ISLAMABAD: Fluorite or fluorspar – an important industrial mineral – can be a handsome source of foreign exchange earning for Pakistan if exported in multiple processed forms, reports WealthPK. A variety of products are made from chemical extractions of this versatile mineral. Fluoride is the main component of fluorite, which is widely used in the manufacture of dental care products, insecticides, preservatives for glues and wood, etc.
Fluorite is the principal source of fluorine, which is mostly used to manufacture Teflon, chemotherapeutic drugs, and etchant hydrofluoric acid. It is also used as a smelting flux, to produce enamels and certain glasses, and to lower the melting point of metal during the production of aluminium. Fluorosilicates, fluor aluminates, and other complex fluorine salts are used to produce hydrofluoric acid and treat water.
The international fluorite market size is projected to reach US$3.92 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% from US$2.71 billion in 2020. In 2021, Pakistan exported 156,000kgs of fluorite that was worth US$30,000 million.
In a discussion with WealthPK about fluorite deposits in Pakistan, Principal Geologist at the Global Mining Company, Islamabad, and former general manager geology at the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation Muhammad Yaqub Shah said, “Fluorite is the mineral form of calcium fluoride formed in felsic igneous rocks, particularly common in granitic pegmatites. Its veins are also formed in limestone through the hydrothermal activity. It is an important industrial mineral composed of calcium and fluorine. In Pakistan, commercial-scale mining of fluorite is only done in Balochistan. Its traces are also found in other places but they are not commercially viable for mining.’’
“Fluorite is also found with commercially important associated minerals i.e., lead, silver, etc. Fluorite is also found in gem quality but it is not popular to be used as a gemstone due to low hardness. It is available in a variety of colors i.e., white, pink, green, etc.,” he said,
In a discussion with WealthPK, miner and geologist Imran Babar said, “Fluorite, in raw form, is exported from our country. The most common use of fluoride is for toothpaste production. Its processing is not anything too difficult. If it is done locally, most of fluorite-based products will be available in the market at a low price. Public-private partnership can be a good solution to establish processing units for production of fluorite-based products.”
The important thing for the authorities is to reframe the mineral export protocols and emphasize the export of processed forms. In this way, Pakistan’s mining sector can be made more productive.
