Today, Saudi Arabia commenced geophysical surveying in the Arabian Shield region using the first geophysical survey aircraft, supported by the Kingdom's Geological Survey Authority. This operation is the largest geophysical survey aimed at revealing mineral wealth, covering one-quarter of the country’s area.
Following the launch of this extensive geophysical survey, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs in Saudi Arabia, stated in an interview with "Al Arabiya" that the information available prior to the current survey estimates mineral reserves in the Kingdom to be around 5 trillion riyals. He described the start of this monumental survey as a historic and significant moment, marking the launch of an unprecedented program that will provide valuable information to enhance investment in this vital sector.
Al-Mudaifer explained that the mining reserves in the Kingdom present vast opportunities that will be determined and multiplied through the survey efforts. He noted that the Arabian Shield, with its extensive area, is one of the world’s most important shields, comparable to the Canadian and Australian shields, and that a significant amount of gold, copper, zinc, lead, and nickel resources remain undiscovered within it. These resources are fundamental for enabling and shaping the future of industry.
The surveying work will include airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical surveys across the entire Arabian Shield, covering an area of 600,000 square kilometers. This survey will help uncover mineral reserves, which will stimulate the economy and diversify revenues in line with Vision 2030.
Additionally, Abdullah Al-Shummarani, CEO of the Geological Survey Authority, confirmed in an interview with "Al Arabiya," the launch of the first geophysical survey aircraft in the Al-Dawadmi governorate in the Riyadh region, aimed at obtaining high-precision geological data for the Arabian Shield, covering an area of up to 600,000 square kilometers. The goal is also to reveal the abundant mineral reserves it holds.
He added that this data will support mineral exploration, leading to economic stimulation and revenue diversification in the Kingdom by attracting investment in the mining sector, achieving the objectives of Vision 2030. He pointed out that the Kingdom is one of the world's richest countries in terms of mineral resources, estimated by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources at around 5 trillion riyals, and that mineral wealth will become the third economic asset after oil and petrochemicals.
The airborne geophysical survey will include both magnetic and radiometric assessments of the entire Arabian Shield region in the Kingdom. The authority aims through this work to obtain high-resolution terrestrial magnetic and radiometric data, digital maps of terrestrial magnetism and radiation, along with geological interpretations of magnetic and radiometric maps that reflect the most important geological structures and rock formations. This will help in identifying and categorizing the key mineralization environments.
He added that the results and interpretations of the survey would be archived and included in the National Geological Data (NGD) database to provide Earth science data to beneficiaries in various fields, particularly in mining investment and scientific research.
