Mining in Egypt

Mining in Egypt has had a long history that goes back to predynastic times. Egypt has substantial mineral resources, including 48 million tons of tantalite (fourth largest in the world), 50 million tons of coal, and an estimated 6.7 million ounces of gold in the Eastern Desert.cite web | title = Mining in Egypt – Unexplored Territory | url = http://www.gcgf.org/ifcext/mena.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Miningpolicyreformegypt/$FILE/Egypt+Mining+Brochure+English.pdf | publisher = International Finance Corporation | accessdate = 2008-03-22 | format = PDF ] The total real value of minerals mined was about £E102 million (US$18.7 million) in 1986, up from £E60 million (US$11 million) in 1981.cite web | url = http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/egtoc.html| title = A Country Study: Egypt | publisher = US Library of Congress, Federal Research Division | date = December 1993 | accessdate = 2008-03-22 "This article incorporates text from the source, which is in the public domain.] The chief minerals in terms of volume output were iron ore, phosphates, and salt. The quantities produced in 1986 were estimated at 2,048, 1,310, and 1,233 tons, respectively, compared with 2,139, 691, and 883 tons in 1981. In addition, minor amounts of asbestos (313 tons) and quartz (19 tons) were mined in 1986. Preliminary exploration in Sinai indicated the presence of zinc, tin, lead, and copper deposits. Private sector exploration and exploitation activities so far have been limited. Only recently, Centamin Egypt Ltd., a mineral exploration company founded in Australia, started a massive mining project in Sukari Hill. [cite web | title = A Gold Mine Worth LE 23 Billion (and counting) | url = http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6865 | first = Cache | last = Seel | publisher = Egypt Today | accessdate = 2008-03-22 | date = August 2006 ]

History

Gold mining in Upper Egypt can be traced back to predynastic times,cite book| title = The Civilization Of Ancient Egypt | first = Paul | last = Johnson | authorlink = Paul Johnson (writer) | isbn = 0060194340 | publisher = HarperCollins | pages = p. 94 ] and the earliest map known in the world, from the Ramesside Period dating to about 1160 BCE, shows the route to the gold mines in the Wadi Hammamat, Eastern Desert.cite book| title = The Civilization Of Ancient Egypt | first = Paul | last = Johnson | authorlink = Paul Johnson (writer) | isbn = 0060194340 | publisher = HarperCollins | pages = p. 113 |year = 1999] Gold mining started with alluvial workings in Egypt and was followed by shallow underground vein mining in Nubia about 1300 BCE, during the New Kingdom period. [cite book | title = The Chemistry of Gold Extraction | first = John | last = Marsden | publisher = Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration | isbn = 0873352408 | pages = p. 2] The methods of working included fire-setting to weaken rocks by thermal shock, a method described by Diodorus Siculus in his "Bibliotheca historica" written about 60 BCE.

The technique of quarrying granite and limestone was an advanced technology by the time the pyramids were being built.cite web | title = Spotlights on the Exploitation and Use of Minerals and Rocks through the Egyptian Civilization | url = http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Pub/magazin/spring1997/110204000000000008.htm | year = 2005 | accessdate = 2008-03-21 | publisher = Egypt State Information Service ] Marble, alabaster and diorite were used for making statues, basalt for making sarcophagi, and dolomite for hammers to work hard stones. Precious and semi-precious stones that were extensively mined and worked as well included turquoise, beryl, amethyst, lapis lazuli and malachite. Hathor was the miner's patron goddess, and her temples, statues or inscriptions were found in many rediscovered mining locations. A major temple to Hathor constructed by Seti II was found at the copper mines in Timna valley; another temple was discovered in Serabit el-Khadim, where turquoise was mined in antiquity, in an expedition led by Sir Flinders Petrie.

Egypt became a major gold-producer during the Old Kingdom and remained so in the next 1,500 years, with interruptions when the kingdom broke down.cite book| title = The Civilization Of Ancient Egypt | first = Paul | last = Johnson | authorlink = Paul Johnson (writer) | isbn = 0060194340 | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 1999 | pages = p. 149 ] During the New Kingdom, the production of gold steadily increased, and mining became more intensive as new fields were developed. British historian Paul Johnson says that it was gold rather than military power which sustained the Egyptian empire and made it the world power throughout the third quarter of the second millennium BCE.cite book| title = The Civilization Of Ancient Egypt | first = Paul | last = Johnson | authorlink = Paul Johnson (writer) | isbn = 0060194340 | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 1999 | pages = p. 79 ] Most gold mines known today in Egypt have already been exploited by the ancient Egyptians.

The earliest known beryl mine in the world is located in the mountain valley of Wadi Sikait, Eastern Desert. Its mining started during the Ptolemaic period, although most of mining activities date to the Roman and Byzantine periods.cite web | title = Archaeological geology of the world's first emerald mine | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QQS/is_2_31/ai_n6153470/pg_1 | first = James A. | last = Harell | date = June 2004 | accessdate = 2008-03-22 | publisher = Geoscience Canada ] All the other beryl mining sites such as Gebel Zabara, Wadi Umm Debaa and Wadi Gimal are Roman-Byzantine or Islamic (mid-6th century onward) in date. Beryl mining ceased in Egypt when the Spanish Empire discovered superior-quality emeralds in Colombia in the 16th century.

References