The rock here was once buried under the ocean; where the oceanic crust floats on the earth’s hot mantle. These “Ophiolites” are the meeting point in between hot magma (more than 1000°C) and cold ocean sediments. The great differences in pressure and temperature between the two resulted in the crystalisation of various minerals and rocks. Some of these are rich in copper and chrome. The copper was mined from this source as early as 5,000 years ago, at which time Oman, then known as Majan was exporting copper to Mesopotamia to manufacture bronze.