Overview

Mine Type	Open Pit
Status	Active
Commodities	Phosphate rock
Mining Method	Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start	...
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	Ma’aden Phosphate Company operates from two primary locations: Al Jalamid in the Northern Province of Saudi Arabia, where the Phosphate Mine and Beneficiation Plant are located, and Ras Al Khair Industrial City in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, where Ma'aden’s Integrated Fertilizer Production Complex is located. From Al Jalamid, Concentrated Phosphate rock is transported by rail over 1,200 Km to Ras Al Khair Industrial City for processing at Ma'aden’s Integrated Fertilizer Production Complex, which include Phosphoric Acid Plant, Sulfuric Acid Plant, Ammonia Plant, Di-Ammonium Phosphate, Granulation Plant and Desalination Plant.

Deposit type

• Sedimentary

Summary:

Location.
The Al Jalamid sedimentary phosphorite deposit is approximately 120 kilometres east of Turaif south of the village of Hazm Al Jalamid in northern Saudi Arabia.

Mineralisation.
Upper Phosphorite Zone (“UPZ”).
In general, the UPZ is described as calcareous to semi-friable phosphorite, with many lenses of alternating material primarily cemented alternatively with sparry calcite and less frequently with argillaceous cement; scattered patches of pure argillaceous micrite; zones of and isolated nodules of quartz and calcite; highly bioturbated; colours/hues from white/cream to pinkish. The lithology varies from location to location and in many instances significant parts of the zone are semi-friable phosphorite, finegrained, well-packed, well-sorted and is a pinkish gray to light brownish gray with quartz and calcite nodules (geodes) near the base.

The UPZ is defined by material which exceeds 12% P205 and is less than 8% MgO. Generally, the cut-off between overburden and UPZ is a very clear-cut with the % P205 increasing from 8–9 to over 14–15 within a ½-metre interval. Likewise the % MgO drops from 12–13 to 4–6 over the same ½-metre interval. There are, however, exceptions to the rules and judgements have been made accordingly.

Middle Marker (“MM”).
In general, the MM is described as micrite, argillaceous to medium-high phosphate content, thin- bedded and fine-grained to vuggy with geodes and nodules of calcite and light tan to white to light pink in colour.

The MM is defined as the next zone of elevated % P205 below the Upper Middle Waste. Generally, this zone analyses more than 12% P205 and less than 8% MgO – where it is present. This zone is mostly absent from the northwestern part of the resource area but becomes thicker than 1.5 metres toward the central part of the resource area. There is an area within this resource boundary where the UPZ, the MM and the Lower Phosphorite Zone all exceed 1.5 metres in thickness. There are many locations where the zone is present in ½-metre to 1-metre thicknesses and it serves as a distinct analytical marker in the stratigraphic sequence.

Lower Phosphorite Zone (“LPZ”).
In general, the (LPZ) is described as calcareous to semi-friable phosphorite, vuggy to fine grained and well sorted and pinkish to light brown in colour. The lithology varies from location to location and in some instances significant parts of the zone are semi-friable to friable. The zone generally has significant evidence of bioturbation and is, in part, fossiliferous. Generally there is, at the base, a zone of calcite crystals, nodules and/or geodes. The lithology of the zone is variable in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

The LPZ is generally defined as the next zone of elevated % P205 regardless of % MgO content. Normally, this strata exceeds 12% P205 but the % MgO content often exceeds 8. It is clearly chemically defined as even if the grade sometimes drops to less than 12% P205, it is always higher in % P205 than the material above or below it. The zone generally exceeds 1.5 metres in thickness in the northwestern part of the deposit.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

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Production

Commodity	Units	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Phosphate	kt	....	5,222 *	3,170 *	2,859	2,723	2,656

Operational metrics

Metrics	2023	2021	2020	2019	2017	2016	2015
Annual production capacity	....	....	....	5 Mt of phosphate rock concentrate	5 Mt of phosphate rock concentrate
Ore tonnes mined	....	....	....		13 Mt	7.3 Mt	10.8 Mt

Personnel

Job Title	Name	Profile	Ref. Date
.......................	.......................		Jun 21, 2024
.......................	.......................		Jun 21, 2024

Total Workforce	Year
......	2018
......	2013