The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has revealed the proposed areas for investment in base metals and precious minerals, which include the regions of (Wadi Mubarak, Wadi Al-Tanak, Wadi Lebanon, and Wadi Omran) under the title "Investment Opportunities for 2025."
The ministry based its proposal on the results of a regional geochemical survey of basic igneous rocks in the southern part of the Kingdom, conducted by the Geochemical Survey Department (previously part of the Natural Resources Authority), in cooperation with the French Geological Survey (BRGM).
According to the investment opportunities reports published on the ministry’s website, the survey covered base and precious metals, including zinc, lead, niobium, tin, rare earth elements, phosphorus, selenium, beryllium, yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, and gold.
The proposed investment opportunities are part of the Economic Modernization Vision, which emphasizes the need for a national mining strategy, the establishment of an independent geological survey authority, and the provision of survey data in line with international standards.
In Wadi Mubarak, the project aims to open the area to private sector investments for exploration. It was identified in a previous regional geochemical survey as containing significant anomalies indicating the presence of zinc and lead, alongside high levels of niobium, tin, and rare earth elements.
The proposed area is located in the Aqaba Governorate, about 6 km southeast of the city of Aqaba, covering an area of about 36 km². The regional geochemical survey conducted by the Geochemical Survey Department, in cooperation with the French Geological Survey, identified several areas in the Aqaba and Wadi Araba regions containing elements at concentrations higher than the natural average, known as geochemical anomalies.
These elements include zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, indicating the presence of mineralized areas. The study recommended continuing exploration in the anomalous areas, including the proposed Wadi Mubarak area.
According to the survey results, zinc and lead concentrations reached 337 ppm and 75 ppm, respectively, in water sediment samples within granite units. Rare earth elements, niobium, tin, yttrium, cerium, and lanthanum were found in high concentrations, with values reaching 137 ppm, 399 ppm, and 150 ppm, respectively. High values of niobium were observed, reaching 105 ppm, in conjunction with rare earth elements. Tin concentrations of up to 54 ppm were detected in water sediment samples, with elevated levels of phosphorus, niobium, selenium, tin, and beryllium potentially indicating the presence of more evolved alkaline rocks.
In Wadi Al-Tanak, a previous regional geochemical survey indicated significant anomalies suggesting the presence of zinc and lead in the Aqaba Governorate, approximately 11 km east of the city, covering an area of about 150 km².
The survey covered zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, recommending further exploration in the anomalous areas. The geochemical survey indicated zinc levels reaching 546 ppm in river sediment samples, and lead levels reaching 67 ppm in the same samples.
A previous regional geochemical survey in Wadi Lebanon pointed to the presence of base metals, low-density elements, niobium, and high gold values. The survey recommended continuing exploration in anomalous areas, including the proposed Wadi Lebanon region.
The survey found that zinc, lead, and copper concentrations reached 1288 ppm, 424 ppm, and 238 ppm, respectively, in river sediment samples. High values of rare earth elements, niobium, yttrium, cerium, and lanthanum were observed in river sediment samples, reaching 224 ppm, 951 ppm, and 240 ppm, respectively. High niobium values of up to 262 ppm were found in conjunction with rare earth elements within the gold-bearing granite unit, where the highest gold values were detected in a detailed geochemical survey (50 × 100 meters) of rocks and soils conducted by the BRGM Observatory within the Janub Metamorphic Group in the south, with gold concentrations reaching 69 ppb and 31 ppb in rock and soil samples, respectively.
In Wadi Omran, the survey indicated significant anomalies suggesting the presence of zinc, lead, as well as high copper, tin, niobium, and rare earth elements in the Aqaba Governorate, about 7 km east of Aqaba city, covering an area of approximately 85.7 km².
According to the survey, the Aqaba and Wadi Araba regions contain elements at concentrations higher than the natural average, such as zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, with the survey recommending further exploration in the anomalous areas. Zinc concentrations reached up to 643 ppm, and lead levels reached up to 137 ppm in water sediment samples, with high copper levels detected ranging from 35 ppm to 53 ppm, particularly in the northeastern part of the region.
The survey stressed the importance of aligning regulations and legislative frameworks with international standards, reviewing the financial incentive system, attracting foreign direct investment in the sector, and establishing middle industries and manufacturing projects related to the sector.
The Economic Modernization Vision has called for the launch of a special financing program for the mining sector, attracting specialized mining skills, improving logistical infrastructure, enhancing cost competitiveness, upgrading mining technologies, and creating research, development, and innovation centers to capitalize on new fields such as nitrogen fertilizers, while improving environmental, social governance, and corporate governance within the sector.
Jordan enjoys a unique advantage in possessing mineral resources, including phosphate, potash, bromine, along with industrial rocks such as silica sand, strategic minerals like copper and gold, rare earth elements, and large quantities of oil shale.
The mining sector is expected to develop over the next decade due to the increasing demand for products from industrial and agricultural sectors, as well as more advanced sectors utilizing modern technology.
The mining sector contributes 2.2% to GDP, worth 700 million Jordanian Dinars, and it is expected to reach 2.1 billion Jordanian Dinars in the next decade. The sector employs over 9,000 workers, making up 0.6% of the total workforce in the Kingdom, and it is expected to reach over 27,000 workers. The sector's exports are valued at around 1 billion Jordanian Dinars, expected to reach 3.4 billion Dinars according to the Economic Modernization Vision, which extends over the next 10 years.
-- (Petra)
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The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has revealed the proposed areas for investment in base metals and precious minerals, which include the regions of (Wadi Mubarak, Wadi Al-Tanak, Wadi Lebanon, and Wadi Omran) under the title "Investment Opportunities for 2025."
The ministry based its proposal on the results of a regional geochemical survey of basic igneous rocks in the southern part of the Kingdom, conducted by the Geochemical Survey Department (previously part of the Natural Resources Authority), in cooperation with the French Geological Survey (BRGM).
According to the investment opportunities reports published on the ministry’s website, the survey covered base and precious metals, including zinc, lead, niobium, tin, rare earth elements, phosphorus, selenium, beryllium, yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, and gold.
The proposed investment opportunities are part of the Economic Modernization Vision, which emphasizes the need for a national mining strategy, the establishment of an independent geological survey authority, and the provision of survey data in line with international standards.
In Wadi Mubarak, the project aims to open the area to private sector investments for exploration. It was identified in a previous regional geochemical survey as containing significant anomalies indicating the presence of zinc and lead, alongside high levels of niobium, tin, and rare earth elements.
The proposed area is located in the Aqaba Governorate, about 6 km southeast of the city of Aqaba, covering an area of about 36 km². The regional geochemical survey conducted by the Geochemical Survey Department, in cooperation with the French Geological Survey, identified several areas in the Aqaba and Wadi Araba regions containing elements at concentrations higher than the natural average, known as geochemical anomalies.
These elements include zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, indicating the presence of mineralized areas. The study recommended continuing exploration in the anomalous areas, including the proposed Wadi Mubarak area.
According to the survey results, zinc and lead concentrations reached 337 ppm and 75 ppm, respectively, in water sediment samples within granite units. Rare earth elements, niobium, tin, yttrium, cerium, and lanthanum were found in high concentrations, with values reaching 137 ppm, 399 ppm, and 150 ppm, respectively. High values of niobium were observed, reaching 105 ppm, in conjunction with rare earth elements. Tin concentrations of up to 54 ppm were detected in water sediment samples, with elevated levels of phosphorus, niobium, selenium, tin, and beryllium potentially indicating the presence of more evolved alkaline rocks.
In Wadi Al-Tanak, a previous regional geochemical survey indicated significant anomalies suggesting the presence of zinc and lead in the Aqaba Governorate, approximately 11 km east of the city, covering an area of about 150 km².
The survey covered zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, recommending further exploration in the anomalous areas. The geochemical survey indicated zinc levels reaching 546 ppm in river sediment samples, and lead levels reaching 67 ppm in the same samples.
A previous regional geochemical survey in Wadi Lebanon pointed to the presence of base metals, low-density elements, niobium, and high gold values. The survey recommended continuing exploration in anomalous areas, including the proposed Wadi Lebanon region.
The survey found that zinc, lead, and copper concentrations reached 1288 ppm, 424 ppm, and 238 ppm, respectively, in river sediment samples. High values of rare earth elements, niobium, yttrium, cerium, and lanthanum were observed in river sediment samples, reaching 224 ppm, 951 ppm, and 240 ppm, respectively. High niobium values of up to 262 ppm were found in conjunction with rare earth elements within the gold-bearing granite unit, where the highest gold values were detected in a detailed geochemical survey (50 × 100 meters) of rocks and soils conducted by the BRGM Observatory within the Janub Metamorphic Group in the south, with gold concentrations reaching 69 ppb and 31 ppb in rock and soil samples, respectively.
In Wadi Omran, the survey indicated significant anomalies suggesting the presence of zinc, lead, as well as high copper, tin, niobium, and rare earth elements in the Aqaba Governorate, about 7 km east of Aqaba city, covering an area of approximately 85.7 km².
According to the survey, the Aqaba and Wadi Araba regions contain elements at concentrations higher than the natural average, such as zinc, lead, copper, and other elements, with the survey recommending further exploration in the anomalous areas. Zinc concentrations reached up to 643 ppm, and lead levels reached up to 137 ppm in water sediment samples, with high copper levels detected ranging from 35 ppm to 53 ppm, particularly in the northeastern part of the region.
The survey stressed the importance of aligning regulations and legislative frameworks with international standards, reviewing the financial incentive system, attracting foreign direct investment in the sector, and establishing middle industries and manufacturing projects related to the sector.
The Economic Modernization Vision has called for the launch of a special financing program for the mining sector, attracting specialized mining skills, improving logistical infrastructure, enhancing cost competitiveness, upgrading mining technologies, and creating research, development, and innovation centers to capitalize on new fields such as nitrogen fertilizers, while improving environmental, social governance, and corporate governance within the sector.
Jordan enjoys a unique advantage in possessing mineral resources, including phosphate, potash, bromine, along with industrial rocks such as silica sand, strategic minerals like copper and gold, rare earth elements, and large quantities of oil shale.
The mining sector is expected to develop over the next decade due to the increasing demand for products from industrial and agricultural sectors, as well as more advanced sectors utilizing modern technology.
The mining sector contributes 2.2% to GDP, worth 700 million Jordanian Dinars, and it is expected to reach 2.1 billion Jordanian Dinars in the next decade. The sector employs over 9,000 workers, making up 0.6% of the total workforce in the Kingdom, and it is expected to reach over 27,000 workers. The sector's exports are valued at around 1 billion Jordanian Dinars, expected to reach 3.4 billion Dinars according to the Economic Modernization Vision, which extends over the next 10 years.
-- (Petra)
