Amman, March 27 (Petra) – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Thursday inspected the silica sands upgrading project in the Daba Hanout area, south of the Kingdom, underscoring its significance in reevaluating silica ore to meet global market demands for high-purity silica exceeding 99.9 percent.

Kharabsheh highlighted that the initiative aligns with the ministry's broader efforts to revitalize the mining sector, enhance its contribution to the gross domestic product, create job opportunities, and improve living standards in local communities.

The project's first phase involved mineralogical studies, microscopic imaging to assess mineral and clay impurities in silica grains, and grain size distribution analysis. These studies confirmed the necessity of proceeding to the second phase to refine purity parameters.

Launched in January, the second phase spans approximately 25 square kilometers, focusing on identifying high-purity silica deposits through exploratory drilling. Thus far, 12 wells have been drilled, and over 400 samples analyzed.

Director of Geology and Mining at the Ministry, Hisham Zayoud, stated that the ministry is evaluating offers from international laboratories including Germany's Anzaplan, North Carolina Laboratories, and China's Sinonine to complete the upgrading process.

Preliminary analysis by North Carolina Laboratories indicated promising results, with silica purity reaching 99.97 percent. These laboratories are expected to submit financial and technical proposals for further refining the samples to levels suitable for industrial use.

//Petra// AJ

27/03/2025 14:13:21