Placer gold deposits in the Mahd adh Dhahab district were productive during ancient times, possibly during two periods, about 950 B.C. and 750— 1258 A.D. These deposits were mapped and systematically sampled in 1973 to determine their future potential. The sampling program was facilitated by use of a backhoe which dug 1284 m of trenches and 17 pits. Five hundred and eight samples of surficial material were collected from the trenches and pits, and 78 samples were taken from bedrock exposed in the trenches.
Panning tests indicate that 710,910 m3 of gold—bearing material containing an average of 0.102 g/m3 gold are available; the total gold content is 72,268 g. Of this volume higher grade zones containing 263,455 m3 of auriferous detritus are available; this material averages 0.262 g/m3 gold and contains about 69,000 g gold. This gold could be recovered with simple washing and concentrating equipment.
In addition, a substantial amount of lower grade material which might be workable during times of higher gold prices is available in the district. It is concluded that the placer resources in the Mahd adh Dhahab district could form the basis for a small—scale local industry if the gold price is high.
