'THE GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF DHUFAR PROVINCE, MUSCAT AND OMAN' [‎44r] (77/96)

61
f
i raced at
ael. I^e
ized form,
the works
i common
of turning
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nsiderable
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powdered
ilso being
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and for a
psum will
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^ be from
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nd under
ain com-
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e than a
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igh grade
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ement to
ubject of
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: cement,
projected
nandal it
^arka), a
ir), there
ler great
nrse near
Takah, where the Darbat lake area, 5 miles away, would be an
attractive place for the colony, but it will mean dredging the mouth
of the river and allowing the sea to re-enter the khor Rori to become
an anchorage, once more, as in the days of Abyssapolis!
Sai/t and Chemical Works
94. The subject of salt-making has already been discussed in
paragraph 89, and it was there stated that a small salt industry
now exists at Kharain, between Okad (Augad) and Risut. The
salt pans there tap sea-water from the bay of Risut, and there is
sufficient space in that area to have pans over an area of 3 or 4
square miles, by using the tide and pumping. The conditions for
evaporation are as good as those at Mithapur, if not better, and the
salinity of the sea-water may be assumed as the same. On this
basis it should not be difficult to prepare 250,000 tons of salt annually,
and half this amount easily as a raw material for chemical purposes.
The sea brine concentrated at Mithapur has the following com
position :—
Calcium carbonate ..
Calcium sulphate
Sodium chloride
Magnesium sulphate
Potassium chloride ..
Calcium chloride
Magnesium chloride ..
Magnesium bromide An image photographically reproduced on to bromide-coated paper. ..
Total Solids ..
0 - 0221 %
17-4649%
17-2666%
1-6016%
0-4569%
0-0427%
1-9532%
0-1836%
21-9816%
The Mithapur chemical works are able to deal with 125,000 tons
of sea salt annually, and are capable of producing 150 tons of Soda
Ash daily. In addition, arrangements had been made or were
being made for the outturn of the following products per day .
25 tons of Caustic soda, 7 tons of Chlorine, 2 tons of Magnesium
chloride, 1 ton of Epsom salts, 2| tons of Potassium bromide An image photographically reproduced on to bromide-coated paper. , 2 tons
of Hydrochloric acid, some hydrous potassium-magnesium chlor
(Carnellite) and Magnesia (Magnesium oxide). Thus tbe salt obta n
was not sold as common salt in the Indian market (except und
certam “t^defany special investigation into the subject
of making sMt at Kharain, nor E any claim made that the sea brine
likely to be concentrated at this place will be ^enticd with that
obtained at Mithapur, but on a general sur y e y ^.^ DroDosal
to me to be some advantages in favour of the Ilhufar proposaL
The wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. that comes into Risut bay from the west-north-west ^oes
so through a marsh which contains saline water, but 3 or 4 mi e