What is Al-Hajar Mine
Al-Hajar Mine is one of most important gold mines in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is locate in Bishah Governorate in Aseer Province about 710 kilometers southeast of Riyadh. The capital city. As you have seen in the title, today we are going to talk about Al-Hajar Mine, what makes it special and how gold mining works here. Understanding this helps us learn about Saudi Arabia mining industry and why it matters for the kingdom economy.
The mine operates as an open-pit operation. This means miners dig directly from the surface downward to reach the ore. The ore is then processed using the heap leaching method to extract gold. The mine opened in 2001 and has been producing gold for over two decades.
Location and Basic Information
Al-Hajar Mine sits 710 kilometers southeast of Riyadh. Finding the exact location helps us understand how important this mine is to Saudi Arabia’s mining sector. The mine is in Aseer region, one of the kingdom’s mountainous provinces. This remote location in Bishah Governorate makes the mining operation more challenging but also valuable.
The mine was opened in 2001 with impressive production capacity. Initially, it could process 750,000 t of ore annually. This shows Saudi Arabia commitment to developing its mineral resources and creating jobs in region.
How Al-Hajar Mine Works
Open-Pit Mining Method
Al-Hajar Mine is an open-pit mine. Instead of digging underground tunnels, miners work at surface. They remove layers of rock and soil to reach the gold-bearing ore. This method is safer and more efficient than underground mining. Workers and equipment operate in the open air under natural conditions.
Heap Leaching Process
The ore at Al-Hajar Mine is processed using the heap leaching method. Here is how it works in simple terms. The crushed ore is stacked into large piles. A special solution is sprayed on top of these ore piles. The solution seeps down through the ore and collects the gold. The gold-rich liquid is then collected at the bottom and processed further to extract pure gold.
This method is cost-effective and environmentally better than many other gold extraction techniques. It allows the mine to process large amounts of ore efficiently.
Two Parts of the Mine
Al-Hajar Mine has two distinct sections with different ore qualities.
Northern Part
The northern section contains approximately 2.27 million t of ore. The gold concentration here is about 2.5 grams per t. The silver concentration is between 45 to 49 grams per t. This part has higher quality ore compared to the southern section.
Southern Part
The southern section is larger with approximately 5.37 million t of ore. The gold concentration here is around 1.45 grams per t. The silver concentration is about 28 grams per t. Although the southern part has more ore, each t contains less gold than the northern part.
Mining Operations and Changes
When the mine started in 2001, operations focused on main ore deposits. However, by 2006 the situation changed. Mining operations shifted to processing refractory ore. This is ore that is harder to process and requires special techniques. The refractory ore is located about sixteen kilometers away from the main Al-Hajar Mine site.
This refractory ore had estimated production capacity of about three hundred thousand t. The gold concentration in this ore was 1.7 grams per t. Mining continued at this secondary site until the end of August 2012, when operations were limited.
Gold Production and Sales
Let me walk you through the gold production numbers at Al-Hajar Mine.
2009 Production
In 2009, the mine sold 10,493 ounces of gold. This showed strong production during that year.
2010 Production
In 2010, gold sales decreased slightly to 9,192 ounces. This was a reduction compared to 2009, showing some challenges in production that year.
2011 Production
By 2011 sales dropped further to 5,901 ounces of gold. This significant decrease showed declining production capacity and mining challenges.
The declining production numbers from 2009 to 2011 indicate that the mine faced operational difficulties. These challenges may have been due to resource depletion, processing difficulties or operational changes.
Why Al-Hajar Mine Matters for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is diversifying its economy beyond oil. Mining is becoming increasingly important. Al-Hajar Mine represents the kingdom’s commitment to developing its mineral resources. Gold mining creates jobs for local communities in the Aseer region. It also contributes to the national economy.
The heap leaching method used at Al-Hajar demonstrates modern mining technology in Saudi Arabia. It shows how the kingdom is adopting efficient and environmentally conscious mining practices.
Key Takeaways
Al-Hajar Mine is a significant gold mining operation in Saudi Arabia located in Bishah Governorate. The mine uses open-pit mining and heap leaching methods for gold extraction. It has two parts with different ore qualities and concentrations. Production numbers showed decline from 2009 to 2011. The mine represents Saudi Arabia’s efforts to develop its mineral sector and diversify its economy.
Understanding Al-Hajar Mine helps us see how Saudi Arabia is moving forward with mining operations and creating new opportunities beyond traditional industries.
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