them into service. Ablaq is a mountain close to Jibal Zurq (Blue Mountains). It is called ablaq as it is situated on a black ground having silver
mines. It is close to Sadd. The dust-coloured earth has gold and the bluish earth emerald and juz' mines. This mountain was called Badhakh also,
and Ma'arib was designated as Shamikh. Ma'arib is close to the mountain
ol Oman, whereas Ablaq is close to the sea of Lanjah.
Hasan Hamadani says:
There is a mine yielding an excellent Baqrani in the territory of
Alhan bin Zayd bin Malik. In Jabli Abi Anas bin Alhan bin Zayd bin
Malik, also called Jabal Dhawran, are found to occur good quality
old stones, e.g., 'aqiqi-Yamani and Baqrani.
It is said that within the precincts of the village of Wahm in the area
inhabited by Banu Qushayb is a mine and a silver mine at the summit of
the Eastern Mountain. There is a silver mine in the village of Jarbat alManawa in the valley of Muna.
Hamadani further writes in the Book of Jazirat al-'Arab:
There are baqran mines in the mountain of 'Ishar. This stone is genuine. There are excellent Yemenite stones in the Haran mountain towards Madlnah-i-Dhimar), e.g., red, yellow and rose-coloured ruby.
To the west of Dhimar, in the village of Mais occur 'aqiq-i- Yamani
and excellent stones. This is a well known and observed fact.
An agate-cutter from among the people of Mais has stated that there
is a mine of good-quality emerald at Bald Zubayd. The people, when
they discovered this mine, however, covered it with mountain rocks in
order that the adjacent tribes may not launch attacks upon them.
Gem-cutters say that there are several mines in the region of Bart.
Many of these comprise rasas-i-aswad at many a place. The mineral from
these mines is high-quality, firm and clean. Besides, there are gold and
silver, white and golden-coloured pyrites, and other allied stones and
mines. The area of the Sa'adah has iron mines. The iron in these mines
is found admixed with earth and people refine it having taken it to
Madinah Sa'adah. However, iron in greater abundance is found in the
area of Bani jama'ah, while the best kind is to be found in the city of
Baqim. This city also has the Hinduwan mine, while marcasite is to be
found more abundantly in Syria. Iron and silver mines occur in the
fortress of the Dahr Valley.
Hamadani writes in his book:
Banu Ya'far used to bring silver from Shabam Sakhm to San'aa. It
is situated at a journey of two hours from San'aa and is close to Dhi
Marmar.
This would indicate the presence of a silver mine there.
A jurist said: "I located a gold mine in the mountain of Sibr, I took
out gold from there, but it was very difficult to extract it." Probably he
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