This document provides an outline for a lecture on Egyptian ore deposits. It begins with an introduction discussing ancient Egyptian mining and then provides an overview of the types of mineral deposits that are known to occur in Egypt, including gold, copper, tin, zinc, lead, and various other metallic and non-metallic ores. It then discusses different classifications that have been proposed for Egyptian ore deposits, grouping them based on factors like the time of deposition, metallogenic aspects, and tectonic-magmatic stages. The document concludes by presenting a proposed classification scheme that categorizes Egyptian ore deposits into groups based on their associated rock assemblages and modes of formation.

1. Egyptian Ore Deposits
GE4107
Prof. Dr. Hassan Z. Harraz
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University
hharraz2006@yahoo.com
2016- 2017
Prof. Dr. H.Z. Harraz Presentation 1

2. Outline of Lecture
 Humanity’s ever-increasing hunger for mineral raw materials,
caused by a growing global population and ever increasing
standards of living, has resulted in economic geology becoming
a subject of urgent importance.
 These lectures provide a broad panorama of mineral deposits,
covering their origin and geological characteristics, the
principles of the search for ores and minerals, and the
investigation of newly found deposits. Practical and
environmental issues that arise during the life cycle of a mine
and after its closure are addressed, with an emphasis on
sustainable and "green" mining.
 The central scientific theme of the lectures is to place the
extraordinary variability of mineral deposits in the frame of
fundamental geological processes.
 The lectures are written for earth science students and
practicing geologists worldwide. Professionals in administration,
resource development, mining, mine reclamation, metallurgy,
and mineral economics will also find the lectures valuable.
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3. Acknowledgments:
I acknowledge gratefully the extent to which I have leant on the work
contained in several good text books:
Geology of Egypt: The minerals of economic values
associated with the intrusive Precambrian igneous rocks,
by Hume WF, 1937. Geologic Survey Egypt 2:689-990.
Mineral deposits, by Hussein, A.A.A., 1990. In: Said, R. (Ed.), The
geology of Egypt. 1990. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam/Brookfield,
pp. 511-566.
Gold in Egypt, by Gabbra, S.Z., 1986. “A commodity package:
minerals, petroleum and groundwater Assessment program”
USAID project 363-0105, Geological Survey, Cairo, Egypt, 86p.
Geology, evolution and metallogenesis of the Pan-African
Belt in Egypt , by El-Gaby, S., List, F.K., Tehrani, R., 1988. In:
El-Gaby, S., Greiling, R.O. (Eds.), The Pan-African Belt of
northeast Africa and adjacent areas. Friedrich Vieweg und
Sohn, Braunschweig/ Wiesbaden, pp. 17–68.
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4. Outline of lectures:
Topic 1: Mineral resource and classification of Mineral deposits in Egypt.
Topic 2: Cr- and Cu-NiCo ore deposits in Egypt
Topic 3: Asbestos-Vermiculite-Corundum-Talc-Magnesite-deposits in Egypt
Topic 4:Ti-ore deposits in Egypt.
Topic 5: Mineralization Related to Granites in Egypt
Topic 6: Gold ore deposits in Egypt
Topic 7: Pb-Zn-ore deposits in Egypt.
Topic 8 : Manganese ore deposits in Egypt
Topic 9 : Iron ore deposits in Egypt
Topic 10 : Phosphate deposits in Egypt.
Topic 11 : U-ore deposits in Egypt.
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5. Course objectives:
 The objectives of this course in Earth Resources are:
(i) acquainting students (majors and non-majors) with the
basic tools necessary for studying Egyptian ore deposits,
(ii) understanding the different types of Ore Resources in
Egypt,
(iii) understanding the processes of formation of various
economic ore deposits in Egypr,
(iv) understanding the relationship between the distribution
of ores, and coal, and Plate Tectonics, and
(vi) gaining some knowledge of the environmental problems
associated with the extraction and utilization of Egyptian
Ore Resources.
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6. Textbooks: Most reading assignments will be from: "Ore Geology and Industrial
Minerals: Economic Geology: Principles and Practice" by Walter L. Pohl. Additional
readings will be assigned from a number of other textbooks, which are either available in
the library. Some lecture notes will be handed out throughout the semester. The
students are advised not to rely entirely on the lecture notes which will only contain a
brief outline of the subject matter, and are thus encouraged to take notes during
lectures and do all the assigned reading.
Field trips: This class has one field trip to a nearby area of some economic significance/
potential.
Labs: Possible, depending on the emphasis/ curriculum/ departmental policy/ sample
availability. Lab exercises would focus on textures of ore deposits, identifying ores,
assessing reserves, identification of ore minerals using reflected light microscopy.
Other Useful Textbooks
Pohl, W. L., 2011. Economic Geology: Principles and Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, 680 p
Evans, A. M., 1997: An introduction to Economic Geology and its environmental impact.
Blackwell Scietific publications, 376pp
Beydoun, Z. R., 1991. Arabian Plate Hydrocarbon Geology and Potential. AAPG, 77 pp.
Guilbert, J. M. and Park, C. F., 1986. The Geology of Ore Deposits. W. H. Freeman & Co,
984 pp.
Hunt, J. M., 1996. Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology. W. H. Freeman & Co, 743 pp.
Levorsen, A.I., 1967. Geology of Petroleum. W. H. Freeman & Co. 724 pp.
Selley, Richard C., 1998. Elements of Petroleum Geology. Academic Press. 470 pp.
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7. Introduction
 An Introduction to Egyptian Ore Deposits is to
geologists.
 This course provides a non-technical introduction to
the basic concepts of:
 Earth Resources in Egypt
 Metallic ore deposits
 Non-metallic Mineral Deposits
 With numerous examples, figures and images of deposits
and mining.
 Also included are some key aspects of the economics of a
mining and mineral processing operation in Egypt.
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8. Follow me on Social Media
http://facebook.com/hzharraz
http://www.slideshare.net/hzharraz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassan-harraz-3172b235
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9. • Keywords:
Egypt Mineral Resources;
Egyptian Mining;
Egyptian Metallic Ores;
Egyptian Mineral Industry
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10. LECTURE 1:
Hassan Z. Harraz
hharraz2006@yahoo.com
2016- 2017
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11. Outline of Lecture 1:
 Introduction.
 Mineral deposits known to occur in Egypt?
 Systematic classified of the mineral deposits of
Egypt .
We will explore all of the above in Lecture 1.
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12. Introduction
Gold, copper, and gemstones were known and
exploited by the ancient Egyptian since pre-
Dynastic time.
The Egyptians were certainly able to smelt gold
and copper and to produce bronze ~2500 B.C.
The amazing colours in the tombs of Thebes were
produced by artists using the green of malachite,
the blue of the turquoise and the purple of the
amethyst.
With increasing demand for gold, copper, and gemstones,
Economic geology has its beginning in the recording of the mode of
occurrences of these deposits, the formation of crude theories of origin, and
the organization of expeditions for the discovery and exploitation of ores.
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13. Introduction Egyptian Civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, which practiced
mining and processing of metallic and non-metallic ores. The ancient Egyptians quarried the
dimensional stones in a very orderly manner to obtain geometrically shaped blocks with exact
dimensions to build tombs, temples and pyramids. They also cut-from extremely hard rocks
such as granite, gabbros, and granodiorites-obelisks and blocks for hewing statues and for
recording their history on them. They also traced the natural minerals, collected them, and
treated them to compose the ever-beautiful painting colors, which stayed bright and persisted
weather changes for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians had an excellent sense and
knowledge about geology, survey, rock mechanics and metallurgical processing. They worked
their way out in open pits, open cast, and underground mining. Almost all gold and copper
locations known at present were originally discovered and worked out by the Ancient
Egyptians. The technology limitations in mining, and processing, at that time, limited the
mining depth, and the overall efficiency of upgrading the ores. The first known underground
map (1300 BC), for El-Fawakhir gold mine, is preserved in Turin museum in Italy.
 There are evidences that the Ancient Egyptians mined and extracted gold, silver, copper, and
zinc. They used these metals in their pure state and/or as alloys to suit certain purposes. They
designed and produced several hard alloys such as bronze (90% Copper and 10 % zinc). They
also traced all sorts of gem stones in Sinai, Eastern Desert, and Western Desert. They quarried
limestone, granite, marble, breccias, diorites, and granodiorite stones.
 Mining in Egypt today, follows almost the same methodology as the Ancient Egyptians used to
use thousands of years ago. The main differences are in the introduction of the modern
technologies which are available today and were not available then. The underground mines
today are much deeper, drainage of the underground water is readily drained by means of
pumps which were not available at that time, the underground atmosphere is conditioned by
the up to date conditioning techniques (ventilation and refrigeration), the underground
openings are electrically lightened, and the raw materials are mechanically transported [1].
However, the scale of mining in Egypt at present is still small. The largest mining operation,
which is the iron ore mining, does not exceed 3 million ton/year [2].
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14. The Topography of Egypt .
14

15. The Topography of Egypt .
15

16. 16

17. EGYPT
BEDROCK
Western Desert
Sinai

18. Fig. 1. Overview of the Eastern Desert, Egypt, modified from Moussa et al. (2008). Inset shows the outline of the Neoproterozoic Arabian–Nubian Shield (Stern et al., 2006) with
sketch representation of the Saharan Metacraton and the Najd Fault System.
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19. Fig.2: Geologic map of Sinai Peninsula
(after Ginzburget al.,1979; Neev,1975)Fig.2: Simplified geological map of the Sinai
peninsula and vicinity at the northern
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20. Mineral deposits known to occur in Egypt
 Mineral deposits known to occur in Egypt include:
 (90) gold, (2) copper, (3) tin, (4) zinc, (5) lead, (6) tungsten, (7)
molybdenum, (8) titanium, (9) iron, (10) chrome, (11) nickel, (12)
manganese, (13) beryllium, (14) barite, (15) talc, (16) graphite, (17)
asbestos, (11) niobium-tantalum, (18) phosphate, (19) marble, (20)
alabaster, (21) magnesite, (22) sulphur, (23) coal, and (24) Gemstones.
Almost all of these have been exploited at one time or another
But, at present,
Only gold, niobium-tantalum, copper, zinc, iron,
manganese, phosphate, talc, chrome, coal, and some ornamental
and building stones are exploited commercially.
 Several metallic ores were recorded in Egypt.
 In the present time, only iron and gold are under mining while manganese, Pb-
Zn, and chromite are mined in small scale.
 The rest of metallic ores mainly, gold, ilmenite, Pb-Zn, Cu, Nb-Ta deposits are still
under exploration and re-estimation of ore reserves.
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21. 21

22. Economic Metallic Ores in Egypt
Many attempts were done to classify these
ores either on the bases of time of deposition
or in the frame of metallogenetic aspects.
The first linking between plate tectonic
modeling for Arabian-Nubian shield and
mineralization was given by Garson and
Shalaby (1976).
The latest classification was proposed by
Botros and Noor (2008) where they classified
the Egyptian ore deposits on the bases of
tectonic-magmatic stages.
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23.  The systematic study of the mineral deposits of Egypt began
in the last 18th century with the pioneering work of
Hume,1937.
 made a comprehensive list of mineral occurrences in
association with Precambrian rocks with notes on
stratigraphy, mode of occurrences and genesis of some
deposits.
 grouped the mineral deposits into:
 Occurrence of gold,
 Occurrences of silver, copper, zinc, and lead,
 Occurrences of molybdenum, tungsten, and tin,
 Occurrences of iron, chromium, and nickel,
 Occurrences of graphite,
 Occurrences of precious and semiprecious minerals,
 Occurrences of ornamental stones.
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24.  classified the mineral deposits of the Eastern Desert in
seven groups:
 six of which are of Precambrian age, while the seventh
includes those of Miocene and younger ages.
 The seven groups, in descending order of age area:
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25. Mineralization Characters
7) Lead-zinc
At the base of the Miocene deposits in the Red
Sea cost
6) Tin-Tungsten Associated with post-Gattarian quartz veins
5) Gold
Hypogene, epigenetic auriferous quartz veins
with associated some post-Gattarian dykes
4) Ilmenite Associated with some gabbroic intrusions
3) Steatite
Associated with epidiorites and other
intrusions of basic to intermediate composition
2)
Chromite-
magnesite-
asbestos
In association with serpentine and talc-
carbonate rocks
1)
Marble-graphite-
magnetite
Associated with schists, amphibolites and
mudstone
Pr
ec
a
m
br
ia
n
Miocene and younger
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26. Classified the mineral deposits of Egypt on the
basis of :-
 time relations and
 their supposed mode of formation.
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27. Pleistocene-
Recent
Beach and elluvial placers (including black sands)
 Evaporites
Miocene
 Red Sea coast Zn-Pb and related ochre deposits
 Sulphur deposits
 Evaporites
 Manganese-iron deposits (in Sinai and the Eastern Desert)
Cretaceous
Kaolin
Aswan iron ores
 Phosphate deposits
Late
Precambrian
Hydrothermal replacement deposit (steatite and talc, zinc and
copper, copper)
 True hydrothermal fissure vein deposits (tin-tungsten,
molybdenum, gold, barite)
Early
Precambrian
Deposits formed by magmatic segregation (ilmenite)
Deposits related to old pegmatites (asbestos, vermiculite, beryl)
Deposits formed from ultrabasic intrusions (Chromite, peridotite,
nickel, magnesite, and talc)
Metamorphosed sedimentary deposits (bedded iron ores and
graphite)
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28. Notes:-
In the years following, many refinements took
place regarding mineral deposits in Egypt and
new types of deposit were discovered as a result
of the intensive exploration.
 The mineral deposits in Egypt should be classified to
facilitate their correlation with worldwide deposits.
 Such a classification
 would take advantage of the discovery of new
types of deposits in the country, and the
development of the plate tectonic concept in
crustal evolution with its reflections on ore
genesis and distribution of mineral deposits.
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29. Proposed a classification following:-
i) classified the mineral deposits in Egypt to facilitate their
correlation with worldwide deposits.
ii) the widely accepted notion (Stanton, 1972) that
mineral deposits are integral parts of the petrological
associations with which they occur, and that they may
have formed in all the ways that ordinary rocks have
formed.
iii) mineral deposits are grouped and a list of deposits
pertaining to each group is given along with a review of
the geology and economic potentials of the more
important ores.,
iv) the mode of formation and geotectonic environment of
each group has developed, in harmony with the crustal
evolution models.
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30. I)
Mineral
deposits
associated with
mafic-
ultramafic
assemblages
1) In ophiolite
sequence
a) Chromite deposits
b) Cu-Ni-Co sulphide deposits
c) Asbestos, vermiculite, corundum,
talc, and magnesite deposits
2) In layered
mafic-ultramafic
intrusions
a) Cu-Ni sulphide deposits
b) Ti-Fe oxide deposits
c) Ni-bearing veins and peridotite
II)
Mineral
deposits in
felsic
association
1) Copper
porphyry type
mineralization
2) Mineralization
related to granites
a) Disseminated and vein molybdenum
mineralization
b) Disseminated and vein tin
mineralization
c) Vein tungsten mineralization
d) Disseminated and vein Nb-Ta
mineralization
e) Beryllium mineralization
f) Fluorite mineralization
g) Uranium mineralization
III) Stratiform volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits and related talc
30

31. IV)
Precious and base
metal vein type
deposits
1) Dominantly gold (±silver)
veins
2) Dominantly base metals
3) Barite veins
V)
Stratabound
deposits in
sedimentary
sequences
1) Zinc-lead deposits
2) Stratiform copper
3 Sulphur deposits
4) Barite in sedimentary rocks
VI)
Ores of
sedimentary nature
1) Iron ore deposits
2) Manganese ore deposits
3) True sedimentary ores
a) Phosphate deposits
b) Coal deposits
c) Carbonates
d) Clastic and placer deposits
e) Evaporites
f) Weathering products
g) Sedimentary uranium
deposits
VII)
Mineral deposits in
metamorphic
association
Metamorphosed mineral
deposits
a) Banded iron ore deposits
b) Marble deposits
VIII) Miscellaneous
31

32. The latest classification was proposed by Botros and Noor (2008) where they
classified the Egyptian ore deposits on the bases of tectonic-magmatic stages as
follows:
I) Island Arc Stage:
A) Deposits formed in ophiolitic assemblage including Cu-Ni-Co
sulphides (e.g. Abu Swayel copper) and Podiform chromite deposits.
B) Deposits formed in primitive island arc including Banded Iron
Formations (BIF) and its gold related deposits.
C) Deposits formed in mature island arc including volcanic hosted base
metal massive sulphides (e.g. gold related deposits such as Um Samuki)
II) Accretional Stage (Orogenic Stage):
A) Auriferous vein type.
B) Base metal vein type.
C) Titaniferous iron ore (e.g., Abu Ghalqa ore deposit)
III) Late Orogenic-Extensional Stage:
A) Cu-Ni sulphides (Gabbro Akarem)
B) Titaniferous iron ore (Kurabkanci)
C) Association with granitic rocks:
Beryllium (e.g., Um Kabu)
Tin-deposit (e.g. Abu Dabbab)
Tungsten (e.g., Igla)
Fluorite (e.g., Homr Akarm)
Auriferous vein deposit (e.g., El Sid)
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33. Mineral Commodities
• The mineral commodities can be classified as metallic
and non-metallic deposits.
• The most important of these deposits are:
1)Metallic ores such as: iron ores, gold ores, industrial
metal oxides (Sn, Ta, Nb, W, and Mo), titanium and
titaniferous-iron ores, manganese ores, sulphide
mineralization (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Co), and chromite.
2)Non-metallic ores such as: phosphate, limestone,
dolomite, ornamental stones, quartz rock, white
sands, talc, feldspars, kaolin, fire clays, bentonite,
gypsum, fluorspar, sands and gravels, magnesite,
evaporates (salts), and coal.
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34. Possible Areas for Investment in in ore deposits in in
Egypt
The following areas are open for serious investment in
the mineral industry, metallic commodities, in Egypt:
1) Mining and Mineral Processing of iron ores at:
Eastern Desert, Bahariya Oases, and Aswan.
2) Integrated iron and steel industry.
3) Exploitation of ilmenite ores in the feasible areas.
4) Evaluation and exploitation of Beach Black Sands
for their strategic heavy minerals.
5) Exploration, Mining, Processing, and Extraction of:
gold, tin, tantalum, and niobium.
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35. The metallic ore and non-metallic
mineral deposits,
which will be discussed here in,
are put according to
the priority of their economic
impact on Egypt.
@ Hassan Harraz 2017 35

36. References
Amin, A. S. (1955). Geological Features of Some Mineral Deposits in Egypt. Bulletin De
Institute du Desert, Egypt, Vol. 1, pp. 208-239.
El Shazly, E. M. (1957). Classification of Egyptian Mineral Deposits. Egyptian Journal of
Geology 1 ( No. 1) pp. 1-20.
Garson, M. S. and Shalaby, I. (1976). Precambrian Lower Paleozoic Plate Tectonics and
Metallogenesis in Red Sea Region. The Geological Association of Canada, Special
Issue, pp. 537-596.
Hume WF, (1937). Geology of Egypt: The minerals of economic values associated with the
intrusive Precambrian igneous rocks. Geologic Survey Egypt 2:689-990.
Hussein, A.A.A., (1990). Mineral deposits. In: Said, R. (Ed.), The geology of Egypt. 1990.
A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam/Brookfield, pp. 511-566.
Ivanov, T. G.; Shalaby, I. and Hussein, A. A. (1973). Metallogeneic Characteristics of South
Eastern Desert, Egypt. Annal of Geological Survey of Egypt, Vol. 3, pp. 139-166.
Kochine, G.; Bassyuni, F. A. and others (1968). Mineral Resources of the UAR, Part I,
Metallic Minerals. Internal Report No. 18/19/68, Geological Survey of Egypt, p. 35.
Garson, M. S. and Shalaby, I. (1976). Precambrian Lower Paleozoic Plate Tectonics and
Metallogenesis in Red Sea Region. The Geological Association of Canada, Special
Issue, pp. 537-596.
Botros, N. S. and. Noor, A. M. (2008). Mineral Deposits in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, an
Expression of two Major Episodes with Distinct Magmatic and Tectonic Characteristics.
Annal of Geological Survey of Egypt, Vol. 30, pp. 249-274.
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37. Follow me on Social Media
http://facebook.com/hzharraz
http://www.slideshare.net/hzharraz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassan-harraz-3172b235
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