Talc in Saudi Arabia

Talc in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the minerals discovered in the Kingdom. It is highly soft, with a smooth, soapy texture, and has a pearly luster, ranging in color from white to gray to light green. When in a massive form, talc is referred to as soapstone, while high-purity talc is known as steatite.

Its locations in the Kingdom are concentrated in: Wadi Kamal near Yanbu al-Bahr, Wadi Marikhat in Ummlujj, al-Amar area southwest of Riyadh, Jabal Farasan northeast of Jeddah, Jabal Malhijh in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, Wadi al-Ahad in Aseer Province, and the talc quarry in Bishah Governorate.

Talc is a secondary, non-metallic mineral with low hardness, derived from magnesium-rich minerals such as silicates, carbonates, and limestone. It is used in the production of paper, rubber, soap, pesticides, paints, plastics, ceramics, and traditional talcum powder.

Talc deposits in the Kingdom can be found in three sedimentary environments: ultramafic rocks, mafic rocks, and dolomitic rocks.

The talc discovered in the ultramafic rocks is often mixed with other minerals such as chlorite, actinolite, asbestos, and carbonates, which can weaken its quality. Economically viable talc is derived from dolomitic sedimentary rocks and is considered the purest and whitest type.

Wadi Kamal, located thirty km northwest of Yanbu al-Bahr, contains several discoveries of chloritic schist-bearing talc and talc associated with serpentinite bodies, with talc occurring in veins or uncoordinated bodies.

In Wadi Marikhat, about twenty km northeast of Ummlujj, there are small ancient quarries that were exploited for extracting soapstone made from talc.

Near ar-Rayn Governorate in Jabal Batran, veins of intersecting fibers containing talc have been discovered.

In al-Amar area, west of ar-Rayn Governorate, 225 km southwest of Riyadh, green talc bodies, pockets, and nodules of talc, as well as blocky talc associated with interbedded carbonates, have been discovered.

In Jabal Farasan, located 120 km northeast of Jeddah, talc is found in high concentrations in some areas, with samples showing abundant talc extraction mixed with small amounts of amphibole and chlorite.

Talc associated with mafic rocks is found in limited quantities in al-Buraykah, Jabal Umm Haifah, al-Sind, and Wadi al-Ahad in Abha City.