Potential applications of olivine in Oman

R.D.Schuiling

Abstract

At some time in the future, the production of oil and natural gas will come to an end, and Oman is therefore looking for alternatives to diversify its industrial base. The largest, but as yet barely touched natural commodity is olivine, as Oman’s major mountain chain is the world’s largest ophiolite complex. In the struggle against climate change proposals for direct injection of CO₂ into the olivine rich rocks in Oman have already been published. CO₂, together with water, will react with olivine and form stable carbonates. By this method large volumes of CO₂ can be sustainably captured. The rate of reaction will increase in response to the release of the considerable heat of reaction, which will heat the rock. It is expected that this uneven heating may crack the rocks further, making them more accessible to fluid injection.