Oman’s Mountains May Hold Clues for Reversing Climate Change

Deep in the jagged red mountains of Oman, geologists are searching for an efficient and cheap way to remove carbon dioxide from the air and oceans — and perhaps begin to reverse climate change.

They are coring samples from one of the world’s only exposed sections of the Earth’s mantle to uncover how a spontaneous natural process millions of years ago transformed carbon dioxide into limestone and marble.

As the world mobilizes to confront climate change, the main focus has been on reducing emissions through fuel-efficient cars and cleaner power plants. But some researchers are also testing ways to remove or recycle carbon already in the seas and sky.

Oman rocks to help fight global warming?

A professor in Oman has come up with a discovery that promises a breakthrough solution to the issue of carbon emissions on a global level: a rock commonly found just under the crust of the earth could soak up the planet’s entire carbon dioxide emissions, even without being mined.

Subhi Nasr, Director of Earth Science Research Centre at Sultan Qaboos University, says that when the peridotite rock — made up mostly of silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene — reacts with carbon dioxide, it converts the gas into calcite, a solid mineral.

This interaction only requires that holes be drilled into the peridotite rock.

Oman is one of the few places where the rock appears on the earth’s surface. It also boasts the largest such rock formation in the world stretching more than 600 kilometres, with a width of 150 kilometres and a depth of 3 kilometres.

“Peroditite absorbs 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year in Oman,” Khalid Al Hashmi, a geologist

Geological Heritage and Economic Future

As part of a strategy for economic diversifation and sustainable growth, the Government of Oman is opening the door for investment in several different economic sectors including Mining.In line with its strategy, the Royal Decrees number 2014/49 declared on the 21st of September 2014 establishment of the General Authori­ ty for Mining. To understand more about the objectives and responsibilities of this authority, the GSO inter­ viewed  H.E  Hilal  bin  Mohammed Al-Busaidi,  the Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  General Authority  for

Mining.