Feinan – in fact, the Punon of the Bible — was one of the stopping places of the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land. (Numbers 33:42) Mines in this area were in use from about 4000 BC to 650 AD.

Surely there is a mine for silver…and copper is molten out of the stone. Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness. He breaks open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro [as they descend into the vertical shafts by rope]. (Job 28:1-4)