AuKing Mining, in collaboration with Saudi-based Barg Alsaman Mining, has successfully acquired the Shaib Marqan project through Saudi Arabia’s sixth licensing round. This initiative was overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
The Shaib Marqan site, situated 100 kilometers from the Al Amar mine, spans 91.8 square kilometers. It features at least 22 historical workings on quartz veins, some extending up to 300 meters in length and 10 meters in width. The site is relatively unexplored, offering potential for new discoveries.
Analysis of 50 samples from veins and surrounding rock has shown an average gold content of 5.8 grams per tonne, peaking at 40 grams per tonne.
High Demand and Strategic Location
Paul Williams, AuKing’s managing director, expressed satisfaction with the project acquisition, noting the intense global competition for this bid. He emphasized the project’s location in the mineral-rich Arabian-Nubian Shield, close to established deposits.
Williams stated, “Our systematic exploration could quickly uncover a major mineral deposit in the Shaib Marqan area.”
Diverse Mineral Systems
Shaib Marqan is part of the Ar Rayn terrane, a region known for its diverse mineral systems including copper, zinc, and various gold deposits. The area has seen intermittent exploration since 1956, focusing on quartz veins with pyrite.
The terrane also includes significant deposits such as the Al Amar gold-silver-copper-zinc site, the Khnaiguiyah zinc-copper-iron-manganese deposit, and the Jabal Idsas magnetite prospect. Williams highlighted that further exploration could yield new precious and base metal targets.
