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Hibashi Cave, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabiai
Regional Level Types
Hibashi CaveCave
Mecca RegionRegion
Saudi ArabiaCountry

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03756490017272264204889.jpg
Opal

Hibashi Cave, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia
03756490017272264204889.jpg
Opal

Hibashi Cave, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia
03756490017272264204889.jpg
Opal

Hibashi Cave, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
21° 10' North , 42° 10' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
21.16667,42.16667
GRN:
N15E28
Type:
Cave
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Mindat Locality ID:
195731
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:195731:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Lava tube cave
One of the largest is Ghar Al Hibashi, located in the Harrat Buqum-Nawasif lava field. It mainly consists of a huge rectilinear gallery (over 400 m long and 15 m wide) the access to which is through a small vertical pit reaching a side corridor. The cave was long used as a shelter for bats, hyenas, wolves and foxes. Therefore the entire cave floor, consisting of locally thick uncemented sand, is scattered with a great amount of bones and coprolites, while some rather large guano deposits are also found. Some of these guano deposits caught fire, which partially burnt the bones overlaying them as well. The only true speleothems consist of a few small yellow translucent stalactites.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


18 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ 'Apatite var. Carbonate-rich Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Aphthitalite
Formula: K3Na(SO4)2
ⓘ Arcanite
Formula: K2SO4
ⓘ Archerite
Formula: (K,NH4)(H2PO4)
ⓘ 'Arnhemite'
Formula: (K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
ⓘ Biphosphammite
Formula: NH4(H2PO4)
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chlorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3Cl
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Halite
Formula: NaCl
ⓘ Hydroxylapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH)
ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Niter
Formula: KNO3
ⓘ 'Olivine Group'
Formula: M2SiO4
ⓘ Opal
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Opal var. Opal-C
Formula: SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘ Palygorskite
Formula: ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ 'Pyrocoproite'
Formula: (K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
ⓘ 'Pyrophosphite'
Formula: K2Ca(P2O7)
ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Urea
Formula: CO(NH2)2
ⓘ Whitlockite
Formula: Ca9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘHalite3.AA.20NaCl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘOpal4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
ⓘvar. Opal-C4.DA.10SiO2 · nH2O
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘNiter5.NA.10KNO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAphthitalite7.AC.35K3Na(SO4)2
ⓘArcanite7.AD.05K2SO4
ⓘAnhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘWhitlockite8.AC.45Ca9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
ⓘArcherite8.AD.15(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
ⓘBiphosphammite8.AD.15NH4(H2PO4)
ⓘHydroxylapatite
var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite		8.BN.05Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
ⓘChlorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3Cl
ⓘHydroxylapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3(OH)
ⓘ'Pyrocoproite'8.FA.20(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
ⓘ'Pyrophosphite'8.FA.20K2Ca(P2O7)
ⓘ'Arnhemite'8.FC.20(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘPalygorskite9.EE.20◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Group 10 - Organic Compounds
ⓘUrea10.CA.35CO(NH2)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Pyroxene Group'-ADSi2O6
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ'Olivine Group'-M2SiO4
ⓘ'Apatite
var. Carbonate-rich Apatite'		-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Archerite(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
Hⓘ BiphosphammiteNH4(H2PO4)
Hⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
Hⓘ HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4)3(OH)
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Hⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Hⓘ UreaCO(NH2)2
Hⓘ WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
Hⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Hⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Hⓘ Opal var. Opal-CSiO2 · nH2O
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GraphiteC
Cⓘ UreaCO(NH2)2
NNitrogen
Nⓘ Archerite(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
Nⓘ BiphosphammiteNH4(H2PO4)
Nⓘ NiterKNO3
Nⓘ UreaCO(NH2)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oⓘ AphthitaliteK3Na(SO4)2
Oⓘ ArcaniteK2SO4
Oⓘ Archerite(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
Oⓘ BiphosphammiteNH4(H2PO4)
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
Oⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4)3(OH)
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ NiterKNO3
Oⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Oⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ UreaCO(NH2)2
Oⓘ WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
Oⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Oⓘ Pyrocoproite(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
Oⓘ PyrophosphiteK2Ca(P2O7)
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
Oⓘ Olivine GroupM2SiO4
Oⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Oⓘ Opal var. Opal-CSiO2 · nH2O
FFluorine
Fⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AphthitaliteK3Na(SO4)2
Naⓘ HaliteNaCl
Naⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Naⓘ Pyrocoproite(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
Mgⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Mgⓘ Pyrocoproite(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ OpalSiO2 · nH2O
Siⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Siⓘ Olivine GroupM2SiO4
Siⓘ Opal var. Opal-CSiO2 · nH2O
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Archerite(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
Pⓘ BiphosphammiteNH4(H2PO4)
Pⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
Pⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Pⓘ HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4)3(OH)
Pⓘ WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
Pⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Pⓘ Pyrocoproite(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
Pⓘ PyrophosphiteK2Ca(P2O7)
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
Pⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sⓘ AphthitaliteK3Na(SO4)2
Sⓘ ArcaniteK2SO4
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Clⓘ HaliteNaCl
Clⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ AphthitaliteK3Na(SO4)2
Kⓘ ArcaniteK2SO4
Kⓘ Archerite(K,NH4)(H2PO4)
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ NiterKNO3
Kⓘ Arnhemite(K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O
Kⓘ Pyrocoproite(K,Na)2Mg(P2O7)
Kⓘ PyrophosphiteK2Ca(P2O7)
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)
Caⓘ ChlorapatiteCa5(PO4)3Cl
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ HydroxylapatiteCa5(PO4)3(OH)
Caⓘ WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)
Caⓘ PyrophosphiteK2Ca(P2O7)
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
Caⓘ Apatite var. Carbonate-rich ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Arabian PeninsulaPeninsula
Arabian PlateTectonic Plate
AsiaContinent

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Paolo Forti - Genetic processes of cave minerals in volcanic environments: An overview. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 67, no. 1, p. 3-13.
[1]Forti, P., Galli, E., Rossi, A., Pint, J., & Pint, S. (2004). Ghar Al Hibashi lava tube: the richest site in Saudi Arabia for cave minerals. Acta carsologica, 33(2).
Pint, J.J., Al-Shanti, M.A., Al-Juaid, A.J., Al-Amoudi, S.A., and Forti, P, (2005) Ghar al Hibashi Harrat Nawasif/Al Buqum, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the collaboration of R. Akbar, P. Vincent, S. Kempe, P. Boston, F.H. Kattan, E. Galli, A. Rossi, and S. Pint: Saudi Geological Survey Open-File Report SGS-OF-2004-12, 68 p., 43 figs, 1 table, 2 apps., 1 plate.
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