Feldspar in Saudi Arabia
Feldspar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a mineral found within the Arabian Shield regions of the Kingdom. One of the primary sources of feldspar in the Kingdom is granite rocks, which cover about 55 percent of the sixty thousand km² area of the Arabian Shield.
There are around twenty-one feldspar sites scattered across the Kingdom, some of which are of economic value, while others are not, due to the site's small area. Notable sites include Bir Nabat, al-Ruwaidah, Jabal Ridan, west of Haqban, Bir Ibn Sarrar, and Jabal Abla. Feldspar is used in ceramics, glass, and electrical insulator industries.
Geological distribution of feldspar in Saudi Arabia
Feldspar is composed of two main groups of minerals: the plagioclase feldspar group, which consists of aluminum silicates, calcium, and sodium, and the potassium feldspar group, which consists of aluminum silicates, potassium, and sodium.
Strategic importance of expanding mineral extraction in Saudi Arabia
There is a growing domestic demand for industrial minerals in the Kingdom, driven by the modern applications, diversity, and utility of these minerals, as well as the need to keep pace with the development of emerging industries and technologies. The Kingdom seeks to expand its mineral extraction strategy to explore and assess undiscovered mineral resources.
Sources
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden).
Atlas of Industrial Minerals in the Kingdom. Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, 2016.