Mineralization in the Uyaijah-Thaaban area, west-central part of the Uyaijah ring structure, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Anomalous amounts of tungsten, molybdenum, and bismuth were found previously in surficial debris collected from the Uyaijah-Thaaban area in the west-central part of the Precambrian Al Uyaijah ring structure. The area is mostly underlain by quartz monzonite. Countless quartz veins ranging from a knife edge to more than 3 m in thickness cut the quartz monzonite; many of these veins contain molybdenite. Detailed mapping and intensive sampling of the molybdenite-bearing quartz veins indicate that their grade and quantity are probably inadequate to permit present-day mining; however, they represent a potential future resource. The tungsten of the area appears to be negligible.