Sg-Jed-66 A-10

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 58

THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA BUREAU DE RECHERCHES

GEOLOGIQUES ET MINIERES
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM
74, Rue de la Federation - PARIS 150
AND MINERAL RESOURCES
‫وعمه‬

DIRECTORATE GENERAL
p. 0. Box. 14-92 ٠ JEDDAH
OF
Saudi Arabia
MINERAl RESOURCES

REPORT
ON
THE MINERAL RESOURCES AND GEOLOGY
OF THE
ARJAH - AD DAWADIMI REGION
(Sheet 98/ Zone ‫)اا‬

G. EIJKEIBOOM

SG. JED. 66A1O


-51-

٤11٢11615

Figure 1 Location of sheet 98


Figure 2 Lead, and zinc histograms - 51021781 area
Figure 3 " ‫اا‬ " " -2382 "
Figure 4 ‫ا‬ " " " - all vial geochemical
prospecting

Appendix 1 Geologic map (1:100,000)


Appendix 2 Map showing location of samples for thin
section (1:100,000)
Appendix 3 Map of mineral occurrences (1:100,000)
Appendix 4 Alluvial prospecting (1:100, 000)
Appendix 5 Mineral occurrences - Sidriyah region (1:12,500)
Appendix 6 Mineral occurrences - index cards
Appendix 7 Drilling operations - 51021781 area
a ) map of Sidriyah prospect (1:1, 000)
) log of drill-hole 51 1
2 51 ٥( ‫أا‬ ‫اا‬ ٠, ‫اا‬
0) ‫اا‬ ‫اا‬ " " SID 3
٥( ‫اا‬ ‫اا‬ " ‫اا‬ SID ‫م‬
5115 " " " " (‫م‬
‫ا" (ع‬ " " " SID 6
10 ) " " " "517 ‫ا‬
i) " ‫اا‬ ‫اا‬ ‫اا‬ SID 8
3)" " " " SID 9
Appendix 8 Geochemical prospecting - Sidriyah
a) Map (1:5, 000) of results - lead
2) " " " ‫ا‬ -zinc
Appendix 9 Geochemical prospecting - 42381
a) Map (1:5,000) of re suits - lead
(‫ا‬ ‫اا‬ "‫ا‬ !‫ا‬ -zinc
Appendix 10 Alluvial geochemical prospecting, region east
of Sidriyah
a) Map (1:50,000) of results - lead
2( ‫ا‬ " " ‫اا‬ -zinc
601115

Page
SUMMARY«........................................................................................... 1
!«INTRODUCTION.5
1.1. SITUATION............... ....................... 5
1٠2٠ GEOGRAPHIC SETTING. .............................................................. 5
1 ٠3٠ PREVIOUS WORK. ........... 6
1.4. SCOPE 0? PRESENT INVESTIGATIONS................................. 7
1.5. STATISTICS OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS.......................... 8
2. GEOLOGY........................................... ‫و‬
2.1. ROCK SEQUENCE.......................................................................... ‫و‬
2٠1٠1٠ General..«..٠.... ٠ .... ٠.٠ ............... ‫و‬
2.1.2« 11120222816 rocks..................................................... ‫و‬
2٠1٠3 01110 - ‫هتا‬................................................ 10
2.1.4. Metamorphic rocks................................. 12
2.1.5. Granites..................................................... 13
2.1.6. Aplites, pegmatites andquartz.......... 16
21.7٠ Dykes............................................................ 18
2.1.8. Younger sediments................................. 20
21.9٠ Superficial deposits.......................... 20
2.2. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY.............................................. 21
3. MINERAL EXPLORATION................. 24
3٠1٠ GEOLOGIC EXPLORATION......................................... 24
3.1.1. General........................................................ 24
3.1.2. Geographical distribution of the
prospects................................................... 26
3.1.3. Ore controls............................ 27
3.1.4. Composition of ore and wall rocks....... 28
3.1.5. Description of the prospects............ 33
3.2. ALLUVIAL PROSPECTING......................................... 38
3.3. GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING.................................. 39
3.3.1. General........................................................ 39
CONTENTS

Page
MINERAL EXPLORATION (continued)
3٠3٠2٠ Sidriyah.......................................... 41
33٠3٠ Arjah..................................................................... 41
3٠3.4٠ Alluvial geochemicalprospecting........ 42
3.4٠ GROUNDGEOPHYSICAL SURVEY....................................... 43
3.5. DUND DRILLING........................................................ 43
3.5 .1.General................... .............. 43
3.5 ٠2٠ Results.......................................................... 44
35٠3٠ Conclusions....................................................... 46
4. CONCLUSIONS ‫ع‬
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................ 47
REFERENCES................................................................................ 50
APPENDICES................................................................................ 51
-1-

SUMMARY

2212 the 1965-1966 season, the B.R٠G.M. carried


out general mineral exploration and geologic mapping in
the Ad 1080201101-41 Amar-Idsas region over an area of
20,000 50٠٠

The results of this work are presented in six


different reports, each one corresponding to a photomosaic
on the 1100,000 scale.

The present report deals with the mineral


exploration and geologic mapping of the extreme northern
part of the region studied and covers an area of 1,400 89.
km٠ north of Ad Lawadimi (photomosaic 98, 1:100,000 scale).

The oldest rocks in this part of the Arabian Shield


are biotite or sericite-chlorite schists, basic rocks
(gabbro often transformed to ortho-amphibolite) and ultra-
basic rocks which are coionly represented by serpentinite.
These rocks were folded during the emplacement of the
granites.

Important faulting, with simultaneous intrusion of


volcanic dyke rocks, followed.

Hydrothermal activity is contemporaneous with the


end of the faulting period.

The mineralization is of the same type in the whole


area: quartz veins, locally with some calcite and barite,
contain galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and silver
-2-

minerals 51261 as argentite, pearceite and native silver.

The veins are oxidized at the surface and show


rather weak hydrothermal alteration of the wall rocks.

Nearly all the exposed veins were worked in the


past, mostly in shallow trenches and exceptionally in
stopes, pits or glory holes.

The following list gives the total length of


workings in the different areas:-
Tasrhir 1.4 km.
42381 6.7 km.
512811 2.8 km.
Sidriyah 11.0 ‫م‬

The total length of workings on the vein structures


is thus 22 km. Most of these prospects were not known
previously and were discovered during our geologic mapping.

The description of the prospects can be found in


Appendix 6 of this report; each sheet of the appendix
corresponds to a group of workings. The prospects are
indicated on a 1:100,000 map of mineral occurrences
(Appendix 3) and on a 1:12,500 map of the Sidriyah region
(Appendix 5): detailed maps to scales ranging from 1:1,000
to 1:15,000 were compiled for the most important prospects.

The existence of these old mining trenches makes


sampling of the prospects more difficult. Samples taken
in the veins left by the ancie.nt miners always assayed
00 results, but samples taken in the waste dumps averaged
better values. The grades of the samples range from
-3-

20-900 ‫ج‬210/٦‫ت‬٠ of silver with varying amounts of gold:


between 1 and 5 grm/t. In 211, 215 samples were taken
and as a resuit of this work we can conclude:-
8) that the mineralization is of the same kind in all the
prospects,
2) that there is no relation between the strike of the vein
structures and the grade of the ore,
c) that there is a regional distribution of the mineraliza-
tion: the mineralized structures are situated in an area
25 km. by 2-5 km. extending from Ad Dawadimi to Tasrhir
and passing through Sidriyah, 510281 and Arjah.

Geochemical prospecting of the large plain east of


the mineralized area seems to indicate that there is no
extension of the mineralization to this side.

Detailed geochemical prospecting around the Sidriyah


and 42381 prospects has shown some small lead and zinc
anomalies. These anomalies have to be checked by further
investigations.

Six holes were drilled on the Sidriyah prospect


and three were drilled on two other prospects in the
vicinity. One vein structure averaged 600 grm/t. of silver
for a width of 0.95 m., but the lateral extension of the
mineralization appears to be limited.

4 detailed ground electromagnetic survey of a


limited area around the Sidriyah prospect (3 sq.km.) has
been made, but no large sulphide concentrations have been
detected.
-4-

Because of intensive mining in the past and the


scarcity of outcrops we were unable to obtain a good idea
of the value of the other prospects of the region by
surface prospecting alone.

Although the silver minerals are mostly associated


with non-conductive minerals such as galena and sphalerite,
we propose electromagnetic methods for this survey in the
hope that 2 really important ore body will be accompanied
by a sufficient quantity of conductive sulphides such as
pyrite and chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite has been found
associated with silver minerals and pyrite is the most
common sulphide found in the walls of most structures.

If all the vein structures contain only erratic


mineralization they will probably be of no economic value.

It seems advisable to look for more massive


mineralization and for this reason we recommend an airborne
geophysical survey to cover the whole of the mining
district (12111011 INPUT method).
-5-

1. INTRODUCTION

1٠1‫م‬ SITUATION

The present report gives the results of the mineral


exploration and geologic mapping of the extreme northern
part of 3٠1٠61٠ Zone II, one of the areas studied ‫ "آ‬the
Bureau de Recherches 600108101205 et Minieres on behalf of
the Directorate General of Mineral Resources.

This report is concerned with the southern part


of photomosaic 98, where some 1,400 0٠10٠ were prospected
and mapped.

The region lies south-west of Riyad (1٠(٠1‫ ع‬It


is formed of Precambrian crystalline rocks covered by
recent superficial deposits. The area investigated is
limited in the south by sheet 101 (Report 56. JED. 66A12),
in the east by younger sediments which occupy the western
half of photomosaic 98, and in the north and west by
extensions of metamorphic schists and granite.

12 GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

The area is part of 2 large plain covering an


extensive region near the eastern border of the Arabian
Shield. The altitude of this plain is about 1,000 m.
The relief is very low and the drainage system poorly
developed in this desert country. The plain is mostly
covered by sand, silt and angular rock fragments.
Outcrops are rare in the south-eastern part, but occur
with increasing frequency towards the north and west.
-6-

The only heights of the region consist of:


- in the eastern part, a range of low hills formed by the
basal conglomerate of the sedimentary formations, and
further east a cliff of limestones 50 m. high at the
western border of 2 plateau which dips slightly to the
east,
- in the northern part, small hills of metamorphic schists
rising some 20 to 50 10٠ above the level of the plain,
- in the western part, some isolated hills of granite.

77801 Tasrhir and its tributaries drain the south-


eastern part of the crystalline rocks (Sidriyah, Dahl and
Tasrhir) and the whole sedimentary area. This wadi flows
eastwards and crosses the limestone cliff near the ancient
1110382-1172 track. Wadi Musidah and its tributaries form
a system flowing north-north-west and draining the south-
eastern part of the prospected area. Wadi Arjah, flowing
west-north-west, and its tributaries drain the main part
of the metamorphic schists. Wadi Musidah and Wadi Arjah
join, in the west, 2 large wadi flowing northwards, the
Wadi Ar Risha. Finally the extreme northern part is
drained by a system flowing north-north-west and joining
the Wadi Ar Risha.

1٠3٠ PREVIOUS WORK

No detailed mineral exploration had been done in


the region before we started work in June 1965٠

The only prospect which had been investigated in


some detail by previous workers was Sidriyah. We used
-٦-

1٠6٠ BOGUE’S report on this prospect and tho results of


his sampling (BOGUE, 1.6٠(1954 ٠‫و‬

11 4381-48 Dawadimi region is shown on tho


1:500,000 geologic map of tho 101 ar 1111214 quadrangle
(2‫ لماالمة‬and others, 1963)٠ This map, prepared by the
U.S.G.S., was a useful basis for our work.

70141017 (1966) visited tho area and his report


contains observations on the Sidriyah and Arjah sites.

Earlier documents concerning the area prospected


are listed at the end of this report.

1.4٠ SCOPE Qg PRESENT INVESTIGATIONS

The topographic basis of the geologic 12 was


photomosaic 98 (1:100,000). Cur field observations were
drawn on 1:60,000 air photographs and reduced to the
1:100,000 scale. Low-level air photographs to approximately
1:12,500 were used for the Sidriyah area.

The geologic mapping was done by 6٠ VINCENT


(geologist). During this mapping most of the old workings
were located.

The sampling and detailed 118118 of all the


prospects 17026 done by ٦٠ LECA (geologist) and ٠ LALOUX
(assistant geologist).

Alluvial prospecting for heavy minerals and


intensive geochemical prospecting in some selected areas
were 001 by 2٠ LALOUX. Bore-holes were drilled on
different prospects ‫ آل‬assistant geologists H. 3011171 and
‫ ل‬٠ PfLAl. The logs of these holes were compiled by
2٠ 6

Field work was supervised by the author of this


report.

15 ٠ 541151165 OF FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

Prospected area....................................................................................... 1,400 84.1٠


Number of prospects investigated............................................... 80
Number of samples for chemical.analysis.................................. 215
Number of geochemical samples...................................................... 2,671
Number of samples of heavy minerals........................................
Number of diamond drill-.holes...................................................... ‫و‬
Number of petrographic samples for thin section....,..‫وا‬
-9-

2 GEOLOGY

2٠1٠ ROCK SEQUENCE

2.1.1. General

Granite is the most coion rock in the region, but


other formations such as schists, basic and ultrabasic
rocks occur. Farther south, it seems that basics and
ultrabasics are the oldest rocks of the formations exposed
and for this reason ٦٢٥ start our geological description
with these rocks. The schists are the next oldest rocks.
The granitic rocks are younger; they have cut, granitized
and metamorphosed the older country rocks, still younger
are the different dykes, and our geological descriptions
17111 conclude with the younger sediments and superficial
deposits.

2.1.2. Ultrabasic rocks

These rocks are only found in the south-western


part of the area mapped, near the track from Ad Dawadimi
to Al Hufayrah.

Outcrops are rare and occur as several isolated


hills in a plain mostly covered by eolian sand.

Ultrabasic rocks are represented by hornblendite,


which is a rock composed of large hornblende crystals
partly transformed into chlorite, and by serpentinite
containing locally some calcite (thin section 98G-GV 202).
- 10 -

Elsewhere, it was impossible to map the ultrabasic


and 22516 rocks separately.

Most of these rocks are grouped on our map as


1’undifferentiated basic and ultrabasic rocks, mostly
metamorphosed to greenschists". These rocks hclude:-
Serpentinite and serpentine schists,
Talc-tremolite schists,
Chlorite schists locally with magnetite crystals,
Gabbro, mostly foliated.

Many quartz lenses crop out in the midst of these


rocks. The quartz is mostly stained by iron oxides, and
when these oxides become abundant the lenses pass into
ironstone.

The basic and ultrabasic rocks exposed near


41 Hufayrah are the northern section of a belt of the same
kind of rocks, which follows the eastern contact of the
large granite batholith over a long distance.

The general trend of these rocks is more or less


N-S, which means that they disappear under the superficial
deposits and the younger sediments to the north.

2.1 .‫ ؤ‬. Ortho-arnnhibolites

Inside the granite batholith we found many lenses


of melanocratic rocks, sometimes with gneissose structure,
which we consider as metamorphosed and granitized gabbro.
411 kinds of intermediate rocks, from unmetamorphosed
gabbro to granitic gneiss were observed. These rocks are
-11

similar to those forming the ring structure of 40 Dawadimi


(see Report 56٠ JED. 66411, photomosaic 101). There, too,
we 0080700 a gradual contact hetween gabbro 81 granite.

On map sheet 98, little gabbro is left, but


pyroxene is still 2 common mineral in many of the
amphibolites. Megascopically, pyroxene is not always
visible, but thin sections show it to be abundant (augite
or hypersthene) and partly transformed into amphibole.

There is intense sericitization of the plagioclase,


which is either a labradorite or an andesine.

Some quartz may be present (thin section 981-67/ 190)


even 110 non-metamorphosed gabbro. This corresponds to the
fact that some quartz is found in nearly all the basic
(gabbro) and intermediate (diorite) rocks of the region.

The massive structure of the gabbro may be


-preserved., but locally a gneissose or even schistose
structure is observed. The normal rock, mapped as ortho-
amphibolite, is 2 rock containing only amphibole and
andesine as rock-forming minerals.

The ortho-amphibolite may contain quartz-orthoclase


veinlets or orthoclase porphyroblasts and may pass
gradually into granodiorite or granite.

The inclusions of basic rocks in the granite vary


in length from a few metres to several kilometres. Their
longitudinal axis is more or less 11-5, ‫ عتم‬to
the general trend of the country rocks, which seems to
2878 been conserved during the emplacement of the granite.
-12-

2 ٠ 1 .4 ٠ Metamo:rphic rocks

Metamorphic schists are predominant in the northern


part of the area mapped and are found also as lenses
within the granite and on the eastern border of the granite
in the vicinity of 41 Hufayrah« The geologic map
differentiates ”sericite and chlorite schists, locally
with biotite” and ”biotite schists passing into fine-
grained gneiss”«

The higher grade metamorphic rocks are found near


the granite contact, but the zone is generally rather
narrow; as in the Arjah region, a large extension of
biotite schists indicates the presence of granite at a
shallow depth beneath the surface. The granite outcrops
in the middle of these biotite schists confirm this fact.

The most coion higher grade rock is a fine-grained


biotite schist, locally containing some feldspar; it is
interbedded with rocks of different composition. Thin
section 981-67 80 is an actinolite-chlorite gneiss and
sample 981-61/ 66 is a tremolite-actinolite schist
containing some serpentine as well. These rocks are
associated with calcareous sediments and may be in part
metamorphic ultrabasic rocks.

Metamorphism decreases generally at a short


distance from the granite and the most coion rocks are a
chlorite-sericite schist or a sericite schist with well
developed schistose structure«

The origin of the chlorite-sericite or biotite


schists is unknown. They may have been fine-grained
- 13 -

sediments or fine-grained pyroclastics, or may even ٥


metamorphosed volcanic flows» These rocks are common in
several parts of the Arabian Shield and their origin is
discussed in our reports SG. JED. 66412 (photomosaic 101)
and SG. JED. 66415 (photomosaic 117).

Outcrops of metamorphic rock in the south-eastern


part of the map, 111 the vicinity of 41 Hufayrah, have been
mapped as migmatized gneiss. These are mostly biotite
gneiss cut by dykes of granite and aplite. These rocks
extend widely to the south and are discussed in more
detail in our report concerning the geological map 101
(56٠ JED. 66A12).

2.1.5. Granites

The southern part of the area mapped is mostly


covered by granitic rocks. Another granite crops out
north of the village of Arjah. The granitic rocks exposed
111 the 1381-40 Dawadimi region were mapped in the
following way:-
1٠ Syntectonic granodiorite,
2٠ Granite undifferentiated, mostly of syntectonic
and late tectonic origin,
3٠ Syn- to late tectonic granite,
4 Post-tectonic granite.

Granodiorite, which is common near the eastern


border of the granite, contains many inclusions of more
basic rocks. The granodiorite structure ranges from
massive to foliated. The foliation is generally N-S,
which corresponds to the regional strike of the country
-14-

rocks to the east.

The mafic 10210281 of the granodiorite is a horn-


hlende or hiotite, or the two minerals together. The
plagioclase is rather hasic (andesine); quartz is often
abundant (thin section 981-67 117). Orthoclase is always
2 minor component. These rocks may ٥ fairly rich in
titanite (981-07 17‫(و‬٠

The granodiorite changes gradually into foliated


granite, richer in orthoclase 818 with a more acid
plagioclase. The granodiorite is probably of the same age
as the foliated granite but both are cut by intrusions of
granite with massive texture.

There is also a gradational contact between the


granodiorite and the basic rocks mapped as ortho-amphibolite.
Foliation increases towards the amphibolite and the rock
becomes richer in amphibole and poorer in orthoclase and
quartz.

The granodiorite is considered to be mainly an


incompletely granitized basic rock. The fact that most of
the granodiorites are situated .near the border or near the
roof of the granite batholith supports this theory.

48 previously mentioned, the granodiorite passes


gradually int0 foliated granite: simultaneously granite
with massive texture becomes more coion. Contact between
foliated and massive granite may be either gradual or
sharp. The two granites may be slightly different in
composition, the latter-named containing more quartz and
orthoclase and fewer mafic minerals.
-15-

It was often impossible to 102 the two granites


separately, and in these cases we mapped them together as
"undifferentiated granite, mostly of syntectonic and late
tectonic origin".

The granite thus includes rocks which are


granitized country rocks, in which the original strike
may be conserved, and more truly intrusive granites.
Their contact with the country rocks is either quite sharp»
or gradational, with gneissose granite and migmatized
gneiss 11 the border zone.

The more intrusive type is the most common in the


region mapped. It normally shows a weathering in huge,
often hollow boulders ("cave granite") or it forms rounded
isolated mountains (bornhardts). The granites may be
coarse- or rather fine-grained, the more clearly intrusive
types having generally the finer texture.

The granite ranges from a dark-coloured rock rich


11 mafic minerals to nearly holo-leucocratic rocks. The
mafic minerals are hornblende or biotite, or both minerals
together. Biotite is more common in the finer-grained
intrusive types. Thin section 981-61/ 188 is an example of
a granite which is rather poor in orthoclase. The plagio-
clase, which has the composition of an oligoclase, greatly
exceeds the K-feldspar. The sample is rich in quartz;
mafic minerals are biotite, amphibole and titanite. This
kind of rock is very common; it is a granite which shows
affinities to granodiorite.

4 less common rock is sample 981-67 62, which has


the composition of 2 granite with equal quantities of
-16-

plagioclase (albite-oligoclase) and K-feldspar (microcline)«


Biotite is the only mafic mineral. The rock is rich in
quartz.

7٥ mapped some granitic rocks as post-tectonic


granite. These rocks include different kinds of granite,
all having in common the fact that they cut the main
granite. Their extension is rather limited: ٦٢٥ find them
as dykes, lenses or plugs. The most common variety is a
fine-grained biotite granite. Sample 981-07 45 is 8
leucocratic granite which contains plagioclase (albite)
and 0122.112 as the principal minerals. K-feldspar is less
abundant and the rock contains a minor amount of biotite
and muscovite. The biotite is partly altered to chlorite.

The leucocratic post-tectonic granite is often


pink, orange or red-coloured. This aspect is due to the
colouration of the feldspars, both the plagioclase and the
orthoclase. This colouration is not visible under the
microscope, but correspends always to deeply altered
feldspars. It is noteworthy that the feldspars in most
pegmatites and rhyolite dykes show the same colour.

Other post-tectonic granites show affinity with


aplites. Aplitic and pegmatitic rocks were mapped
separately.

21٠6٠ 12

The hololeucocratic fine-grained granitic rocks


were mapped as aplites. These rocks resemble some of the
rocks mapped as post-tectonic granite, but they always
-17-

occur in dykes. Some aplites show fine-grained pegmatitic


texture.

The rocks mapped as pegmatites or quartz veins are


of the same origin. They occur as pockets, lenses or
veins. Quartz and orthoclase, mostly red-coloured, are
often the only minerals of the pegmatites. Mica, either
muscovite or hiotite, is always accessory. It may contain
some black tourmaline, especially where it occurs within
the basic rock lenses in the granite; no other minerals
were observed.

Quartz is often the most common mineral and normal


quartz-feldspar pegmatite passes into quartz pockets with
2 few orthoclase crystals or even without any feldspar.

The quartz is mostly of a white, milky kind,


occasionally slightly pink, without sulphides or other
accessory minerals. The quartz pockets and veins
associated with the pegmatites are distinctly older than
the quartz veins found as hydrothermal filling in the
different shear zones, which carry gold, silver, copper,
1٥8 and zinc mineralizations.

-0-0-0-

All the granitic rocks in the region mapped are


closely associated. Gradations between all the rocks have
been observed, and likewise the evolution from syntectonic
granodiorite and granite poor in K-feldspar to intrusive
granite with normal composition, and further to post-
tectonic leucocratic alkali granite. These last-named
granites are followed by aplitic and pegmatitic intrusions.
-18-

1 seems that all the granitic rocks helong to the


same cycle, notwithstanding that there may ٥ a considerable
difference in age between the first and the last granites.

2.1.7. Dykes

Dykes are numerous in both the granite and meta-


morphic rocks. They are frequently the only rocks exposed
in the region; often they form ridges rising about ten
metres above the plain, which is composed of granite or
schist and covered mostly by pediment gravel.

The dykes can be followed over long distances and


they appear clearly on the air photographs. They vary in
length from several hundred to ten kilometres; their width
19 generally 2 few metres. These dykes cut the country
rock in any direction, but the predominant strike is
between N 609 E and 1209 1 ‫ آ‬E. Their dip is generally
vertical.

The dykes are situated in fractures and faults,


but the tectonic movements which gave rise to these
211205‫ت‬٦121‫ ت‬continued after their intrusion, as is shown by
the shearing and fracturing of many dykes.

The dykes do no affect the Ordovician sediments to


the east, and whilst they are cut by the mineralized quartz
veins they are younger than the pegmatites and aplites.

Their mineralogical composition varies widely.


The following kinds of dykes have been distinguished on
the geologic map:
-19-

- rhyolite,
- dacite, andesite,
- hasalt,
- microdiorite,
- 11020‫ع‬٧220‫ و‬dolerite.

Rhyolite is the most common dyke rock in the


region. The principal occurrences are a large swarm of
rhyolite dykes north of the Arjah prospects and 8 10 km.
long dyke at Sidrah (between Sidriyah and Arjah).

Sample 981-6٧ 59 is a typical porphyritic rhyolite


with phenocrysts of quartz, oligoclase, orthoclase and
some 020771 hornblende. The same minerals are found in the
groundmass.

Sample 981-67 69 is a fine-grained rhyolite, rich


in quartz. Samples 981-67 50 and 58 and 98-0877 64 are
dacites. Thin sections contain abundant quartz and little
orthoclase, both as phenocrysts and in the groundmass.

These acid dykes pass gradually into microgranite


and microdiorite. Thick dykes have a granitic texture in
the centre and a rhyolitic texture near the selvages.

The more basic dykes are less common in the area.


Sample 981-61/ 194 is a rock composed of amphibole and a
basic plagioclase (labradorite) with subordinate quartz.
Doleritic texture is not well developed and the rock has
been termed a microgabbro.

Most of the dyke rocks show alteration of the


feldspars into sericite and kaolinite, and chloritization
of amphibole and biotite. It is not always clear whether
-20-

alteration is due to weathering or to hydrothermal action.


The latter is more likely if the dyke is situated in a
shear zone with hydrothermal filling.

The relative ages of the different dykes are not


always clear, but locally the acid dykes are cut ٢ the
more basic dykes.

2.1.8. Younger sediments

The Precambrian rocks are overlain in the east by


2 sandstone, which is called Saq Sandstone on the 1:500,000
geologic map prepared by the 5٠6٥9٥ These sandstones,
which are considered to be of Cambrian or Ordovician age,
dip gently to the east and they are clearly unconformable
to the Precambrian rocks. They are coarse-grained, red or
brown limey sandstones with several horizons of conglomerate.
The main conglomeratic horizons lie in the lower part of
the formation. Pebbles of this conglomerate cover extensive
areas west of the sandstone. The conglomerate near the
base of the sandstone may be 5-10 m. thick, but thins
southwards.

2.1.9. Sunerficial deposits

The superficial deposits cover most of the area,


but only large areas with no outcrops were mapped, either
as "unconsolidated superficial deposits of gravel, sand
and silt" or as "eolian sands".

The most common deposit is a mixture of angular


-21-

rock fragments, weathering products and eolian sand.


These deposits may he fairly thick‫ ؛‬the cuttings of the
new asphalt road to Riyad show up to ten metres of 8227761
and sand in places, and many wells reach bedrock only
below 8 depth of 5 or 10 metres.

The intermittent drainage system has cut channels


several metres deep in these deposits.

2.2. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

Owing to the scarcity of outcrops, the structural


geology of the region is not well understood.

Comparing the geology of the region with that of


the area mapped further south, we may consider that the
general trend of the country rocks is more or less north-
south. This strike is found at the eastern border of the
granite, near 41 Hvfayrah,and in most of the schist lenses
within the granite batholith. This strike corresponds to
the foliation of the syntectonic granite and of the grano-
diorite.

This strike is considered to be due to folding


which was contemporaneous with the granitization. After
the emplacement of the syntectonic granite the main late
tectonic granite was intruded, partially replacing the
first granite. Little of the original folding was
conserved and the structure observed north of the granite
batholith in the Arjah-Tasrhir area is considered to have
been caused by the intrusion of the late tectonic granite.
-22-

In this area the country rock lies parallel to the


granite contact in some places but is cut by it in other
places٥ The dip of the country rock is always near to
vertical and it is difficult to recognize the different
folds.

The granites outcropping north of the village of


231 and in the north-western part of the area mapped are
probably situated in an anticlinal structure, where the
anticlinal axis pitches to the south.

Another anticlinal axis pitching to the south-west


was recognized in the area north of the Arjah prospect.

It is possible that the Arjah and Tasrhir prospects


follow 2 synclinal structure and that these prospects are
situated in the same stratigraphic unit as the Sidriyah-
510221 prospects.

This unit, which is partly granitized in the


Sidriyah region, curves eastwards when it leaves the
granite.

Considerable faulting and fracturing took place


after the 0080216 folding period. Proof of throw is not
always evident, especially in cases of homogeneous wall-
rocks; for this reason the term "shear zone" is often used
in this report.

Displacement of wall-rock has been observed in some


cases, as in Sidriyah, where a schist lens in the granite
has been displaced some 400 m. by 8 fault.
-23-

Shears 220 faults are very numerous both in the


granite and in the metamorphic rocks. The structures
follow two main directions509 11 ‫ ؛‬E and 1٢ 1209 E, but
other strikes are known owing to the somewhat arcuate form
of the structures and by the fact that the principal
structures are accompanied by short shears, fractures and
tension cracks٠ 411 the faults situated in the metamorphic
rocks are oblique to the general trend and faults in the
granite are oblique to its foliation and to the direction
of the schist lenses.

4 .particular fracture pattern is found in the area


of the 42321 prospect, where old workings follow an
incomplete horsetail structure.

There is evidence that most of the structures were


repeatedly active. Most of the dykes situated in fractures
were sheared after their intrusion. Also the hydrothermal
quartz filling and the silicified rocks are often sheared,
crushed or brecciated.

It seems that faulting, intrusion of dykes and


hydrothermal activity ٢٢٥٣٥ more or less coeval.
-24-

3. MINERAL EXPLORATION

3.1. GEOLOGIC EXPLORATION

3.1.1. General

Although rather sophisticated methods exist in


mineral exploration, direct prospecting, ٤٠٥٠ 0٥٥٦٧81101‫ت‬
0 outcrops, is still a very useful method.

All the prospects which correspond to old workings


were found during investigation of the outcrops in the
field. During this work, the air photographs to 1:60,000
(and to 1:12,000 in the Sidriyah area) were very useful.
Most outcrops and old workings are visible on these photos
and the situation of the prospects on the different
structures is often better understood by examination of the
air photographs.

4 map on the 1:100,000 scale has been compiled,


with the location of the prospects and showing the type of
mineralization, its form, the nature of the host rock and
other characteristics (Appendix 3).

Index cards, each corresponding to a group of


workings, are appended to this report, and detailed maps
were drawn of the most important prospects (Appendix 6).

All the prospects investigated are of the same type.


12087 always correspond to old workings. The total length
0٤ these workings is very high, but most excavations are
only superficial. The old miners were looking for pockets,
veins or ore shoots rich in silver. At some places they
TECHNiCAL REFERENCE
-25- LIBRARY
‫خ‬

01400 the rich ore, which was mined selectively, leaving


120010120100 the less interesting parts of the vein structures.

Only very limited parts of the vein structures


were mined to depths exceeding 2 metres. The mining was
mostly done in narrow irregular stopes or pits, some of
them reaching considerable depths. Elsewhere, where
several parallel ore 00105 existed, the more valuable
parts were extracted by opencast mining, as at Sidriyah,
where a large quantity of schists and granite was removed
in order to mine narrow, parallel veins.

In most prospects nothing is left of the richer


parts of the veins, and all samples taken in the vein
structures which were left by the former miners assayed
low grades.

For this reason most of our samples were taken in


the old waste dumps. Though the former miners smelted the
richest ore, their waste gives some indication of the
grade and composition of the original ore.

Some of our samples were taken at random, including


all vein material and country rock found in the waste
dumps, but most samples were taken more selectively:
barren country rock was excluded and the samples were taken
in the remaining vein material, i.e. quartz and silicified,
oxidized or sheared rock.

This kind of sampling is certainly not very


representative, but it may give some indication of the
grade and composition of the ore in the different prospects.
In any case it is impossible to collect representative
surface samples 111 veins which have already been mined.
-26-

The original weight of the samples is 35-80 kg.


All these samples were sent to the laboratory of the
Directorate in Jeddah. After gradual crushing to -200
me sh and reduction of weight, two samples of 25 graies
each were assayed for gold and silver (fire assay). Lead,
zinc and copper content were determined by chemical
analysis.

In all, 215 samples were collected, but in view of


the total length of the old workings (22 km.) this sampling
must be considered as only preliminary. However,
systematic surface sampling of already mined veins was not
worth doing.

It is clearly impossible to investigate at depth


all the 22 km. of the mined shear zones, even if only the
most important ones were included. Neither is it certain
that the most interesting ore bodies are situated under the
old workings. These ore 00105 may exist anywhere under-
neath the superficial deposits which cover most of the area.

At the end of this report we propose that an


electromagnetic survey of the whole of the mineralized
area should be undertaken, and that the investigation
should be continued at depth by drilling only if
interesting anomalies should be found.

3.1.2. (Geographical distribution of the prospects

During the geologic mapping a great number of old


workings were found.
-27-

018 workings are very numerous to the north of


40 1270201101» especially in the Sidriyah area. They
decrease north of Sidriyah, but there are still many
prospects in an area which passes through Jabal al 10411181
and Sidrah. Beyond the granite the prospect zone curves
eastwards through 42381 and Tasrhir. The total area of
old workings is 25 km. long and has an average width of
5 km. This area continues to the south as far as Samrah
on map 101.

All the workings are situated on shear zones or


faults. These structures may be of considerable length,
but they were not worked outside the relatively narrow
area of Ad Bawadimi-Sidriyah-Arjah-Tasrhir. This area may
extend eastward where the structures cannot be followed
beneath the superficial deposits. In the west the
structures are visible, but they were not worked outside
the above-mentioned area.

The reason why the mineralization is limited to a


certain zone has not been fully explained. It is possible
that the mineralized zone correspends to a lithostratigraphic
unit which is .no longer recognizable on account of the
superimposed metamorphism and the granitization. It is
also possible that the mineralized zone corresponds to an
original structure such as a syncline.

3٠1٠3 Ore controls

Within the mineralized zone we found some


geological features which control the mineralization:-
-28-

a) The most important workings are situated at the contact


of the granite and the inclusions of metamorphic rocks.
The most important prospect, Sidriyah, is situated at
the contact of hiotite schist (to the north) and
granite. Schist is often found in the waste dumps even
where no outcrops of metamorphic rocks were observed
near the prospect.
) Old workings are often wide and deep at the intersection
of two structures.
٥) The highest silver values found during sampling were in
samples taken from workings on 8 structure with 8 171-517
strike. Sidriyah and Samrah (map 101) lie on structures
with this strike.

Ore control of the known mineralization is thus


mainly tectonic, with 8 preference for areas where country
rock is enclosed by the granite.

11٥ disseminated mineralization has been found


outside the shear zones, but one must not exclude the
possibility that such mineralization may exist at depth
or somewhere under the superficial deposits which cover
most of the area.

At the end of this report we make recommendations


for continued prospecting with the object of locating such
mineralization.

3٠1٠4٠ Composition of ore and wall rocks

Alteration of the wall rock along the shear zones


is common, but the altered zone is always narrow. Oxides
-29-

are 1051 frequently present in the 778115 of the shear zones


but we have to distinguish the granite with red feldspar
from the granite which is coloured only by superficial
staining. Hydrothermal alteration is also indicated by
epidotization, kaolinization, sericitization and
silicification of the wall rocks. Silicification is
generally limited to the shear zone itself, where schist,
dyke rocks or granite are silicified and often mylonitized.
Angular fragments are coion in these rocks, which may
pass into breccia or mylonite. Small quartz veinlets may
cut the silicified rocks, but the main quartz veins are
parallel to them. These quartz veins were formed after
re-opening of the faults. The veins of greyish-white
quartz often show comb structures, leaving vugs in the
middle of the veins. These vugs may be empty or filled
with later quartz or calcite containing locally some
galena. Sulphides (galena, sphalerite, pyrite, argentite)
are sporadically found in massive veins of greyish,
granular quartz.

It is not always possible to distinguish the


different kinds of quartz or to appreciate their silver
content from the appearance of the quartz. Only a very
few samples of primary ore are available, as most of the
ore is oxidized at the surface. In drill-hole 511 6
(prospect 981-21 108101) we found a small vein of grey quartz
rich 111 argentite, associated with sphalerite and galena.
4 length of 0٠95 m. of the drill core from a silicified
granite with 2 quartz vein of 0.10 m. assayed 0.909٥ lead,
0٠1566 zinc and 600 grm/t. silver. This result shows that
the silver is not always associated with the galena. In
drill-hole 51 3 (Sidriyah mine) 2 sample of black and
brown gouge with a veinlet of 0.04 m. galena averaged 4٠89
lead, 1٠89 zinc and 55 grm/t٠ silver: in this sample, the
-30-

galena 18 rather poor in silver (700 grmt only).

Five samples collected at Sidriyah 1 1٥ BOHLADON


were examined in the mineralogical department of the
31٠610٠ in Paris by 2٠ Picot٠ The following sulphides
were found: sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite and
arseno-pyrite« Associated with the chalcopyrite were
found pearceite ((46, ٢ 48 (‫ )!ا‬and grey copper
(tetrahedrite-tennantite). These two minerals were found
together with argyrose and native silver in some samples
taken from 8 drill-hole in Samrah (map 101)٠ The silver
minerals were found together with either galena or
sphalerite and chalcopyrite in varying amounts. In one of
the samples examined in Paris, pearceite was found probably
replacing sphalerite.

No other observations were made on the paragenesis


of the different minerals, but the normal mineral sequence
of most silver deposits: pyrite-sphalerite-galena-silver
minerals is to be expected. This mineral sequence explains
at the same time why there is no 00191‫ت‬8‫ ت‬proportion
between the silver content of the ore and its grade in lead
or zinc; nevertheless, good values in lead often correspond
to high silver content.

The other sulphides (pyrite, chalcopyrite and


arseno-pyrite) are less closely associated with the silver
minerals. Nevertheless all samples with any kind of
sulphides give better silver values than samples without
sulphides.

Some samples assayed a little gold: 1-5 grm/t.


The native silver found 114 one of the samples examined in
-31-

Paris is slightly yellow 818 may contain some gold.


Native gold may exist also, ‫ تاتا‬as no samples were panned
this mineral was not observed.

In contrast to the few samples of primary ore, we


have 912161611 samples of supergene ore and several
hundreds of assay resuits of samples coming from the
different prospects are available. These samples consist
mostly of vein rock: quartz, quartz and calcite, quartz
and oxides, or altered wall rock: oxidized, silicified or
epidotized granite or schist.

Some selected samples of different kinds of vein


and wall rocks assayed the following grades88-
4 . 2 21
‫ع‬210/٦‫ت‬٠ 82/‫تا‬. 96
a) white quartz in veins with
comb structure 3 005 0.80
) massive white quartz 21 0٠15 0.25
c) grey vitreous quartz 42 0.05 0.25
0) grey quartz, granular
texture, without oxides 460 045 0.20
٥( brown silicified rock 23 025 0.85
‫ (م‬black silicified rock 18 0٠35 0.45
g) schist with brown oxides 51 0.80 0٠60
1) vitreous quartz with oxides 635 015 0.35
1) vitreous quartz rich in
oxides 150 140 0.10
5) vitreous quartz rich in
oxides 181 0٠70 0.90
k) white comb-structure
quartz with oxides 25 0٠05 0.50

There are two kinds of quartz: white milky quartz,


often in veins with comb 91 12 ‫ وتات‬and a greyish vitreous
or granular quartz. The latter generally gives good silver
-3٤-

values, ‫ تا‬from samples without oxides (sample : 4.60


/‫تا‬.) and from samples with oxides (samples 1, i and 3:
respectively 635, 150 and 181 grmt). Samples of white
quartz (sample k25 ‫ ؛‬grmt), silicified rock (samples e
and f: 23 and 18 grm/t.) and schist (sample g: 51 grm/t.)
assay low silver content, even in oxide-rich samples.

This can be explained by the fact that the oxides


in the grey quartz are formed by oxidation of other
sulphides than the oxides in the white quartz and the wall
rocks. In the drill-holes at 51021781 we found that
disseminated pyrite is rather common in the wall rocks of
the vein structure, so the oxides found in the wall rocks
at the surface seem to be mostly derived from pyrite.
The oxides found in the grey quartz are partly derived
from galena, sphalerite and silver sulphides: these latter
oxides are 601101013/ situated in fractures, cracks and vugs
within the quartz. Although distribution of the various
oxides indicates that the original distribution of elements
is partly consened during oxidation, there is evidence
that leaching of lead and zinc on the surface is important,
as a high silver content in samples of oxidized ore rarely
corresponds to high lead and zinc values.

The brown and black oxides, which often cover all


kinds of quartz and the wall rock, contain practically no
silver and are mostly iron and manganese oxides. 4 sample
(taken by ٠ BOULADON) of 8 breccia with gneiss fragments
stained by black oxides assayed the following values
(chemical analyses in 66 and grm/t., spectrographic
analyses in ppm:-
-33-

Pb 0٠2596
21 0٠159
Cu 0.01#
‫ىل‬ 9 grm/t.
Co 20 ppm
11 50 ppm
Cr 500 ppm
101 7,000 ppm
Mo 10 ppm
Au 0.5 ‫ع‬20/٦‫ت‬٠
11 500 ppm
7/ 0 ppm
51 10 ppm
Sr 50 ppm
Bi 20 ppm
Cd 50 ppm
Sb 200 ppm
Ba 100 ppm
Y 10 ppm

This fairly complete analysis shows that there are


no other 1280121 elements in 0010001020181 quantities.

This negative result is confirmed ٦7 other


spectrographic analyses. One sample out of every ten was
investigated by spectrographic analysis.

3٠1٠5٠ Pescription of the prospects

The prospects are described in detail on the index


cards and maps attached to this report. 4 general
description of the prospects is given below.
-34-

115 area

This area is situated in the metamorphic schists,


north of the big granite batholith and near the overlying
younger sediments.

The schists strike 1709 ‫ آ‬E with dips between 70٥ 5


and the vertical. Different shear zones cut at slightly
oblique angles across the strike of the country rock. The
principal shear zone is 1,500 m. long (prospect 981-21 8m);
the others are less extensive. The samples taken in the
waste dumps assayed 4, 42, 110 and 170 820/. of silver,
the better values being situated in the longest structures.

Outcrops are rare in this area and ٦‫ص‬known ore


bodies may exist under the wadi sediments.

The prospects in this area have been described on


index cards 981-21 8100, 981-21 9m and 98F-PL 101. The total
length of old workings is 1,400 m.

Ar.ah area

Old workings are numerous over an area of 5 X 2 km.


The old workings are situated either in a structure
striking 1909 ‫ آ‬E or on various fractures forming an
incomplete horsetail structure. All these structures are
oblique to the schistosity of the country rocks (1409 ‫ آ‬E).
The total length of old workings is 6,700 m. Interesting
mineralized stiuctures may be hidden under the superficial
deposits and detailed prospecting of this prospect is
justified. We started this work by carrying out geochemical
prospecting in the eastern extension of the area (see pages
418104٤(
-35-

During our preliminary prospecting most samples


were taken from the old. waste dumps•

Samples taken on the main structure averaged


77, 163 and 200 grrnt of silver. Samples taken in the
smaller structures were poorer: 29-80 8/‫تا‬. One cut
sample of a vein left ٢٢ the old miners averaged 9 grm/t.
of silver.

Two of our samples contained some gold: 1 and 3


grm/t٠ The prospects are descrihed on index cards 981-21
12m, 981-21 13m, 981-21 140‫ م‬and 981-21 15m.

510281 area

The prospects between Sidriyah and 4381 are


grouped under this name. There are a lot of old workings
in the area, but not so many as in the 42381 or Sidriyah
areas.

The Sidrah region covers an area of 6x5 km.,


situated near the northern border of the granite batholith.
Most of the mineralized zones lie at the contact of schist
lenses enclosed in the granite.

There are two main strikes of the shear zones:


N 100-1209 E and 1709 ‫ آ‬E. Many old workings are situated
at the intersection of these two structures.

Detailed information about the prospects of the


Sidrah region can be found on index cards 981-21 11m, 16m,
17m. 18m. 19m, 20m, 21m, 22m, 23m, 28m, 29m, 30m, 31m and
32m.
-36-

Some samples assayed good silver values; best


values were as follows:- 157 grmt from prospect 981-21
18m; 150, 242 and 460 82/‫تا‬. from prospect 981-21 20m;
181, 635 and 910 820/. from prospect 981-21 3111. All
these samples were taken on shear zones striking 1٢ 1009 E.
The total length of old workings is 2,800 km. Outcrops
are rare and we recoiend further prospecting of the whole
area.

Sidriyah

Workings on the Sidriyah structure and all the


prospects in its vicinity are grouped under this heading.

They are situated in an area underlain by granite


enclosing many schist lenses. Here also the two principal
strikes of the shear zones are N 90° to 1200 ‫ زنتا‬and N 500
to 70 1, the latter structures being the more important.

The southern part of the Sidriyah area was mapped


to an approximate scale of 1:12,500 (area covered by K.L.M.
photos) ( see Appendix 5)٠

One of the most important structures is Sidriyah,


which is situated onaN 509 E shear zone. Several
-parallel structures accompany the main shear zone. The
structure can be followed from the south-east (prospect
981-21 78m) to the north-east (prospect 981-2 107m) over
a distance of 2.5 ‫ لم‬The structure is masked by wadi
sediments to the north-east, but geochemical prospecting
has 0011 carried out in this area to look for a possible
extension of the structure (see page 41).
-37-

The main struc-ture 02 51021781 is a fault, which


0812508 either a displacement to the east of the northern
wall or a displacement to the west of the southern wall.
The horizontal displacement is 400 m. and it can ٥
observed from a large schist lens enclosed in the granite.
Mineralization is principally situated at the contact
between granite and schist and near schist lenses lying
within the fault zone. Mineralization is erratic, as is
shown by the eight holes drilled on this structure (see
pages 4٠(6‫ق‬-‫ه‬ Some holes cut small mineralized veins, but
these veins have no lateral extension.

Another interesting group of workings consists of


prospects 981-21 44m, 21 46m and 21 47m, situated near the
track leading from 40 Dawadimi to Sidriyah. Samples taken
in the waste dumps of the workings assayed some good silver
values193 ,116 ‫ ؛‬and 660 grm/t. One hole was drilled on
this prospect (see page 46).

Old workings cover an area of 5 X 6 km. in the


Sidriyah region. On the eastern border of this area there
is 2 large plain covered by superficial deposits.
Geochemical prospecting has been carried out on this plain
(see pages 42-43). The total length of old workings in
the Sidriyah area 1511 10

The prospects in the Sidriyah area are described


111 detail on fifty-seven index cards numbered 9812-21 24-
27m, 981-21 33-SOm, 981-21 90 and 91m, 98F-PL 1O4m and
98F-PL 107 and 1O8m.

Two isolated prospects, 98F-GV 1m and 2m, are


located 77-171 of the village of 40 Dawadimi. They represent
-38-

‫ هتا‬north-western extension of the mineralized area of


4 8٧841101‫ و‬described in report 56٠ I. 66412٠ These
prospects lie in shear zones striking 1659 ‫ آ‬to 709 E.
Old workings represent no more than 100 m. in total length.
Two waste samples gave only poor results: 20 grm/t. silver.

3٠2٠ Alluvia EROSPECTINO

Fluvial transport is almost non-existent and


chemical weathering has produced more effect than
mechanical erosion. Heavy minerals are often wholly
altered before being separated from their gangue.
Alluvial deposits consist of angular rock fragments and
silt which is rich in oxides. Only the very common heavy
minerals such as ilmenite, magnetite, amphibole, epidote
and garnet are relatively abundant, but many of them are
partly weathered or still included in their gangue. There
is poor concentration and almost no transport of heavy
minerals.

General alluvial prospecting therefore seems


useless as 2 method of locating primary ore bodies and for
this reason we only used this method in 8 selected area.
Alluvial prospecting may only be useful if many samples
are taken very near to the possible primary source of the
minerals being sought.

Alluvial prospecting was carried out only in the


area where the conglomerates of the 580 sandstones crop
out. Terraces are formed by well rounded quartz pebbles
washed out of the conglomerates. With the exception of
two samples containing traces of scheelite, no useful
minerals were found during this prospecting.
- 39 -

3.3. GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING

3٠1٠‫ق‬٠ General

Rock outcrops are abundant in the western part ‫تأتا‬


quite rare in the eastern part of the region.

Most of the area is covered 1" rock fragments


mixed with eolian sands. These superficial deposits cover
a large part of the area and are quite thick in most wadi
valleys (up to 10 metres) hut much thinner on the higher
parts of the plain and on the slopes of the hills.

As fluvial transport is practically non-existent,


the rock fragments weather in situ. At least a part of
the weathering products is blown away by the wind and
replaced by sand coming from other places.

The influence of the wind is probably not apparent


below a certain depth, where undisturbed weathering may be
possible over long periods. The superficial deposits are
humid below a depth of 20-50 cm., so exchange of elements
between the bedrock and the overlying deposits may be
possible.

The conditions do not seem unfavourable for the


formation of geochemical anomalies, at least for anomalies
iiediately above the ore bodies, but these anomalies may
have been destroyed by wind erosion at the surface, and
samples 5101218 be taken at a certain depth. As there is
almost no fluvial transport, anomalies in the alluvial
deposits may be small and mostly due to rock fragments.
The fact that the alluvial anomalies are mostly detrital
-40-

818 not 016101081 15 51001 at 41 Amar, where high copper


values are only found in the gravel with visible copper
minerals ٠

The alluvial chemical conditions have been tested


at Samrah and 41 Amar (see Appendix 7, Report 56٠ JED 66412
and Appendix 6, Report 56٠ JED. 66414) but both prospects
are composed of worked-out veins with large waste dumps
and tailings.

Nothing is known of the geochemical distribution


of the different elements around unworked sub-outcropping
mineral occurrences. If they do cause an alluvial anomaly
it will probably be of rather small extension and for this
reason we have chosen an interval of 200 m. between the
samples in alluvial geochemical prospecting.

Geochemical prospecting has been carried out in


three different areas:
- the north-eastern extension of the Sidriyah
prospect,
- the eastern extension of the 42381 mineralized
2262‫و‬
- the large plain between Sidriyah and 42381 in
the west and the overlying sediments 114 the east.

F igures 2, 3 and 4 give for each zone the histogram


of zinc and lead values. Classification of our sampling
results was based on these figures.
‫‪0‬‬ ‫‪25‬‬ ‫‪50‬‬ ‫‪75‬‬ ‫‪100‬‬ ‫‪200‬‬ ‫‪300‬‬ ‫‪400‬‬ ‫‪500‬‬ ‫‪././‬م‬

‫‪/6‬‬ ‫‪2‬‬
GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING ARJAH
/٨٧
HISTOGRAMS OF THE 2/9, Pb VALUES
,‫"ء‬-

140-

120-

‫إ‬,
/00-

/
80-

1
60

‫ا‬
0 2
0 25 50 75 400 500 ././7)

20-4

/00-4

80

60-

40-

20-4

0
0 25 50 75 /00 200 700 400 500 /.0..

FIG. 3
/

550-

500-4 GEOCHEMICAL ALLUVIAL PROSPECTING


HISTOGRAMS OF THE 2/9, Pb VALUES

400-

300-4

200-V,

100

FIG. 4
-41-

٠2‫ؤ‬٠‫ؤ‬٠ Sidriyah

Samples were taken at intervals of 50 1٠ in both


directions (11-5 and 13-17: see Appendices 8a and 8).

The whole area is covered 77 a mixture of angular


rock fragments, weathering products of these rocks and
eolian sands.

Samples were taken at a depth of 20 cm.‫ و‬the


coarse elements being eliminated immediately in the field.

Analyses were made of the -200 me sh fraction and


samples were assayed for lead and zinc. 16812115 are shown
on two maps, 12,500, one for each element.

The highest 7811105 both for lead and zinc are


found along the main wadi, which drains the mining area,
and for this reason we may suppose that these values are
due to washing of the numerous waste dumps of the old
miners.

As no anomaly has been found during the electro-


magnetic survey of the area, we think that these values
do not indicate the presence of unknown ore bodies at
depth and no further investigations are proposed for the
51021781 region.

33٠3٠ Ar .ah

Geochemical work was done in the same way as on


the Sidriyah prospect, but the distance chosen between
the sample sites was 100 m.
-42-

Isolated anomaly values are found at several


places, but it seems that there is only one significant
anomaly, at the northern border of the prospected area.
This anomaly has an 1-17 orientation and may be correlated
with shear zones striking 1-7» which are common in this
part of the area.

We propose some supplementary geochemical work,


especially to the north of the area investigated.

3‫ق‬.‫ه‬. Alluvial geochemical rrosnectinfi

The large plain east of the Sidriyah and Arjah


prospects has been chosen for geochemical prospecting
because there are no outcrops of rock in this region.

The plain is covered by the usual kind of


superficial deposits, which are drained by 8 517-171 wadi
system. These wadis cut the superficial deposits to a
depth of one or two metres, but transport is so slow that
no real gravel has been found in the wadi valleys.

It is clearly apparent that the best values are


found near the known ancient workings, and that these
values decrease at some distance from them.

As might be expected, zinc was transported farther


from its sources than lead, but it had already been found
during our tests around Samrah that lead is a more
selective indicator of primary mineralization than zinc.
It seems clear that no sub-outcropping ore bodies may be
expected under the superficial deposits to the east, and
-43-

no further geochemical work is 2090508 in this area.

However, this area will ٥ part of the airhome


electromagnetic survey which we 1090508 for the whole
region of Ad 187801٦٠

3٠4٠ 0101111 009111516 SURVEY

At the request of the B.R.G.M. a geophysical


survey was carried out at Sidriyah ٢ ARGAS, to search
for massive or disseminated sulphide mineralization at
depth in the Sidriyah area.

The methods employed were electromagnetism, self-


potential, induced polarization and resistivity.

The report ‫’ا‬Geophysical Survey at Sidriyah1'


(41045 5920 1) deals with these ٤٦٦٦٢٢٢٥٢8. The conclusion
reached was that "specific geophysical surveys show that
there is no chance of discovering a large, shallow,
massive or disseminated sulphide body in the prospect."
(Page 130 the ARGAS report).

35٠ 1100171 DRILLING

35٠1‫ م‬General

Nine holes were drilled in the Sidriyah region,


six on the main prospect, two on prospect 981-91 108m,
which represents the southwestern extension of the
Sidriyah prospect, and one on prospect 981-21 461. The
purpose of these holes was to reconnoitre at shallow depth
-44-

the 012٥5‫ رتو‬visihle at the surface»

Fracturing of the rock near the surface, as 77011


as technical difficulties with the drilling machine and
its water pump, made the drilling very difficult and core
recovery was rather low.

The technical data of the holes are shown in the


left columns of the4logs given in Appendices 7 to ‫ل‬

Cores from the vein zones were sampled and analysed


for Au, Ag, Cu, 2 82 21 in the ٠1٠6٥10٠ chemical
laboratory in Jeddah» The results are shown in the logs.

Appendix 78 is a map, 1:1,000, which shows the


ancient workings and the geology of the Sidriyah prospect,
as well as the location and cross-sections of the six
drill-holes.

3٠5٠2٥ Results

Sidriyah

1111 51 1 was stopped at 8 depth 01510 for


technical reasons and it did not reach the mineralized
zone.

1111 51 2 and 51 3 tested the north-eastern part


of the main structure. They reached depths of 49٠65 m.
and 40٠38 m. respectively. Their initial direction was
1٢32501‫ ت‬and their initial inclination 45 0. Core recovery
was rather low in the vein zone. Analytical results are
poor: the best value is 55 grm/t. silver in the northern
-45-

wall of the shear zone in SID ‫م‬

1111 51 4, SID 5 and SID 8 tested the south-western


part of the prospect, where the principal ancient workings
11٥ These holes reached 33٠10 m., 67.00 m. and 54.00 0٠
respectively. Their initial direction was 17 32502 and
their initial inclinations 459 for SID 4 and SID 5 and 300
to the vertical for SID 8‫م‬

These three holes started in the granite, cut


through the vein filling and ended in the schists. They
show the structure to he narrower at depth and poorly
mineralized. The hest result is 45 grm/t. for a sample
from 513 5 near the schist-granite contact.

98F-DD 1O8m

Work on 51 7 stopped at a depth of 25٠40 m. for


technical reasons and it 018 not cut the whole structure.
Moreover, core recovery all along the hole was rather low.

1111 SID 6, with a direction of 17 325٥ E and an


inclination of 30٥ to the vertical, reached a depth of
56.00 m. Below 12.77 m. the core recovery was quite good.
This hole cut through the main structure between 27.05
and 40٠20 m. , corresponding to a vein width of about 6.50 1.
The vein filling is composed of white quartz fragments in
siliceous cement with black and red oxides and patches of
sulphides (pyrite, sphalerite and argentite). Below
4020 m. the drill-hole encountered smaller fractures with
quartz filling. The only good results were found near the
southern wall of the main structure; the best one, from
the wall itself, is 600 grm/t. silver for 8 core length of
-46-

1٠12 1٠ Other positive values give figures of 150, 370»


35 and 24 grm/t. silver. The average figure for the hest
part (from 27.20 to 30.91 m.) is 317 grm/t. Ag.

s -Fil 46m

1111 31 ‫و‬, with a direction of 1٢ 325٥ ‫ نح‬and an


inclination of 300 to the vertical, reached a depth of
38٠50 m. It cut through a formation of locally brecciated
and silicified sericite-chlorite schists containing some
quartz veins in shear zones and intruded by granite and
pegmatite in veins. It did not encounter any interesting
mineralization.

3.5.3. Conclusions

In spite of technical difficulties, this series of


holes has shown that the structures are irregular in width:
the shear zones often become narrower at depth: in the
south-west at Sidriyah for instance. Analytical results
proved also that the mineralization within the veins is
irregular and restricted to ore shoots or pockets usually
located in the 78115 of shear zones.

The three prospects tested are thought to be of no


economic interest. Systematic drilling of all the
prospects does not seem to be 8 practical method, so
geochemical and airborne geophysical methods are necessary
to select or discover the most promising areas to be
investigated at depth.
-47-

4٠ CONCLUSIONS ‫غ‬ RECOMMENDATIONS

In the course of the recent work, geologic mapping


and general exploration were completed. An area rich in
prospects has been circumscribed to the west and the north.
The areas west of Sidriyah-Sidrah and north of Arjah-Tasrhir
can be excluded from further prospecting.

The area east of Sidriyah and south of Arjah-


Tasrhir has been thoroughly prospected by geochemical
methods. In the area rich in prospects, surface sampling
has been completed. Several prospects have yielded good
sampling results, but because of the old mining operations
no representative samples could be taken.

An investigation at depth of some prospects was


carried out. Nine holes were drilled at Sidriyah and other
neighbouring prospects. Although some mineralized veins
were encountered, mineralization seems to be distributed
erratically and no large ore bodies were found.

The old mine excavations extend over a total


length of 22 km. and it is hardly possible to investigate
all these vein structures by drilling. There is not even
any evidence that the most interesting ore bodies will be
found under the old workings. They may be hidden anywhere
under the wadi sediments or other superficial deposits.

Although some of the factors controlling ore


distribution are evident, it is impossible to forecast
which are the most promising structures by interpretation
of the geological surface observations alone. For this
-48-

reason, we have to use other 101005 to investigate at depth


the whole mineralized area of Ad 51022/-‫ذ‬-
Arjah-Tasrhir, and in addition the large plain covered ٦
wadi sediments south-east of this area»

The investigation at depth of 8 large area can ٥


done only ٦/ geophysical or geochemical prospecting.
Geochemical prospecting was carried out, but 01 not show
any large anomaly» Drill-holes at Sidriyah and Samrah
indicated that the silver minerals are mostly associated
with galena and sphalerite, which are non-conductive
minerals, but silver minerals were also found together with
chalcopyrite» Pyrite was coionly found in the wall rocks
and in the small mineralized veins cut by the drill-holes
at Sidriyah. Therefore it may be expected that a really
important ore body would contain abundant pyrite and that
such 00105 could be detected by an electric geophysical
survey.

٠ 10011161, chief geophysicist of the B.R.G.M., has


chosen the following methods for this survey:-
a) a ground geophysical survey of an area of 3 sq.km, around
the Sidriyah vein structure (٦2٠ and resistivity
methods). This survey has been carried out by ARGAS and
its results were discussed on page 43٠
b) a detailed airborne suney covering the whole mineralized
area of Arjah-Sidriyah and at the same time the extension
of this area on photomosaic 101, including Samrah and
Ardaniyah (total area 1,500 sq.km. - BARRINGER INPUT
method).

The advantages of these methods are explained in


Memorandum 733 dated 29 December 1965, by p. MUNCK.
-49-

The main ohject of these suneys will ٥ to locate


the most favourable places to continue drilling.

Continuation of mineral exploration in this


promising area is undoubtedly justified.

September 1966 G. 1110011


-50-

REFERENCES

AERO SERVICE CORP‫ ؛‬Photomosaic 1:100,000 sheet 98.


٠٦ Photomosaics 1:50,000 sheets 354, 360, 361.
Aerial photographs 1:60, 000 approx.
٣٢ 410010: Aerial photographs mining sites, 1:12,500 approx.,
Sidriyah.
11 0171001073, 1958: Geology, ancient mines and mineral
resources of the Bawadimi, 0121781 ‫لع‬, Halahan
areas of Saudi Arabia. 112٠ Gen. Min. Res.
2645, 1966: Ge ophysical survey of Sidriyah. Report 5920 1.
BOGUE, R.G., 1954: Reconnaissance of mineral deposits in a
part of western Saudi Arabia (with sketch and
sampling of the Sidriyah prospect) Dir. Gen. Min.
Res. No. 3/211/1501.
BOULiN, 1966 ,‫ل‬٠: Note on the results of mineral
prospecting in areas II and III. B.R.G.M. SG. JED.
6642
BRU, 1٠‫ج‬٠‫ و‬and others, 1963: Geology of the Wadi ar
Rimah quadrangle, 1:500,000. U.S.G.S. Mise Ge01.
Invest. Map I-206A.
EIJKEDBOOM, ٥)1966 ,.‫)م‬: The mineral resources and geology
of the Jabal Dhuhaylan-‫ل‬abal Al ’Urd region.
B.R.G.M. Report SG. JED. 66412 (sheet 101, Zone II).
" 11966 ‫)(ا‬: The mineral resources and geology
٠ of the Idsas-Wadi Jifr region. B.R.G.M. Report
SG. JED. 6615 (sheet 117, Zone II).
, MYTTON, 1٠108)1965 ٠‫)و‬: Geological reconnaissance in the
northern Tuwayq and Wadi ar Rimah quadrangles,
U.S.G.S. Tech.Letter No.1.
" " 1965(): Geological and geochemical
reconnaissance of the Dawadimi quadrangle, U.S.G.S.
Tech. Letter No.28.

You might also like