Mineral potential of selected felsic plutons in the eastern and southeastern Arabian Shield, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sixteen well-defined geochemical anomalies associated with felsic plutons and (or) muscovite-bearing plutons of Proterozoic age have been identified in the eastern and southeastern Arabian Shield. The majority of these plutons are highly evolved, granitophile-element-enriched muscovite-bearing granites that are weakly peraluminous.

A followup study of the mineral potential of these plutons included detailed geologic mapping, extensive geochemical sampling, ground traverses, and petrographic and petrologic studies. A total of 212 samples were collected for geochemical analysis, and a lesser number were collected for petrographic studies.

Most of the plutons studied are similar to metallogenically specialized granites described elsewhere in the world and found associated with deposits of tin, tungsten, or molybdenum and other rare metals. Only four of the plutons, the Sitarah, Tarban, and Gaharra monzogranites and the Bwana granite, contained highly anomalous amounts of tin, tungsten, or molybdenum and altered zones- and (or) numerous quartz veins and otherwise appeared to have noteworthy mineral potential. Additional work on at least these four plutons is suggested.