GSP plans mapping of 50 Toposheets in Balochistan for minerals identification.

ISLAMABAD -- The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) has planned to map 50 Toposheets of 'outcrop area' in Balochistan province for identification of minerals at a cost of Rs 127.595 million during a three-year period.

'The project has been submitted to the quarters concerned for its incorporation

in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2020-2021), under which 50 geological mapping of Toposheets of Outcrop Area, out of 354 unmapped Toposheets, of Balochistan will be carried out,' according to an official document available with reporter.

The GSP has demanded funds amounting to Rs 50.130 million for execution of the project during the next fiscal year.

The geological maps provide a bird's eye view of the surface and (subsurface) distribution of various types of rocks and economic minerals that are found in a particular region.

'These maps are essential for all future detailed geological works including, minerals' exploration, civil engineering, soil surveys, land use, town planning, groundwater, earthquake hazards; environmental geology and soil conservation projects.'

Worldwide experience suggests that geological maps of 1: 50,000 scale provide the most useful information and meet the basic requirements of majority of the demands, involving research in 'stratigraphy', structure and tectonics, sample collection for laboratory studies, mineral evaluation and identification of promising areas for

further exploration of the natural resources.

According to the document, the total outcrop area of Balochistan is 335,360 Square Kilometers (524 Toposheets) out of which 108,800 Sq Km. (170 Toposheets) have been mapped and published on 1: 50,000 scale and the maps are available.

The promising mineral...