Nepal has been mining in small scale for iron, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, nickel and gold. Old mine pits, adits, smelting places and other remnants of mine processing are found all over Nepal. Some villages are sometimes named after mineral names such as Taba Khani, Falam Khani, Shisa Khani or Sun Khani.
Before 1951 (2007 BS) Nepal was an exporter of iron and copper to Tibet and cobalt to India. At Thoshe iron deposit (Ramechhap), a gun manufacturing plant was established in 1921 which is non-functional now. After the change of government in 1951, mining activities gradually closed.
Systematic geological mapping and mineral exploration were done by the Nepal Bureau of Mines that was established in 1961 and Nepal Geological Survey that was established in 1967. These two organizations were combined in 1977 and renamed as Department of Mines and Geology (DMG). Mineral exploration activities were in peak during 1969 – 1984. Some potential mineral resources identified by the exploration are listed below.
Metallic mineral
| Mineral | Location |
|---|---|
| Iron | Dhaubadi (Nawalpur), Lalitpur (Phulchoki), Thoshe (Ramechhap), Labdhikhola (Tanahu), Jirbang (Chitwan), and Dhuwakot (Parbat) |
| Copper | Gyazi (Gorkha), Okharbot (Myagdi) and Wapsa (Solukhumbu) |
| Zinc | Ganesh Himal area (Rasuwa), Phakuwa (Sankhuwashbha), Libangkhairang, Damar, and Baraghare (Makawanpur), Pangum (Solukhumbu), Salimar valley (Mugu/Humla),Phulchoki (Lalitpur), Sishakhani and Khandebas (Baglung), Duwakot (Parbat) Bhalu Danda (Dhading), Kholakhani (Taplejung) |
| Cobalt | Netadarling and Tamghas (Gulmi) and Samarbhamar (Arghakhanchi) |
| Nickel | Bamangaun (Dadeldhura), Beringkhola (Ilam), Bauligad (Bajhang) Khoprekhani (Sindhuli) |
| Gold | Mahakali, Chamaliya, Jamari gad, Seti, Karnali, Bheri, Rapti, Lungrikhola and Phagumkhola (Rolpa), Kaligandaki, Myagdikhola, Modi, Madi, Marsyandi, Trishuli, Bhudhi Gandaki, and Sunkoshi |
| Silver | Ganesh Himal (Rasuwa), Barghare (Makawanpur),Bering Khola (Ilam) |
| Tin | Meddi and Genera (Dadeldhura) and Mandhukhola area (Makawanpur) |
| Uranium and other radio active minerals | Thumki, Jagat, Panchmane, Gagalphedi, and Chunikhel in Shivapur area, Tinbhaangale, Chandi. Khola and Chiruwakhola (Makawanpur), Bukakhola (Sindhuli) Mardarkhola and Panpakhola (Chitwan), Jamari gad, Bangabagar, Baggoth, Gorang (Baitadi), and Traces in different section of Chamaliya River (Darchula) |
| Bismuth | Dadeldhura and Baraghare and Mandukhola area in Makawanpur district |
| Cinabar | Khimti River |
| Berllium | Khaptad and different parts of Manang, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Phakuwa Hyakule, Ilam and Taplejung district |
| Tungsten | Dadeldhura and Makwanpur |
Non-metallic mineral
| Mineral | Location |
|---|---|
| Coal | Tosh, Siuja, Azimara and Abidhara in Dang, and few places in Salyan, Rolpa, Pyuthan and Palpa |
| Limestone | Khotang, Udayapur, Syangja, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Dang, Pyuthan, Salyan, Rolpa, Bajhang, Baitadi, and Darchula |
| Dolomite | Dhankuta, Khotang, Udayapur, Sindhuli, Dolakha, Kavre, Kathmandu, Makawanpur, Dhading, Syangja, Palpa, Baglung, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Dang Pyuthan, Salyan, Rolpa, Rukum, Jajarkot, Surkhet, Dailekh, Jumla, Achham, Doti, Bajhang, Bajura, Baitadi, and Darchula districts in the Lesser Himalayan |
| Phosphorite | Dhick Gad, Junkuna, Morgaun, Sanagaun and Dhaubisaune areas in Baitadi, Far Western Nepal |
| Magnesite | Kampughat in Udayapur, Palpa, Baitadi, and Dolakha |
| Talc/Mica | Dhankuta, Langtang (Rasuwa), Bhumidanda and Khairenitar (Nuwakot), Chaukibhanjyang (Kathmandu), Nibuwagaun (Sindhupalchok) Khaptad (Bajhang), Baskot and Bhasukan (Doti), Fical (Ilam) |
| Pyrite (sulphur) | Bering Khola (Ilam), Chhirlingkhola (Bhojpur), Meddi and Bamangaun (Dadeldhura) |
| Graphite | Illam, Dhankuta, Sankhuwashbha, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, and Dadeldhura |
| Granites | Makwanpur (Palung, Ipa and Narayanthan), Sindhuli, Udaypur, and Dadeldhura |
| Marble | Godavari (Lalitpur),Chhatre Deurali (Dhadhing),Anekot (Kavre) |
| Quartz Crystals (SiO2) | Jajarkot, Dailekh, Dhadhing, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Sakhuwasabha, Ilam and Taplejung districts |
| Rubies and Sapphire | Chumar, Ruyil, Shelghar, Pola, Shongla in Ruby valley in Dhadhing and Lari/ Ganesh Himal(Rasuwa) |
References
- ^ Rana, M.N., 1965; Preliminary project report on Thosay iron works. NBM unpub. Report.
- ^ "Mineral Resources of Nepal and their present status – Nepal Geological Society". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ Sah, Ram Bahadur; Paudyal, Kabi Raj (2019). "Geological control of mineral deposits in Nepal". Journal of Nepal Geological Society. 58: 189–197. doi:10.3126/jngs.v58i0.24604. ISSN 2676-1378.
- ^ Kansakar, Dibya R.; Dorian, James P.; Clark, Allen L. (1986-01-01). "The minerals potential of Nepal". GeoJournal. 12 (1): 19–31. doi:10.1007/BF00213019. ISSN 1572-9893. S2CID 154314159. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ Paudel, Devi Prasad (2019). "Present Status and Utilization of the Mineral Resources in Nepal". The Third Pole: Journal of Geography Education: 85–96. doi:10.3126/ttp.v18i0.28009. ISSN 2392-4322.
