Where Is Zirconium Metal Found in Saudi Arabia?

Zirconium metal is derived from the mineral zircon, which is found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in non-economic quantities, typically associated with volcanic intrusions in the rocks of the Arabian Shield. The main locations where it can be found are al-Ghurayyah, Jabal Sayid, Umm al-Birk, and Jabal al-Hamra. However, no economically viable concentrations of zircon-containing heavy minerals or beach deposits have been discovered.

Zirconium is considered one of the rare metals, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has worked on establishing an integrated project for the production of this metal. The project's units are distributed between the Jazan Economic City and the Yanbu Industrial City to ensure industrial integration.