Nepal

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Geology of Nepal is very complex because of continues geodynamic process in the Himalayan region and that resulted many thrusting, faulting, folding and metamorphic effects. Nepal Himalaya can be divided into five distinct morpho-geotectonic zones from south to north. From mineral resources point of view, the southernmost Terai Plain is potential for gravel, sand, ground water, petroleum and natural gas. The Sub Himalaya (Churia/ Siwalik foot hills) is the potential area for construction materials, radioactive minerals, petroleum, natural gas and minor amount of coal. Similarly, Lesser Himalaya (The Mahabharat Range including midlands) is promising for metallic minerals mainly Iron, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, nickel, tin, tungsten, molybdenum, gold, uranium rare metals etc.; industrial minerals like magnesite, phosphorite, limestone, dolomite, talc, clay, kaoline etc.; gemstones like tourmaline, aquamarine/ beryl, garnet, kyanite, etc; fuel minerals e.g. coal, lignite, methane gas, petroleum and natural gas, hot springs and radioactive minerals; and voluminous construction materials crushed gravel as well as river boulders, gravel; sand some of the areas in Higher Himalaya are highly promising for precious and semiprecious stones, marble and metallic minerals like lead, zinc, uranium, gold etc. Tibetan Tethys zone is prospective for limestone, gypsum, brine water (salt) and natural gas. However, because of rugged topography, difficult mountain terrain, complex geology, lack of infrastructures and financial constrain exploration and exploitation of these mineral resources in Nepal is still challenging.
Kaphle K.P., 2011, Minerals Resources of Nepal and their present status, available in www.ngs.org.np (website of Nepal Geological Society)

In the 1950s, Nepal consisted of 34 districts. From 1962, it was divided into 14 zones; these came into disuse around 1995. Since then, Nepal is divided into five vikas kshetra (development regions; not used on Mindat), these into 14 administrative zones and 75 districts (see links below).

Presently, the Mindat locality hierarchy still uses the old zones.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Actinolite 'Aikinite-Bismuthinite Series' Albite var: Pericline Almandine Amphibole Supergroup var: Byssolite 'Apatite' Beryl var: Aquamarine Bismuthinite Calcite Chalcopyrite 'Chlorite Group' Clinochlore Corundum

Corundum var: Ruby var: Sapphire Cubanite Danburite Dolomite Dravite Elbaite Epidote Eulytine 'Garnet' Hambergite Hedenbergite Hessite 'Hornblende' Ilmenite

'K Feldspar var: Adularia' Kyanite Lepidolite Magnesite var: Ferroan Magnesite Magnetite Margarite 'Mica Group' Muscovite var: Fuchsite Orthoclase Phlogopite Pyrite Quartz var: Prase

Quartz var: Rock Crystal var: Smoky Quartz Rutile Schorl Sillimanite Stibiotantalite Talc Tetradymite Titanite 'Tourmaline' 'var: Achroite' 'var: Rubellite' 'Uvite'

63 entries listed. 37 valid minerals.

Localities in this Region

Nepal Bagmati Zone Dhading District Chumar Mines (Chhumar Mines) Dhading Tipling Mine Ganesh Himal (Ganesha) Ruyil Mine Rasuwa District Somdang Ganesh Himal deposit Shindhupalchowk District (Sindhipalchowk) Lamosangu Mankha Village Bheri Zone Gujarkot Jajarkot District Dravite locality Surkhet District Dhawalagiri Zone (Dhaulagiri) Annapurna Sanctuary (Annapurna Himal) Annapurna base camp Modi-Khola valley Cu-Bi occurrence Myagdi and Mustang Districts Kali Gandaki Gorge (Kali Gandaki river region; Andha Galchi) Gandaki Zone Gorkha District (Gurkha) Lamjung District (Lamtung) Manang District Naje (Nache) Janakpur Zone Dolakha District (Dolkha) Kharidhunga Rolwaling Himal Mahottari District

Nepal Janakpur Zone Mahottari District Pipra Karnali Zone Kalikot District Varta Area Kosi Zone (Koshi Zone) Sankhuwasabha District (Sankhuwa Sahba; Shankuwa-Sava) Barabise Gunyahang quartz mine (Makalu Mountain; "Milka Danda; Milke Danda") Hanglalung Hyakule Phakuwa Lead-zinc occurrence Phakuwa pegmatite Sawai Khola Sonomla (Sunamla) Swachi Lumbini Zone Mahakali Zone Mechi Zone Ilam District Bering Khola Taplejung District Mt Everest Narayani Zone Chitwan District Gaighat Rapti Zone Sagarmatha Zone Udaipur District (Udayapur) Kampughat Seti Zone Bajhang District Chainpur Hyakule

References

External Links