The abundant building and decorative stones in Yemen are characterized by the variety and amenability to cutting and polishing.  Research conducted by the Geological Survey and Mineral Resources Board identified and inventoried the following rock types, some of which have already been used as building stone, while others can be used for decorative purposes.

 Marble  

There are two types of marble in Yemen.  The first type results from regional metamorphism of Jurassic limestone in contact with volcanic rocks. The second type outcrops as large bodies in Precambrian rocks.  The marble is generally of moderate density, low absorbency, low porosity, medium to highly resistant to compression, medium to highly resistant to wear and resistant to bending and tensional forces. Marble resources in Yemen total more than a billion cubic meters.   

Granite & Gabbro

 Granite rocks are divided into two types depending on the age of their formation.  Precambrian granite rocks outcrop in two main areas, whilst Tertiary Granite rocks Are found in the Ta’iz and Bajil zones. The Tertiary granites generally have a medium-grained texture and grey color.

Gabbroic rocks are found within Precambrian basement rocks and as Tertiary intrusive. Granite and gabbroic rocks are generally of high density, very low absorbency, low porosity, highly resistant to compression, of high wear, and resistant to bending/tensile forces.  The total resource of granite & gabbro is of more than 1.6 billion cubic meters.  

 Carbonate rocks

 Carbonate rocks (limestone and travertine) are widespread in Yemen, due to the different sedimentation ages, which range from Jurassic to Pleistocene. Travertine occurs around natural hot springs. Carbonate rocks are generally heavy, very low absorbent, very low porous, high resistant to compression, of high wear, and resistant to bending/tensile forces. The resources of carbonate rocks in Yemen are about 13.5 billon cubic meters. 

 Ignimbrite & Tuff Rocks 

 Ignimbrite and tuff are usually found as pyroclastic rock flows, within Tertiary volcanic, containing fragments of volcanic rock in a vitro-lithoclastic matrix. These rocks are characterized by various colors (grey, yellow, purplish red, and green). The ignimbrites and tuffs are semi-heavy, medium absorption of water, medium apparent porosity, low resistant to compression, and high wear. The total resources of these rocks are of 350 million cubic meters.

 Basaltic Rocks

 Basaltic rocks are developed as dykes crosscutting basement rocks, Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and as interstratified flows of ignimbrite and tuff rocks in equal shares.  Quaternary basaltic rocks occur as flows and volcanic cones. The basaltic rocks are of medium density, low-medium absorbancy of water, low-medium apparent porosity, low-high resistance to compression, of medium-very high wear.  The resources total 121 million cubic meters.

 Atlas of Building & Decorative Stones In Yemen