Overview
Mineral deposits in Saudi Arabia are widespread and of many types, ranging from gold to lightweight aggregate.
The bulk of metallic mineral resources are contained in Precambrian rocks of the Arabian shield, in the western part of the country.
Non-metallic resources are contained in both Precambrian rocks and Phanerozoic rocks that overlie the Arabian shield in the central and northern parts of the Kingdom.
The chief metallic mineral resources include:
• Gold
• Zinc
• Copper
• Tin-Tungsten
The chief non-metallic resources include:
• Phosphate
• High-grade silica sand
• Feldspar and nepheline syenite
• Kaolin
• Basalt and scoria
• Gypsum and anhydrite
• Limestone and dolomite
• Ornamental stone
• Quartz