The Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) is an exposure of Precambrian crystalline rocks on the flanks of the Red Sea. The crystalline rocks are mostly Neoproterozoic in age. This area is extremly rich with several word-class mines and deposits, especially in Saudia and the Sudanese coasts. The Arabian-Nubian Shield remains relatively underexplored and is one of the world’s last gold mining frontiers. Nonetheless the ANS hosts some of Africa’s most prominent gold and base metal mines and deposits like gold and other minerals.
The Arbian shield only has minerals worth 1,3 Trillion dollar. Saudia, the country who is most active in the ANS, conducted several surveys and has over 5300 mineral locations. Saudia also said that it will boost its mining revenue from 17 billions to 64 in few years. These surveys and mining location has made mining companies see Saudia as benchmark for what this region could have.
The most important minerals discovered in the region (mostly thanks to geological surveys in Saudi Arabia) are: phosphate, silver, zinc, sulfur, lead, uranium, cobalt and nickel, in addition to rare minerals such as chromite, tantalum and niobium.
Chromite and niobium in particular are very important to the military industry: Chromite is a key ingredient in the production of chromium superalloys, which form the basis of jet engines. Niobium is an important element for strengthening alloys at extremely low temperatures, which makes it highly sought after in the missile production
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The Arbian shield only has minerals worth 1,3 Trillion dollar. Saudia, the country who is most active in the ANS, conducted several surveys and has over 5300 mineral locations. Saudia also said that it will boost its mining revenue from 17 billions to 64 in few years. These surveys and mining location has made mining companies see Saudia as benchmark for what this region could have.
The most important minerals discovered in the region (mostly thanks to geological surveys in Saudi Arabia) are: phosphate, silver, zinc, sulfur, lead, uranium, cobalt and nickel, in addition to rare minerals such as chromite, tantalum and niobium.
Chromite and niobium in particular are very important to the military industry: Chromite is a key ingredient in the production of chromium superalloys, which form the basis of jet engines. Niobium is an important element for strengthening alloys at extremely low temperatures, which makes it highly sought after in the missile production
