An assignment on “Mineral Resources of

Bangladesh”

Course name: Geology of the Bengal Basin

Course title: GS-401

SUBMITTED BY
MD. ASHIKUR RAHMAN
EXAM ROLL:150404
CLASS ROLL:2459
REG. NO:41392
SESSION:2015-16

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY
SAVAR, DHAKA-1342
 Mineral Resources of Bangladesh
Geologically, Bangladesh holds a greater portion of the Bengal Basin and the country is encircled by Tertiary
folded sedimentary rocks (12%) in the north, north eastern and eastern parts; uplifted Pleistocene residuum
(8%) in the north western, mid northern and eastern parts; and Holocene deposits (80%) consisting of
unconsolidated SAND, SILT and CLAY. For different geological environment, Bangladesh’s important
mineral deposits of are Natural Gas and petroleum, Coal, Limestone, Hard-rock, Gravel, Boulder, Glass Sand,
Construction sand, White Clay, Brick Clay, Peat and beach sand heavy minerals. There are two types of
energy resources renewable and nonrenewable. Here, we are going to emphasize on nonrenewable energy
resources because those are so important for our daily life. Non-renewable Energy is the energy sources which
are not renewable. Non-renewable Energy have finite amounts (they took millions of years to form, and will
run out one day) Energy. Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be
replenished in our lifetimes-or event in many, many lifetimes. Their reserves diminish and the resources are
exhausted in course of time as they are used. And so the sources are considered limited and not usable for an
unlimited period of time. Fossil fuels fall in this category. Non-renewable energy sources are very vital for any
country’s point of view. Because of it plays a significant role in development of a country. Modern
urbanization, industrialization, transportation and communication systems are the achievements of worldwide
sustainable mineral resource development and their proper utilization in various sectors. Richness in natural
resource is the key indicator of socio-economic infrastructure for any country all over the world. To explore
and exploit mineral resources and to utilize those resources properly in the development activities of the nation
depend on the technology and manpower. Non-renewable Energy consumption (percentage of total) in
Bangladesh was last measured at 71.53 in 2011, according to the World Bank. Fossil fuel comprises coal, oil,
petroleum, and natural gas products.
Natural gas
Natural gas is the most important indigenous source of energy in Bangladesh that has been continuously
produced and consumed in significant quantities since 1970. It is largely available in the eastern part of the
country extending from greater Sylhet down to greater Comilla, Noakhali and Chittagong. It has also been
discovered offshore in the Bay of Bengal. Natural gas found in Bangladesh is very pure, with about 95-99%
methane and almost no sulphur. The average compositions of natural gas are: 97.33% methane, 1.72% ethane,
0.35% propane and 0.19% higher hydrocarbons. A total of 22 natural gasfields have been discovered in
Bangladesh by the year 2001. Out of these 22 fields, two are offshore in the Bay of Bengal and the rest are
located in the eastern onshore areas. The discovered gasfields are at Sylhet, Chhatak, Titas, Rashidpur,
Kailastila, Habiganj, Bakhrabad, Semutang, Kutubdia, Begumganj, Kamta, Feni, Beanibazar, Fenchuganj,
Jalalabad, Narsingdi, Meghna, Shahbazpur, Saldanadi, Sangu, Bibiyana and Maulvi Bazar. The total amount
of gas in these fields is about 26 Tcf, of which about 16 Tcf is recoverable. A total amount of about 3.9 Tcf of
gas has been produced leaving a reserve of about 12.1 Tcf by the year 2000. Bangladesh reserves of natural
gas were at level of 7.3 Tcf in 2017.

Table 1: Gas field in Bangladesh

Coal has been playing vital role in irrigation as well as demand of electricity in North-Western part of the
country. Some coal is also being used in brickfields. Commercial coal production at Barapukuria Coal Mine
started in April 2003 with the expectation to produce 1 million short tons of coal/year (Mmst/y). But the
mine produces less than 1 m ton coal/annum and the co-located 250 MW plant consumes 0.65 m ton of
coal/year. Leaving 2.35 m ton for domestic users.BHP Minerals have discovered the Phulbari coalfield in
January 1997. The right has later been transferred to an Australian company, Asia Energy Corporation
(AEC), to develop the mine. AEC is now working for a detailed feasibility study for open-pit mine
development whose initial annual production will be 2.9 million ton that will later be 9 million ton.

Figure 2: Barapukuria coal Figure 3 Sitakunda limestone

Limestone a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate, primarily in the form of the mineral
calcite and with or without magnesium carbonate. Common minor constituents include
silica, FELDSPAR, CLAYS, pyrite and siderite. Organic or inorganic processes form limestone. Much limestone
is highly fossiliferous and clearly represents ancient shell banks or coral reefs. It is the chief raw material for
cement. It is also used in the preparation of paper, steel, sugar, glass and lime. In Bangladesh there are
surface and sub-surface deposits of limestone. In Bangladesh the limestone deposit was first discovered at St
Martin’s Island in 1957. In the 1960s GSB discovered another limestone deposit in Joypurhat at a depth of
about 515-541m below the surface with a total reserve of 100 million ton. GSB continued its effort to find
out limestone deposits at shallow depth. In the mid 1990s GSB discovered limestone deposit at a depth of
493-508 and 531-548m below the surface at Jahanpur and Paranagar of Naogaon respectively. Thickness of
these deposits is 16.76m and 14.32m respectively.

Boulder and Gravel Deposits of gravel are found along the piedmont areas of the HIMALAYAS in the

Figure 4: Boulder and Gravel deposits

northern boundaries of Bangladesh. These river borne gravels come from the upstream during the rainy
season. Total reserve of the gravel deposits is about 10 million cu m. Gravel deposits are being exploited and
used in the country.

Hard Rock:
Hard Rock is a type of rock that is igneous and metamorphic. Igneous rocks like granite are formed from the
magma in the Earth’s mantle. Metamorphic, or ‘changed’ rocks, are formed when other rocks have been
subjected to heat or pressure. Granite and marbles are examples of Hard Rocks

Figure 5: Granite and marvel

The Hard Rock Mines In Bangladesh are:

Maddhapara In Dinajpur District: Large reserves of granodiorite, quartzdiorite and gneiss of the Pre-
Cambrian has been found at a depth of 128m in Maddhapara in the Dinajpur District. Pegmatite, pyrite,
chalcopyrite and siderite have also been found in the neighberhood of grandiorite, quartzdiorite and geiss.
Ranipukur and Pirganj: Hard rock deposits have also been discovered in Ranipukur and Pirganj in
Rangpur District at 171 m and 256 m under the ground.
Bogra, Joypurhat – Jamalgonj, and Kansat of Rajshahi district also has Hard Rock deposits at depths of
2,150 m, 600m, 667m and 615m respectively
 Peat organic soils containing more than 20% organic matter in various degrees and
states of decomposition. Deposits that are decayed slightly or not at all are termed
peat, while those that are markedly decomposed are called muck. In peat deposits,
the kind of plants that were deposited, particularly in the upper layer can be
differentiated. n Bangladesh peat deposits occur in the marshy areas of the north-
eastern, middle and south western parts with a total reserve of more than 170
million ton peat soils occupy about 0.13 million ha and occur in the low-lying areas
of the Gopalganj-Khulna region and also more locally in some haors of the eastern
Surma-Kushiyara floodplain and the adjoining northern and eastern Piedmont
plains. It occupies the Agroecological Zone-14, ie Gopalganj-Khulna Beels. The
area remains wet in the dry season, and is mainly deeply flooded in the rainy Figure 6 peat
season. The Agroecological Zone-14 occupies a number of separate basin areas in
Madaripur, Gopalganj, Narail, Jessore, Bagerhat and Khulna districts.

Table 2: Peat in Bangladesh

White Clay There are surface to near surface deposits of white clay in Bijoypur
and Gopalpur area of Netrokona district, Nalitabari of Sherpur district, Haidgaon
of Chittagong district and Baitul Izzat of Satkania upazila, Chittagong district.
Besides there are subsurface deposits of white clay' in Maddhyapara,
Barapukuria, Dighipara of Dinajpur district and Patnitala of Naogaon district.
The exposed white clay is not good in quality. It is used in the ceramic factories
of Bangladesh after mixing with high quality imported clay.

Figure 7 white clay

Construction sand
It is very much available in the riverbeds throughout the country. Sand consists mostly of quartz of medium
to coarse grains. It is extensively used as construction material for buildings, bridges, roads etc all over the
country.
Glass sand
Important deposits of glass sand of the country are at Balijuri, Shahjibazar and Chauddagram at or near the
surface, Maddhyapara and Barapukuria below the surface. Glass sands were first discovered in 1960 at

Figure 1: glass sand

Balijuri Mouza of Sreebardi upazila in Sherpur district by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP).GSP
conducted survey at Nayapara area of Habiganj district in 1970-1971.The glass sands are deposited in 30
lenses of .15 to 2.13m thick

Beach sand
Deposits of beach sand have been identified in the coastal belt and in the coastal islands of Bangladesh.
Different heavy minerals and their reserves are: Zircon, Rutile, Ilmenite, Leucoxene, Kyanite, Garnet,
Magnetite and Monazite.
Brick Clay
In Bangladesh the mineralogical, chemical and engineering properties of Pleistocene and Holocene brick
clays of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Narsingdi districts are well documented. The bulk chemistry and
engineering properties of the Holocene and Pleistocene samples have been found satisfactory for
manufacturing good quality bricks. These are being exploited and widely used in the country.
Mineral Sand
An Australian scientist had discovered the mineral sand in the sea shore of Cox’es Bazar for the first time.
This discovers might be a great opportunity for Bangladesh. This mineral sand is also called as radio active
sand. If it is really radio active sand than it is going to be a great resource for Bangladesh.

Although there is a misconception about Bangladesh being poor in natural resources, but if we have a closer
look this is not the case. Bangladesh has a huge reserve of natural gas, oil, coal, hard rock, limestone, white
clay, glass sand and mineral sand. Currently Bangladesh prioritizes in extraction of natural gas which
contributes to more than 90 % of the country’s energy needs of which Bangladesh has a total reserve of
21.35 trillion cubic feet (TCF) and 12.43 TCF, respectively. Huge reserves of hard rock (granodiorite, quartz
diorite, gneiss) and coal has been discovered in the northwest part of the country which will be crucial in
meeting the country’s ever expanding construction materials and energy needs for the population. The total
coal reserves are estimated to be 1753 million tons(MT),which is valued at more than US $110 billion in the
current market and Bangladesh expects to extract coal on a commercial basis most of which will be used in
power generation. The hard rock reserves are estimated to be 115 million tons, which is valued at US $3
billion. If Bangladesh manages to fully extract its minerals it will be able to alleviate the country’s poverty
through industrialization.

Figure 8: Mineral resources map of Bangladesh

References:
• Mineral Resources. (2014, September 11 ). Retrieved November 20, 2018, from Banglapedia:
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mineral_Resources
• AZoMining. (2012, November 2). Bangladesh: Mining, Minerals and Fuel Resources. Retrieved November
15, 2018, from AZoMining: https://www.azomining.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=217
• Bangladesh : Mineral Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2018, from DiscoveryBangladesh:
https://www.discoverybangladesh.com/meetbangladesh/mineral_resources.html
• https://link.springer.com/
• https://www.researchgate.net/