The geology and geophysics of the United Arab Emirates. Volume 9, survey and testing of hard rock resources in the ophiolite of the UAE

This project was undertaken in order to document all information concerning the distribution, physical properties and current uses of all the non-limestone ‘hard-rock’ (mainly ophiolite) resources of the UAE. It involved visiting all active and disused aggregate quarries to verify the rock-types used, in what form (i.e. particle size) and for what purpose. With this information a GIS was constructed, in conjunction with the geological maps produced from the previous BGS geological mapping project, in which it was made possible to identify areas of future quarry expansion and new quarry establishment, with various constraints such as environmental concerns. A ‘hard-rock’ usage map was published at 1:100 000 scale, along with this report. Possible future uses of the various rock-types available were considered.