Geological and Geochemical Investigation of Host Rocks of Ni-Cu in Suwar Area North Western Yemen

Abstract

The Suwar Ni-Cu sulfide host rocks are located at the northwest of Yemen, about 18 km of Hajjah city. The host rocks at Suwar are associated with the ultramafic component of differentiated gabbroid intrusive. The results of chemical analysis of the major elements present in host rocks of Ni-Cu in Suwar area shows that, the magnesium oxide ranges from 20 to 30% , the silica oxide has an average 40% and iron oxids is also variegate between 14.4 and 18%. Based on the comparison between the results of the studied Ni-Cu sulfides in Suwar area with that obtained from famous international host rock, it is clear that there is a possible large collection of sulfides and Suwar host rocks which belong to the group which contains magnesium oxide (MgO) ranged between 15 and 33%, associated with high percentage of nickel and low percentage of copper. It also indicates similarity to Jinchuan and Kambalda magmatic bodies in China and Australia respectively. In addition, it shows that the nickel increases in ore with the increase of MgO contents in hosted rocks. Thus, there is a possibility of increasing percentage of nickel concentration in Suwar ore while the study is in progress.