Mining Mirror March 2018 | Page 9

Global
The Harar Mountains host most of the mining activities and exploration in Oman .
Photographs by Dr Nicolaas Steenkamp rubble that accumulated on top of sea mounts . Following the closing of the Tethys Ocean , the land surface area was submerged in shallow seas and fossiliferous limestones were deposited . Recent deposits south and north of the northern Oman Mountains cover the plains with coarse grey gravel . Blue pools are common on both sides of the northern Oman Mountains where alkaline water reacts with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and calcium carbonate is precipitated , forming fine white deposits . The largest surface area of the country is covered by desert sand , with extensive sabkha ( salt flats ). The largest is called Umm as Samim , translated as Mother of Poisons , and lies on the edge of The Empty Quarter close to the border with Saudi Arabia .
Mineral deposits
The greatest mineral potential in Oman exists mainly within the Semail ophiolite where significant chromite , manganeseoxide , nickel-iron-laterite , base metal , and precious metal mineralisation occurs . Mineral potential also exists in the Hawasina and Sumeini nappes for manganese , copper , lead , and barium mineralisation . The autochthonous sedimentary rocks host coal beds , fluorspar , clay , barites , and celestite deposits . The sedimentary basement has been shown to contain lead , zinc , silver , and heavy minerals . The crystalline basement contains phosphate , iron , manganese , and uranium mineralisation .
Industries to benefit from these raw minerals are mostly absent from the country . However , the focus in Oman remains on traditionally mined deposits , namely marble , gypsum , limestone , industrial salt , chromites , gold , and building materials . The Omani economy continues to be highly dependent on hydrocarbon revenues .
The sultanate of Oman currently produces copper , chromite , gold , and silver . Oman ’ s main copper reserves are in the Suhar area on the Al Batinah coast . The country ’ s chromite reserves are estimated at two million tons of chromite ore , which is located at roughly 600 sites spread throughout the country . These ore bodies are mined by the Oman Chromite Company ( OCC ).
Limestone for cement production is mined in the northern and southern parts of the country to supply the Oman Cement Company ’ s plant in the Rusayl Industrial Estate near As Sib and the Raysut Cement Corporation ’ s plant near Salalah . Tile and marble dimension stone are also produced for local construction .
Deposits of zinc and lead are known to exist in Dhofar , Jalan , and Hawshi Huqf . Coal reserves at Al Kamil are estimated at 122 million tons , and are considered adequate for domestic use .
Challenges for mining
The contribution of the mining sector to the GDP of Oman is 0.14 %, and direct revenues from mining in 2016 stood at
MARCH 2018 MINING MIRROR [ 7 ]