Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS
"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 mappings of toposheets of the outcrop area, out of 354 unmapped Balochistan toposheets, will be carried out", according to an official document.
The GSP has demanded funds amounting to Rs50.130 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 found in a particular region.
These maps are essential for all future detailed geological work including mineral 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 a majority of the demands involving research in 'stratigraphy', structure & tectonics, sample collection for laboratory studies, mineral evaluation and identification of promising areas for further exploration of natural resources.
According to the document, the total outcrop area of Balochistan is 335,360 square kilometres (524 toposheets) out of which 108,800 square kilometres (170 toposheets) have been mapped and published on 1:50,000 scale and the maps are available.
The promising mineral potential outcrop area would be mapped under this project, following which its gained experience would be used in mapping the rest of the outcrop area.
"This project will help map the outcrop area in detail on 1:50,000 scale and maintain a database for future exploration.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2020.
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