GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION OF GOLD IN DISTRICT NOWSHERA AND ALONGSIDE RIVER INDUS, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The basic intent of this study was to do the geochemical analysis of alluvial sediments in district Nowshera of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for gold concentration. For this purpose, five samples were collected from local streams as well as river sediments and were panned to get the desired sample size. The samples were then taken to Geosciences Advance research Laboratories (GARL) Islamabad for further tests, where samples were passed through several procedures. Dry samples were turned into MIBK solution and were then examined under the atomic absorption spectrometer in order to find out the concentration of gold. Each sample was treated carefully and modern methods were adopted during the study. In order to confirm the authenticity of the research, the results were then examined in the light of previous literature. Except for the PTC Khwar area, which showed gold concentration below the detection limit, all the results were promising, while the sample from the Indus River Khairabad area showed the highest gold concentration, and it was concluded that gold can be explored in the aforementioned area on a commercial scale, which will not only bring prosperity to the locals but will also bring about a major shift in the continuously rising gold market.