Vermiculite is found to the east, south and west of the Garrok-Sorghar-Osaphi stock of western Ras Koh Range, in the Doki River area about 13 miles SSW of Dalbandin, Chagai District, Kalat Division. It is a mineral formed by metamorphism of basaltic lava resulting from intrusion of the stock and injection of numerous diorite and aplite dykes; the rocks produced are vermiculite-schist, biotite-pyroxene-schist, hornblendite, and hornblende-augite rock. Vermiculite-schist, which hosts most of the commercially important vermiculite, occupies about 2.5 square miles. Two grades occur: high-grade vermiculite with books/sheets 1/4 to 1.5 inches in diameter, and low-grade vermiculite with books under 1/4 inch. Based on surface exposures, estimated tonnage within 10 feet of the surface is about 11.5 million tons of high-grade and 50 million tons of low-grade vermiculite-schist; actual vermiculite tonnage would be considerably less owing to intermixed non-vermiculite minerals. Subsurface exploration by prospecting and drilling is required to determine grade and extent at depth. The deposit may be large enough to warrant additional investigation and possible economic development, particularly if other mineral development occurs in the Ras Koh-Dalbandin area, though accessibility (camel transport only), labour, extreme desert climate, and limited water supply present development challenges.
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Vermiculite is found to the east, south and west of the Garrok-Sorghar-Osaphi stock of western Ras Koh Range, in the Doki River area about 13 miles SSW of Dalbandin, Chagai District, Kalat Division. It is a mineral formed by metamorphism of basaltic lava resulting from intrusion of the stock and injection of numerous diorite and aplite dykes; the rocks produced are vermiculite-schist, biotite-pyroxene-schist, hornblendite, and hornblende-augite rock. Vermiculite-schist, which hosts most of the commercially important vermiculite, occupies about 2.5 square miles. Two grades occur: high-grade vermiculite with books/sheets 1/4 to 1.5 inches in diameter, and low-grade vermiculite with books under 1/4 inch. Based on surface exposures, estimated tonnage within 10 feet of the surface is about 11.5 million tons of high-grade and 50 million tons of low-grade vermiculite-schist; actual vermiculite tonnage would be considerably less owing to intermixed non-vermiculite minerals. Subsurface exploration by prospecting and drilling is required to determine grade and extent at depth. The deposit may be large enough to warrant additional investigation and possible economic development, particularly if other mineral development occurs in the Ras Koh-Dalbandin area, though accessibility (camel transport only), labour, extreme desert climate, and limited water supply present development challenges.
