Emerald at Shamozai Swat

The oceanic crust belt of Swat emeralds, and its lateral extension towards Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies in the west, mark the site of suturing between

two continental plates, the Eurasian plate in the north and Indian mass in the south, once remained separated by an in between ocean, called Tethys. The collision of the two masses uplifted the crust into mountains and led to emplacement of emerald mineralization in rocks along suture zone called Main Mantle Thrust (MMT).

The Emerald – hosted rocks identified in Swat valley, extends for a linear distance of more than 50 km, from Shamozai in the west toward northeast as for as Shangla Par, covering the localities of Shamozai Mines, Mingora Mines, Charbagh, Malakand, Malamjaba and GujarKilli Mines.

The Shamozai Emerald Prospect is favourable for exploration and mining because of its geographical position.  The local relief is comparatively low and being in the vicinity of Mingora city, the accessibility and local infrastructure is a developed one. The Climatic conditions are all weather working while availability of manpower including skilled minerals is on very

reasonable wages. The local inhabitants are famous for hospitality. The area is worldwide known for emerald mining on the name of Swat Emerald, while geographic position is strategic, connecting the famous Silk Route with a trade route between South Asia and Central Asia.

Accordingly the Shamozai Emerald Prospect is divisible into Block A & B for resource estimation in term of million carats @ 8 carats per cubic meter is based on emerald grade of Mingora Mines, is given under: