Modeling Air Pollution Health Risk for Environmental Management of an Internationally Important Site: The Salt Range (Kallar Kahar), Pakistan

This study aimed to assess the health effects of emissions released by cement industries and allied activities, such as mining and transportation, in the salt range area of district Chakwal, Pakistan. DISPER was used to estimate dispersion and contribution of source emission by cement industries and allied activities to surface accumulation of selected pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NOx, and O3). To assess the long-term effects of pollutants on human health within the radius of 500 m to 3 km, Air Q+ software was used, which was designed by the World Health Organization (WHO). One-year average monitoring data of selected pollutants, coordinates, health data, and population data were used as input data for the model. Data was collected on lung cancer mortality among different age groups (25+ and 30+), infant post-neonatal mortality, mortality due to respiratory disease, and all-cause mortality due to PM2.5 and NO2. Results showed that PM2.5 with the year-long concentration of 27.3 ug/m3 contributes a 9.9% attributable proportion (AP) to lung cancer mortality in adults aged 25+, and 13.8% AP in adults age 30+. Baseline incidence is 44.25% per 100,000 population. PM10 with the year-long concentration of 57.4 ug/m3 contributes 16.96% AP to infant post-neonatal mortality and baseline incidence is 53.86% per 1000 live births in the country. NO2 with the year-long concentration of 14.33 ug/m3 contributes 1.73% AP to all-cause mortality. Results obtained by a simulated 10% reduction in pollutant concentration showed that proper mitigation measures for reduction of pollutants’ concentration should be applied to decrease the rate of mortalities and morbidities. Furthermore, the study showed that PM2.5 and PM10 are significantly impacting the human health in the nearby villages, even after mitigation measures were taken by the selected cement industries. The study provides a roadmap to policymakers and stakeholders for environmental and health risk management in the area.

Deformation recorded in polyhalite from evaporite detachments revealed by ⁴⁰Ar ∕ ³⁹Ar dating

The Salt Range Formation is an extensive evaporite sequence in northern Pakistan that has acted as the primary detachment accommodating Himalayan orogenic deformation from the north. This rheologically weak formation forms a mylonite in the Khewra Mine, where it accommodates approximately 40 km displacement and is comprised of intercalated halite and potash salts and gypsiferous marls. Polyhalite [K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4⚫2H2O] grains taken from potash marl and crystalline halite samples are used as geochronometers to date the formation and identify the closure temperature of the mineral polyhalite using the 40Ar/39Ar step-heating laser and furnace methods. The diffusion characteristics measured for two samples of polyhalite are diffusivity (D0), activation energy (Ea), and %39Ar. These values correspond to a closure temperature of ca. 254 and 277 ∘C for a cooling rate of 10 ∘C Myr−1. 40Ar/39Ar age results for both samples did not return any reliable crystallisation age. This is not unexpected as polyhalite is prone to 40Ar* diffusion loss and the evaporites have experienced numerous phases of deformation resetting the closed K/Ar system. An oldest minimum heating step age of ∼514 Ma from sample 06-3.1 corresponds relatively well to the established early Cambrian age of the formation. Samples 05-P2 and 05-W2 have measured step ages and represent a deformation event that partially reset the K/Ar system based on oldest significant ages between ca. 381 and 415 Ma. We interpret the youngest measured step ages, between ca. 286 and 292 Ma, to represent the maximum age of deformation-induced recrystallisation. Both the youngest and oldest measured step ages for samples 05-P2 and 05-W2 occur within the time of a major unconformity in the area. These dates may reflect partial resetting of the K/Ar system from meteoric water infiltration and recrystallisation during this non-depositional time. Otherwise, they may result from mixing of Ar derived by radiogenic decay after Cambrian precipitation with partially reset Ar from pervasive Cenozoic deformation and physical recrystallisation.

Depositional Sedimentary Facies, Stratigraphic Control, Paleoecological Constraints, and Paleogeographic Reconstruction of Late Permian Chhidru Formation (Western Salt Range, Pakistan)

The Upper Indus Basin, in Pakistan’s western Salt Range, is home to the Zaluch Gorge. The sedimentary rocks found in this Gorge, belonging to the Chhidru Formation, were studied in terms of sedimentology and stratigraphy, and provide new insights into the basin paleogeographic evolution from the Precambrian to the Jurassic period. Facies analysis in the Chhidru Formation deposits allowed the recognition of three lithofacies (the limestone facies—CF1, the limestone with clay interbeds facies—CF2, and the sandy limestone facies—CF3) with five microfacies types (mudstone biomicrite—MF-1, wackestone-biomicrite—MF-2, wackestone-biosparite—MF-3, pack-stone-biomicrite—MF-4, and packstone-biosparite—MF-5), as well as their depositional characteristics. The identified carbonate and siliciclastic formations display various facies in a shallow marine environment, with different lithologies, sedimentary features, and energy conditions. It is thought that the depositional characteristics of these microfacies are closer to those of the middle to outer shelf. Because of the progressively coarsening outcrop sequence, this formation seems to be at the very top of the high stand system tract (HST). A modified dynamic depositional model of the Chhidru Formation is further built using outcrop data, facies information, and stratigraphy. According to this concept, the formation was deposited in the middle to inner shelf area of the shallow marine environment, during the Late-Permian period. The Permo-Triassic Boundary (PTB), which is the end of the type-1 series, is marked by this formation’s top.

Optimization of multi variant process parameters to reduce emissions of high sulfur coal during combustion in fluidized bed facility

Pakistan has 185 billion tonnes reserves of coal but unfortunately the quality of 80% of this coal is not good. As the country has a shortage of energy so it is necessary to refine the coal before it can be used to produce electricity. In this sense, this research is very important as it enables indigenous coal to meet the increasing energy demand. This study is focused on the control of sulfur emissions during the combustion of high sulfur Pakistani coal from the Trans Indus Range and the Salt Range. Parameters like Ca/S molar ratios (MRs), limestone particle size, bed temperature, and different percentages of biomass in co-firing with coal have been studied. It is showed that desulfurization of coal was maximum with the fine-sized particles of limestone. Co-firing of moderate quantity biomass exhibited a considerable decrease in SO2 emissions. Results achieved are presented in the form of tables and plots. This study for control of the gaseous emissions from combustion in FBC facility has great potential for new coal based power projects, especially in Pakistan.

Seismic Data Interpretation and Identification of Hydrocarbon-Bearing Zones of Rajian Area, Pakistan

The present study interprets the subsurface structure of the Rajian area using seismic sections and the identification of hydrocarbon-bearing zones using petrophysical analysis. The Rajian area lies within the Upper Indus Basin in the southeast (SE) of the Salt Range Potwar Foreland Basin. The marked horizons are identified using formation tops from two vertical wells. Seismic interpretation of the given 2D seismic data reveals that the study area has undergone severe distortion illustrated by thrusts and back thrusts, forming a triangular zone within the subsurface. The final trend of those structures is northwest–southeast (NW–SE), indicating that the area is part of the compressional regime. The zones interpreted by the study of hydrocarbon potential include Sakessar limestone and Khewra sandstone. Due to the unavailability of a petrophysics log within the desired investigation depths, lithology cross-plots were used for the identification of two potential hydrocarbon-bearing zones in one well at depths of 3740–3835 m (zone 1) and 4015–4100 m (zone 2). The results show that zone 2 is almost devoid of hydrocarbons, while zone 1 has an average hydrocarbon saturation of about 11%.

Namal Institute: A Mission for Rural Uplift, Sustainable Development, and Social Impact

Namal Institute was established by Mr. Imran Khan, a famous philanthropist and the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, with a mission for rural uplift and development through educating bright youth and offering innovative solutions to rural challenges through research by highly trained academics. The majority of the Namal’s students belong to rural areas, and 97% of them secured scholarship either due to meritorious educational background or being unable to afford education (i.e., needbased scholarship). To ensure quality, Namal has kept a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. It is one of the pioneering institutes focusing on Agribusiness and Agri-tech education in Pakistan. It has a beautiful campus comprising of 1000 Acres land located in the Salt Range in an area consisting of hills and crags overlooking Namal Lake in the Mianwali District. To foster its sustainability efforts, Namal has planted an olive garden on an area of 4 acres. Recently, two new blocks have been constructed using environmentfriendly material (e.g., mud blocks, solar-powered LED lights, etc.). Various student societies in Namal Institute have also taken different environmental and social initiatives in the rural area. Primarily during the corona pandemic, the Namal Society for Social Impact (NSSI) has managed to deliver ration packages to the deserving low-income families of the rural area. The medical and administrative staff has distributed essential protection material to the hospitals/doctors in the rural area.

3D MODELING AND PRODUCTION SCHEDULING OF KHEWRA SALT MINES

In this study, AutoCAD based 3D Modelling of production scheduling, visualization of mining, and geological features in Khewra Salt Mines are showing. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), photogrammetry and GIS Softwares are used to generate 3D surface modelling of Khewra Salt Mining Area. Khewra Salt Mines is the oldest and largest mine of sub-continent in the Salt Range with huge salt reserves from industrial quality to piece grade. Being a state-of-the-art mine consisting of 17 levels, 70 chambers with hundreds of tunnels, a layman pattern of development and manual mining procedure is followed with handy-made planes and maps. Hundreds of levels and cross-section maps were unified to a single 3D Model, presenting all mining features like tunnels, chambers, levels, inclines, and geological deposition of different salt seams with their thickness and qualities, overburden, and surface feature. The quantity of salt excavated since the beginning of mining is calculated for corroboration, and the remaining amounts of different qualities of salt are determined from the model. 3D topographic Modelling can also be used for area, volume calculations, and planning of remedial actions for rainwater inundations inside the mine.