Mineral Resources in Jordan Introduction Metallic Ores Gold Copper Non Metallic Ores Basalt Silica Sand Zeolite (Zeolitic Tuff) Kaolin Feldspar Bentonite Diatomite Gypsum Dolomite Pure Limestone Chalk Zircon Energy Resources Ores Oil Shale Ornamental Stones Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Basalt Introduction Basalt in Jordan is part of the North Arabian Basaltic Plateau and covers an area of about 11,000km2 in the northeast of Jordan and extends northwest into Syria and southeast into Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, a group of small continental volcanic rocks are present in Central Jordan. Basalt can be used in many industrial applications such as: rock wool, Pipes, moulds, and as construction materials. Geological Setting They were at least two phases of extensive basaltic activity in central Jordan during Neogene to Quaternary. The oldest basaltic flow crops out north of Al Hashimya where it is partly covered by Pleistocene sediments. The youngest flow covered Wadi gravels north and northwest of Jurf Ed-Darawish village. The basaltic flows form aboard plateau area and comprise mostly massive and blocky lava in the study area. Volcaniclastic deposits are up to 15m thick and exposed in the eastern part of Jabal Uneiza area. Location Basalt rocks in Jordan can be roughly divided into three groups: plateau basalts Harrat ash Shaam in north eastern Jordan, basalts relating to the Dead Sea rift, and finally isolated basalt effusions in central Jordan, mostly bound to deep faults. In addition to these areas, basalt are also known in other places in the form of dykes or sills and other minor bodies, Basalt occurs in different localities in Jordan, but the most important locations are Tell Burma and Jabel Uneiza, about 170km south of Amman in Jurf Ed-Darawish map sheet area. Reserve The proven reserves are calculated from data obtained from boreholes in Tell Burma and estimated about 310mt. Mineralogical Properties X-ray analysis indicates a major content of Augite and Feldspar. Heamatite, calcite and zeolite occur as a minor quantity. The petrographical analysis indicates the presence of following:- - Olivine: occurs as a major mineral - Feldspar: occurs as plagioclase - Pyroxene: Occurs as clinopyroxene - Calcite and Zeolite: as a secondary minerals Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Chemical Properties Chemical analysis indicates the following: Fe2O3 % 13.2 – 14.3 MnO % 0.19 – 0.22 TiO2 % 2.8 – 3.3 CaO% 9.9 – 11.8 K2O% 0.53 – 1.3 SiO2% 40 - 43 Na2O% 0.62 – 2.5 Al2O3% 11.8 – 12.7 P2O5% 0.57 – 0.65 MgO% 9.15 – 9.8 Investment Opportunities Rock Wool Industry Basalt can be used as an input raw material for the manufacture of rock wool. The latter is sold both domestically and exported and is used mainly in the building industry for insulation. The only exploitation of basalt in Jordan is in rock wool industry by Rockwool Company which is currently suspended on production. As Aggregates and Building Stones Jordanian Rock Wool Company used the crushed basalt (25 – 45mm) for rock wool industry, and the size less than 25mm which form 30% of product used as aggregates. The uses of basalt as aggregates is still weak due to the available of alternative and cheap material such as limestone, although the physical engineering specifications of basalt are much better than limestone, therefore it consider a good investment opportunity to use basalt in this field, also basalt can be used as a dimension stones for building. Mould Casting Currently, there is no investment in this field, but it is a good investment opportunity to use basalt in this industry. Technological tests have been carried out by Geoindustria (Czech Republic) in 2000 on samples from Jordan (Tell Burma and Jabel Uneiza) showed that the basalt of these areas can be used as a mould casting and pipes industries, these results confirmed with the Czech Republic specifications for the same industries. The basaltic rocks are open for investment and mining. Exploration companies are invited on the basis of detailed exploration, evaluation and exploitation. Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Copper Introduction The first discovery of copper mineralization in Jordan was in the Fifties of the 20th century in Wadi Dana/ Wadi Araba area. In ancient times, there were many mining activities for extracting copper as indicated by the slags and old mines in Khirbet El-Nahas, Wadi Jaryia and other localities. Geological Setting Copper mineralization occurs within the Palaeozoic Cambrian sediments in two formations; Abu-Khushayba sandstone and Burj dolomite Shale formations). Copper mineralization is located, in areas that extend approximately 70km in length and 15km wide, along the eastern side of Wadi Araba from the southern end of the Dead Sea to Wadi Abu-Khushayba area. opper minerals are malchite, chrysocolla, atacamite, cuprite, blancheite and others, which are mostly oxides and silicates. The mineralized areas are characterized by rugged, high and steep topography, up to 1000m (a.s.l), and traversed by deeply incised valleys with their drainage lines mainly following the fault patterns westward, towards the Rift Valley. Location and Properties Khirbet El-Nahas-Jaryia area The area is located in the northern part of Feinan area and the copper mineralization in both formations covers an area of about 61km2. The mineralized shale is 2m thick and the average copper content is 2.3%. In addition, another 1 m of mineralized dolomite bed is located directly beneath the mineralized shale with an average copper content of 2%. Within the area, Jabal Marzuka-Jaryia area, which covers an area of 8-10km2, is more promising for future exploration and evaluation. Feinan area (Wadi Khalid, Dana and Ratyia) The area is located in the central part of Wadi Araba. The copper mineralization in Feinan area is present in the two formations. An average copper content is 1.37% in the mineralized zone with an average thickness of 2.06m. Abu Khushayba area The area is located in the southern part of Wadi Araba. The copper mineralization exists in the Abu-Khushayba sandstone formation. The thickness of the mineralization zone is 1–3m with 0.65% copper content. Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Mineralogical properties The copper minerals are malachite, chrysocolla, atacamite, cuprite, blancheite and others, which are oxides and silicates. Reserves Area Reserves (mt) Khirbet El-Nahas – Wadi Expected 25 Jaryia Feinan 19.8 (proved) Abu-Khushayba 8 (proved) Background - Otto Gold Engineering of Germany carried out a full exploratory program in the years 1961 – 1964 in Wadi Abu – Khusheiba area, where the copper mineralization found in the sandstone. - BRGM of France in 1975 re-evaluated the exploratory work done by the Mining Division of Natural Resources Authority in Feinan area. The feasibility study at that time was marginal since the price of copper was low. - In 1984, Seltrust Engineering limited conducted extensive ore processing and metallurgical studies on the deposits of the Feinan area, and suggested the leaching - solvent extraction and electro-winning process with sulfuric acid. - During the period 1988-1993, NRA carried out exploration studies on Khirbet El- Nahas –Jaryia and Abu – Khusheiba areas and indicated a good potential of mineralization in El-Nahas –Jaryia area. - In 1993 and as part of Economic Geology Project, BRGM of France reviewed the feasibility study of the project and called it (Target study). Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Feldspar Introduction Feldspar is the most important single group of rock forming silicate minerals. There are four chemically district groups of feldspar; potassium feldspar (KAlSi3O3), sodium feldspar (NaAlSi3O8), calcium feldspar (CaAlSi3O8) and barium feldspar (BaAl2Si3O8). About 90% of produced feldspar is used for glass and ceramic industries. Soda feldspar is preferred in glass manufacture, but potash feldspar is more popular for ceramics. Geological Setting Igneous rocks, which form part of the feldspar ore body, are part of the Yutum Granite Suite from the Aqaba complex. The age of these rocks range from approximately 630–600 Ma. The source of the feldspar is the granitoides of Abu Jadda granite and/or Imran Monozogranite units. Location and Reserve Estimation Area Location Reserve (mt) Wadi Al Jayoshia 6km south of Aqaba 115 Wadi Al-Mahlabah 5km north east of Aqaba 0.4 Jabal Al-Gufran 18km NE Aqaba along Aqaba-Maan Highway 0.6 Wadi Sader Mulgan 25km north of Aqaba and 8km to the west 22 Chemical Properties Chemical analysis for feldspar in south Jordan. SiO2 CaO MgO Fe2O Al2O TiO2 Na2O K2O MnO Area % % % 3 % 3 % % % % % Wadi Al 71.46 1.05 0.35 1.02 13.98 0.88 5.53 4.29 0.02 Jayoshia Ain Al-Hasheem 70.37 1.29 0.52 2.21 14.95 0.37 2.02 6.27 0.37 Wadi Sader 72.99 0.61 0.07 0.65 14.29 4.13 5.64 0.02 Mulgan Mineral Resources in Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Investment Opportunities One of the known feldspar deposits, Al Jaishiah Feldspar Ore Deposit, has been mined for a period of approximately 10 years in the past, but only very limited quantities of feldspar (1000 to 4000 tons) were produced annually. According the mineral production statistics for 2010 no feldspar mining is currently taking place. Because of the absence of any glass making facility in Jordan, and the limited manufacturing of ceramics, the domestic market for feldspar-based fluxes and glazes is limited, but if either of these industries were to expand, further research on the more important deposits may be justified. The mineral is open for investment and mining/exploration companies are invited on the basis of detailed exploration, evaluation and exploitation.