Thursday March 28th, 2024
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5 Men Arrested in Marsa Allam for Illegally Possessing 2 Tonnes of Gold Ore

Quartz is the mineral used for crystals as well as to extract gold in its raw form.

Staff Writer

Red Sea’s security Directorate apprehended this past Tuesday a group of five men in possession of two tonnes of Quartz, a mineral used to extract gold among other valuable raw materials, which they obtained through an illegal dig on the Marssa Allam - Etfu highway. 

Marssa Allam security police forces were on one of their routine patrol rounds when they spotted the suspicious looking vehicle. Once the authorities stopped the car of five, all of which were identified as 'African passport holders' by local media. 

The culprits admitted to digging illegally for the raw material in one of the mountain areas, prompting the authorities to take legal action. Six gas pipes and two flamethrowers were also found in their possession. 

Quartz is the mineral most commonly used to make jewellery, crystals and hard stone carvings. The raw form of gold can also be found in quartz rocks.