Mining Intelligence and News
Jordan

Al Russaifa Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeStockpile
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Phosphate rock
  • Phosphate
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotThe work in the Al Rusaifa mine started in 1953 up to 1985, when a decision to halt it was made considering the social environment and the densely populated surroundings.

The Jordan Phosphate has rehabilitated and developed past mining areas in Al Russeifa City for the purposes of improving the surrounding environment and utilizing it in a way that serves the community and the people of Al Russeifa City as well. The project cost amounted to nearly JD (35) million. The project was delivered after its completion and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company has fulfilled all rehabilitation requirements and delivered it to the concerned authorities duly in November 2023.

Activity: Re-screening of Stock.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Jordan Phosphate Mines Co. PLC (operator) 100 % Indirect
The Russaifa mine is owned and governed by the Jordan Phosphate Mines.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

The Al Russaifa deposit is sedimentary in nature.

Rusaifa deposit occur in continuous beds.

The phosphate formations in the Upper Cretaceous and Eocene levels cover about 60% of the total area of Jordan. The phosphate formations of the Upper Cretaceous lie near the surface in the central part of the country, covering a wide belt. Rusaifa deposit occurs in continuous beds.

The phosphorites of Jordan are present within Al-Hisa Phosphorite Formation (AHP). In general, the AHP consists of phosphorites, bedded chert, limestones, oyster buildups, organic-rich marl (oil shale) and other rock types.

The AHP consists of three formal members, from older to younger Sulatani, Bahiyya and Qatrana. In central Jordan, the Sultani Member consists of alternating limestones, bedded chert and minor phosphorites. The Bahiyya Member consists of oyster banks or buildups up 30 m in thickness that are made of oyster fragment in clinoforms dipping general to the SE (Abed and Sadaqah, 1998). The Qatrana Member is the host of the high grade phosphorites. The grade phosphorites are friable with little calcareous cement. They are present as lenses (small basins) with a diameter ranging up to few kilometers and a thickness up 13 m.

In Eshidiyya Basin, the three formal members are present only in the northern parts of the basin. The Bahiyya coquina thins gradually towards the SE until it disappears completely. The Sultani Member or the lower member is hosting the main (high) grade phosphorite deposits.

During 1988, Ruseifa mines were closed and the remaining deposits south of the Amman-Zarqa highway are becoming more and more urbanized. The Ruseifa phosphorites consist of four horizons (A1, A2, A3, and A4 topmost) separated by carbonates and chert beds.

In sedimentary deposits such as those found in Jordan, the ore generally consists of phosphate particles ranging from 20 mm to 50 microns in size, sand and clay ranging from one mm to less than two microns. Clay can be present in large lumps, but scrubbing and wetting with water will generally reduce it to its natural grain size of less than two microns. The ore beds generally rest on hard limestone and are overlain by overburden sand.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits202320222021202020192018
Phosphate k tons  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe607243
All production numbers are expressed as salt.

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 10, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 6, 2024

Aerial view:

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