies to dig and wash gold, not understanding how a lot hurt they’re inflicting to the common river mattress. Usually, by washing a cubic yard of water, an knowledgeable can achieve roughly 1.05 grains of gold.
“Every day, at the least 20kg mercury moreover different by-products and completely different fuels or lubricants used for the digging tools add to the river water that can also be used for consuming and irrigation. Based on a cautious estimate, all these chemical compounds are toxifying about three-fourths of the nation’s natural world, together with the Arabian Sea. This implies life current in numerous types within the downstream areas faces a severe threat,” he stated.
The remaining gold tailings typically include treasured, semi-precious, REEs, or platinoid teams of minerals. It’s to be famous that a lot of the precious minerals within the alluvials are concentrated in fractions of fantastic mesh or fine-sized grades.
Discussing additional, Yaqub stated the alluvium introduced downstream by the Indus River and its confluence (the assembly level of Indus and Kabul rivers) was a nationwide treasure-trove of minerals that was much more precious than gold. Some culprits are smuggling these sands overseas and this should be checked.
“Business prospecting for large-scale dredging from the Indus River is direly wanted. Professionals are required to guard these pure sources and develop the nation and nation at giant in order that not solely the pure sources of Pakistan can be utilized correctly however extra work alternatives and a sizeable worth chain can be created,” stated Yaqub, who can also be former GM (Geology) on the Pakistan Mineral Growth Company (PMDC).