Industrial minerals development in Saudi Arabia

The geology of Saudi Arabia comprises a series of diverse terrains ranging from the Proterozoic Arabian Shield and Phanerozoic 'cover rocks', to Tertiary and Quaternary volcanism and coastal plain sedimentation. The investigation of the country's geology and industrial mineral deposits has principally been undertaken, under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, by the USGS and BRGM missions, and subsequently by the state mining company Ma'aden. These have produced a wealth of information about the country's resources and identified occurrences of at least 30 different industrial minerals, in addition to construction materials. The minerals industry, excluding gold mining, has been largely neglected due to the country's huge oil sector and ready availability of oil revenues to be used to import manufactured goods. Modern industrial mineral development is just beginning with revised mining codes, an improved investment environment and an opening up of the country to visitors. The region has significant potential but must develop solutions to the problems of remote deposit location and restricted water supply. Industrial minerals development will need to go hand in hand with development of the manufacturing base and regional infrastructure. Exclusive exploration licences have been granted on a number of deposits including those for garnet-wollastonite at B'ir ash Shumt, kyanite at Jabal Kirsh, bauxite and kaolinite at Az Zabirah, nepheline syenite at Jabal Sawda, and magnesite at Zarghat.