KANGAR: Perlis has deposits of high quality dolomite that has the potential to contribute revenue to the state government.
Director of Mineral and Geoscience Department for Kedah, Perlis and Penang, Zainol Husin said the discovery of the mineral deposits was made in 1985 at Felda Rimba Mas, Padang Besar.
“Studies carried out by this department showed that the mineral deposits are of the highest quality in Malaysia,” he said to reporters after closing a course on ‘Introduction to Industrial Minerals for Implementor Groups’.
The four-day course at Putra Palace Hotel here was participated by 26 participants from throughout the country.
According to Zainol, the dolomite deposits of over 250 million years in age were found on hilly areas in Felda Rimba Mas, spanning one square kilometre and was estimated to have reserves of about 600 million metric tonnes.
The price of raw dolomite is about RM80 per tonne and this could increase to more than RM120 for 100 grammes for processed dolomite.
“Its quality is similar to the dolomite found in Germany, the United States, Spain, India and United Kingdom,” Zainol added.
Among the uses of dolomite are in the production of quality bricks, fertilisers, white cement that has higher resistance than ordinary cement, for making furniture and as roofing material.
Zainol said his department would give a briefing to the state government on the latest development relating to the discovery soon. - BERNAMA