Technical Letter Number 97: Geologic Reconnaissance of the Al Qunfidhah Area, Tihamat Ash Sham Quadrangle, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (including Geological Reconnaissance Map of the Suq al Khamis Area 1/64K, and Geological Map of the Wadi Yiba Copper Prospect 1/10K)

Original staple-bound green printed wraps with green cloth spine 22x28cm. (2)pp prelims including covering letter from Glen Brown to Fadil Kabbani, Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, ii pp Contents, 46pp text including 1 folding sheet + 1 full-page Index Map printed to the rectos only, with 2 very large folding maps in pocket (Figs 4 and 5), complete, with both present as called for. Wraps good, tanned towards the edges, with tears and minor loss to the spine cloth, and tears at the staples at the back. Interiors very good with ink offsetting to the blank versos (not affecting text). Loose maps neatly folded, yellowed at edges and folds. This report is an early "preliminary" product of the monumental USGS-Aramco mapping project (1956-63), which, among other things, produced 21 Geological maps covering the whole of Saudi Arabia in a series of Quadrangles numbered I-200A to I-220A. It was prepared under the follow-up Saudi Arabian Mineral Exploration Project launched in 1963, which Brown coordinated from Jeddah. The area, named after the Red Sea port of Al Qunfidhah, the largest settlement within it, lies within the Tihamat Ash-Sham Quadrangle (covered by Map I-216A). For the investigation, this was divided into the areas around Al Khamis, and the Wadi Yiba copper prospect. Work started with a helicopter survey looking for sulphides and precious metals during February to June 1967. Field operations were conducted from a camp and an airstrip near the village of Suq al Khamis using 2 G-2 Bell helicopters, and serviced by Otter and Beaver aircraft from Jeddah. The roads were unpaved. The area was sparsely populated primarily with Bedouin sheep and goat herders. MAPS: Fig 4: Geological Reconnaissance Map of the Suq al Khamis Area, 1/64K, blue line drawing, 90x96cm. Fig 5: Geological Map of the Wadi Yiba Copper Prospect, 1/10K, blueline drawing, 82x100cm. These show wadis, sample locations, and geological features; a geological explanation; analysis data tables; and Location ("Index") Maps, one of which 1/5K showing the area in relation to Al Qunfidhah, Al Khamis, the ancient mine at Al Muckahal, etc. Very rare. Brown's covering letter states 20 copies were sent to Kabbani. Additional copies would have been circulated within USGS and probably Aramco. Worldcat records other letters in the series, but not this one. USGS reissued it in 1969 as Open-File Report 69-82 (USGS website).