Neoproterozoic peralkaline rare-metal granite intruded into greenschist facies metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. The porphyritic arfvedsonite-alkali feldspar granite forms a sub-circular stock with a surface outcrop of about 900 m in diameter. Fine-grained ore minerals are disseminated throughout its body. It may become the world's single largest deposit of tantalum (an inferred resource of 385 Mt Ta2O5, Tertiary Minerals plc, 2002).

Located 85 km SSW of Tabuk, in a valley at the junction of the Wadi Sadr and the Wadi Assahtutah.

Estimated grades (in ppm) based on surface sampling and 5 drill holes are Nb 2250, Ta 200, Sn 300, Y 1300, Th 400, U 110 and Zr 8500. The tonnage to a depth of 250 m is estimated as 440 x 10⁶t (Jackson at al. 1985).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

17 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ 'Microgranite'

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aegirine

Formula: NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆

References:

Küster, Dirk (2009) Granitoid-hosted Ta mineralization in the Arabian–Nubian Shield: Ore deposit types, tectono-metallogenetic setting and petrogenetic framework. Ore Geology Reviews, 35 (1). doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2008.09.008

ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)

Formula: Y(TiNb)O₆

References:

ⓘ Albite

Formula: Na(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'

Formula: AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂

References:

Lalande, P. G. (1977). Final report on preliminary geological and geophysical investigation of the Ghurayyah radioactive granite, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources Open-File Report DGMR-605.

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Arfvedsonite

Formula: [Na][Na₂][Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Cassiterite

Formula: SnO₂

References:

Staatz H.M. and Brownfield I.K. 1986, Tarce- and minor-element mineralogy of the microgranite at ghurayyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. US-Geological Survey Open-File report 86.105

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

ⓘ 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'

References:

ⓘ Fluorite

Formula: CaF₂

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Galena

Formula: PbS

References:

ⓘ 'Mica Group'

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Microcline

Formula: K(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

ⓘ 'Monazite Group'

Formula: REE(PO₄)

References:

ⓘ 'Pyrochlore Group'

Formula: A₂Nb₂(O,OH)₆Z

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO₂

References:

ⓘ Rutile var. Ilmenorutile

Formula: (Ti,Nb)O₂

References:

ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)

Formula: YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Senaite

Formula: Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈

References:

Staatz H.M. and Brownfield I.K. 1986, Tarce- and minor-element mineralogy of the microgranite at ghurayyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. US-Geological Survey Open-File report 86.105

ⓘ Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

References:

ⓘ 'Tantalite'

Formula: (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

ⓘ Thorite

Formula: Th(SiO₄)

References:

ⓘ Uraninite

Formula: UO₂

References:

ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)

Formula: Y(PO₄)

References:

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO₄)

References:

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Sphalerite	2.CB.05a	ZnS
ⓘ	Galena	2.CD.10	PbS
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘ	Fluorite	3.AB.25	CaF₂
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	'Pyrochlore Group'	4.00.	A₂Nb₂(O,OH)₆Z
ⓘ	Senaite	4.CC.40	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Cassiterite	4.DB.05	SnO₂
ⓘ	Rutile var. Ilmenorutile	4.DB.05	(Ti,Nb)O₂
ⓘ		4.DB.05	TiO₂
ⓘ	Samarskite-(Y)	4.DB.25	YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈
ⓘ	Aeschynite-(Y)	4.DF.05	Y(TiNb)O₆
ⓘ	Uraninite	4.DL.05	UO₂
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Xenotime-(Y)	8.AD.35	Y(PO₄)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Thorite	9.AD.30	Th(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Zircon	9.AD.30	Zr(SiO₄)
ⓘ	Aegirine	9.DA.25	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Arfvedsonite	9.DE.25	[Na][Na₂][Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
ⓘ	Microcline	9.FA.30	K(AlSi₃O₈)
ⓘ	Albite	9.FA.35	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Amphibole Supergroup'	-	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Monazite Group'	-	REE(PO₄)
ⓘ	'Tantalite'	-	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
ⓘ	'Mica Group'	-
ⓘ	'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'	-
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
H	ⓘ Arfvedsonite	[Na][Na₂][Fe₄²⁺Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Pyrochlore Group	A₂Nb₂(O,OH)₆Z
H	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)	Y(TiNb)O₆
O	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
O	ⓘ Arfvedsonite	[Na][Na₂][Fe₄²⁺Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Cassiterite	SnO₂
O	ⓘ Rutile var. Ilmenorutile	(Ti,Nb)O₂
O	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
O	ⓘ Pyrochlore Group	A₂Nb₂(O,OH)₆Z
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
O	ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)	YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈
O	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
O	ⓘ Tantalite	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
O	ⓘ Thorite	Th(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂
O	ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)	Y(PO₄)
O	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
O	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
F	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
Na	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Na	ⓘ Arfvedsonite	[Na][Na₂][Fe₄²⁺Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Al	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Si	ⓘ Arfvedsonite	[Na][Na₂][Fe₄²⁺Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Thorite	Th(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Monazite Group	REE(PO₄)
P	ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)	Y(PO₄)
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Galena	PbS
S	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)	Y(TiNb)O₆
Ti	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Ti	ⓘ Rutile var. Ilmenorutile	(Ti,Nb)O₂
Ti	ⓘ Rutile	TiO₂
Ti	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
V	Vanadium
V	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Cr	Chromium
Cr	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Mn	ⓘ Tantalite	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
Mn	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Arfvedsonite	[Na][Na₂][Fe₄²⁺Fe³⁺]Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Fe	ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)	YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈
Fe	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Fe	ⓘ Tantalite	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Zn	Zinc
Zn	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Zn	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
Y	Yttrium
Y	ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)	Y(TiNb)O₆
Y	ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)	YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈
Y	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Y	ⓘ Xenotime-(Y)	Y(PO₄)
Zr	Zirconium
Zr	ⓘ Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)
Nb	Niobium
Nb	ⓘ Aeschynite-(Y)	Y(TiNb)O₆
Nb	ⓘ Rutile var. Ilmenorutile	(Ti,Nb)O₂
Nb	ⓘ Pyrochlore Group	A₂Nb₂(O,OH)₆Z
Nb	ⓘ Samarskite-(Y)	YFe³⁺Nb₂O₈
Nb	ⓘ Tantalite	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
Nb	ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series
Sn	Tin
Sn	ⓘ Cassiterite	SnO₂
Ta	Tantalum
Ta	ⓘ Tantalite	(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)₂O₆
Pb	Lead
Pb	ⓘ Galena	PbS
Pb	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Th	Thorium
Th	ⓘ Thorite	Th(SiO₄)
U	Uranium
U	ⓘ Senaite	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
U	ⓘ Uraninite	UO₂

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

African Plate

Red SeaNarrow Rift
Red Sea basinBasin

Arabian PeninsulaPeninsula

Arabian PlateTectonic Plate

AsiaContinent

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References

Harris, N. B. W., & Marriner, G. F. (1980). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of a peralkaline granite complex from the Midian Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Lithos, 13(4), 325-337.

Jackson, N. J., Drysdall, A. R., & Stoeser, D. B. (1985). Alkali granite-related Nb-Zr-REE-U-Th mineralization in the Arabian shield. In High heat production (HHP) granites, hydrothermal circulation and ore genesis. Conference (pp. 479-487).

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Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Ghurayyah Ta deposit, Midyan, Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia i
Regional Level Types
Ghurayyah Ta deposit Deposit
Midyan - not defined -
Tabuk Region Region
Saudi Arabia Country