An interagency report prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey Saudi Arabian Mission for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The work on which this report was based was performed in accordance with a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

Report↗

USGS1983

Reconnaissance geology of the Jabal Saq Quadrangle, sheet 26/43 C, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Jabal Saq quadrangle is located in the northeastern part of the Arabian Shield at the northern end of the Najd region between lat 26?00' and 26?30' N. and long 43?00' and 43?30' E. The northeastern two-thirds of the quadrangle is underlain by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, the southwestern one-third by Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks. The oldest rocks in the quadrangle are weakly metamorphosed immature sandstones that may correlate with the Murdama group. They have been intruded by several large plutons ranging in composition from mafic granodiorite to syenogranite. A densely developed fracture cleavage cuts the metamorphic rocks; otherwise, no structural features were recorded. The quadrangle has low mineral potential; no ancient mines were identified. The Dharaymeeah syenogranite forms a large pluton and bears some petrologic resemblance to alkali granites identified elsewhere in the Arabian Shield that have documented potential for containing deposits of lithophile rare metals. Analyses of wadi sediment samples collected in the quadrangle suggest that the syenogranite may also be enriched in some of these elements. The anomalously radioactive Usba monzogranite resembles highly evolved peraluminous granite plutons that elsewhere in the world are associated with deposits of tin and tungsten.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1982

Maps and interpretation of geochemical anomalies in the John Muir Wilderness, Fresno, Inyo, Madera and Mono counties, California

A geochemical survey of the John Muir Wilderness was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1969 and 1978. The 755-mi 2 (1,956-km 2 ) wilderness is located in the central Sierra Nevada, Calif. (fig. 1). Stream-sediment samples were collected at 1,434 sites in the wilderness and immediately adjacent areas. Analytical data for these samples and a map of smapling sites are presented by du Bray and Dellinger (1980) and Diggles and others (1981). A geologic map of the area was compiled by du Bray (1981). These maps and tables present the results of the analysis of geochemical data for lead, zinc, gold, silver, arsenic, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, tungsten, tin, copper, and nickel. These are elements of economic interest which have historically been found in mineral deposits of the Sierra Nevada or other geologically similar areas.

California↗

USGS1982

Reconnaissance geochemical survey of the At Taif-Al Bahah region, southern Hijaz, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Pan concentrates were prepared from 265 wadi sediment samples collected during a geochemical reconnaissance conducted between At Taif and Al Bahah to further assess previously identified tungsten anomalies and to locate additional mineralized rock. The samples were analyzed by semiquantitative spectrographic methods for 30 elements, and tungsten was determined by colorimetry. All determinations in excess of two standard deviations greater than the population mean are considered anomalous, although any detectable amount of tin or tungsten (detection limits 10 and 50 parts per million, respectively) is defined as anomalous. An area south of At Taif containing significant tungsten was confirmed and found to be larger than initially determined. A possible porphyry copper pluton was discovered 50 km south-southeast of At Taif. Thirty kilometers south of At Taif, a low-grade tin anomaly associated with an S-type granite was identified. In addition, the sampling identified seven anomalous areas attributable to rock geochemically atypical of the study region. Finally, although samples from the A1 Lith-Hajrah area collected for an earlier study were found to contain anomalous concentrations of tungsten, samples collected there during this study do not support those findings.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1981