PROSPECTUS

"

MINERAL INvESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ETIDOPIA

VOLUME Two: GEOLOGY ANDMINING

Presented by

Ministry of Mines & Energy of Ethiopia

-.

Executing Agency:
United Nations Department for Development Support
and Management Services

Funding Agency:
-I United Nations Development Programme
L.

Contractor:

Techno-Economic Consulting, Inc.

I, \
 CONTENTS
Page
Acronyms and Abbreviations
SECTION I. SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1
SECTION II. GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA 5

A. Geology. . 5
1. Precambrian Basement Rocks 5

a. Archean Rocks (Lower Complex) 5

b. Early Proterozoic Rocks (Middle Complex) 5
c. Late Proterozoc (Upper Complex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
2. Phanerozoic Cover Rocks 7

a. Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic Sediments 7

b. Mesozoic to Early Tertiary Sedimentary Rocks . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7
c. Tertiary Volcanic and Sedimentary Rocks 8
d. Late Tertiary to Quaternary Volcanic and Sedimentary Rocks. .. 8
B. Economic Geology 8
C. Maps 10
1. Geological and GeophysicalMaps 10
2. Topographic Maps 11
SECTION III. ADOLA GREENSTONE REGION 14
A. Gold Mineralization 15

1. Primary Gold 15
a. Lega Dembi Ore Zone 15
b. Digati Gold and Base Metal Prospect 15
c. Dermi-Dama Gold Prospect 16
d. Sakaro Gold Prospect 17
e. Other Exploration Possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18
2. PlacerGold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18

B. Kenticha Tantalum Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18

C. Meleka and Chambe Rare Metal Prospects 18

D. Kenticha Feldspar-Quartz Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . . .. 19
E. Nickel and Chromium Mineralization " " 21

F. Bombawoha Kaolin Deposit 24

@Copyright, all rights reserved, 1994.

 CONfENTS
...
Page

... SECTION IV. AGERE MARYAM REGION AND ARERO

GREENSTONE REGION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A. Agere MaryamRegion ...................................... 32

B. Arero Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

C. Summary .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36

1. Primary Gold Possibilites .... .... . . . . . . ..... ... .. . . . . .. .. . 36

.. 2. Nickel,Platinum,Chromium,Cobalt,Copper, Vanadium. . . . . . . . . 36
3. Molybdenum,Bismuth, Tin, Tungsten ....................... 37
4. Rare Earth and Rare Metals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION V. MOYALE GREENSTONE REGION ....................... 44

A. Moyale Town Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

..
B. Hassamte-Haramsam Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONE REGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
A. Gold and Base Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Gold and BaseMetal Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

1. Azale-Akendayu
2. Ashashire Gold and Base Metal Area ....................... 51
3. Boka-Daletti-Bindakoro Area ............................. 52
4. Oda-GodereGold and BaseMetalProspect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5. MountDul Gold and BaseMetalArea ...................... 53
6. OndonokGoldProspect ................................. 54
7. TuluKami ........................................... 54
8. Metti............................................... 54
9. :LegaBaguda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
10. Chokorsa ............................................ 55
11. TuluKapiand Ankori . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
12. Kata................................................ 55
13. BomuMenghi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
14. Bascia............................................... 55
15. GambelaMountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
16. Guba,Dura AbelliDrainage,BelesDrainage, Abumare,
Abteselo, Mekezen ..................................... 55
B. Platinum .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56
1. Yubdo Platinum Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
2. Dalatti and Tulu Dimtu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

C. Bikilal Iron and Phosphate Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

SECTION VII. AKOBO GREENSTONE REGION.. .. ..................... 65

A. Geology of the Akobo Basin .................................. 65

B. Gold Placers in the Akobo Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
1. Chamo Creek .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 67
11

J
CONTENTS

Page

2. Kari River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 67
3. Kendibab Creek 67
4. Akobo River (Right Flank) 68
SECTION VIII. TIGRAY GREENSTONE REGION... . 73
A. Gold and BaseMetal Mineralization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74

B. Gold Occurances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74

1. Aragab Mesha 74
2. Enticho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74
3. WesternTigray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74

a. Asgede. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74
b. Terakimti (Adi Dairo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75
c. AdizereSenai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75
d. Zager and Hargets 75
4. Mefalso and Adi Hageray 75
5. Adi Hoza 75
6. MekeleQuadrangle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75
C. Nickel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. 75

1. Samre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75

D. Copper . ... .... . .. .. 76

1. TsehafiEmba CopperProspect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 76
2. TsalietRiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77
3. East Limb of Negach Synclinorium 77
4. Samre. .. 77
E. I..ead and Zinc 77
1. Mariam Adista 77

SECTION IX. ETHIOPIAN RIFT ZONE

A. Soda Ash Resources 78
B. Potash ... . . .. .... ... 78
1. Deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 79
a. MuselyOre Body 79
b. Crescent Ore Body 81
2. Reserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 81
III
a. Musely Ore Body 81
b. Crescent Ore Body 82
C. ManganeseDeposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 82

III
CONTENTS

Page

1. En Kafala . . . .. 83
2. Garada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83

D. Geothermal Energy Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84

SECTION X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS 87

A Background 87

1. Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys (EIGS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 87

2. Ethiopian Mineral Resources Development Corporation (EMRDC) . 88
B. Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89

1. Geology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89
2. Reserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89
3. Mining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 90
4. Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 90

a. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Crushing 90

b. Grinding Circuit 90
c. GravityCircuit- Free GoldRecovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 91
d. Leach Circuit 91
e. Amalgamation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 92
f. Smelting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 92
g. Tailings Detoxification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 93
h. Electrical Control System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 93
5. AncillaryFacilitiesand Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 93

6. Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 93
C. Kenticha Tantalum Mine and Pilot Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96

1. Geology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96
2. Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96
3. Mining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96
4. Pilot Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 97

D. Lake AbiyataSodaAshOperation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

1. Soda AshResource. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
2. Reserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
3. Brine Collection and Evaporation Operation 100
4. Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

E. Profiles of Other EMRDC Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

1. Adola Gold Development Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
2. Adola Mineral Evaluation and .
Development Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
3. Bole Bulbula Construction Stone Production Enterprise .. . . . . . . . . 104
4. Gem StoneDevelopmentProject. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
5. Ceramic Raw Materials Study and Development Project. . . . . . . . . . 104
References and Bibliography

IV
CONTENTS

Appendix
Contents

Ethiopian Transportation Companies, Service Firms, Contractors, Equipment Supplier

Figures
Number Page

1 Target Areas 2
2 Chambe Pegmatite Rock Chip Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19
3 Kenticha Vein 5 Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20
4 Adola Region Nickel Reserves Inferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23
5 Bombawoha Kaolinized Pegmatite and Gneiss Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25
6 Fire Assay Analyses of Rock Chip Samples from
Quartz Veins NNE of Moyale Town 45
7 BikilalDisseminatedApatite-IlmeniteOre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 59
8 Musely Potash Reserves 82
9 Geochemical Assay Results (Chemical) for Garada Area 84
10 Geochemical Assay Results (Emission Spectroscopy)
for Garada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84
Area
11 Lega Dembi GoldReserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89
12 Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Plant Employment and Pay Ranges 94
13 Process Flow Diagram of Lega Dembi Gold Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 95
14 Kenticha Tantalum Mine and Plant Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 98
15 Process Flow Diagram of Kenticha Tantalum Pilot Plant .. . . . . . . .. 99
16 Lake Abiyata Soda Ash Complex Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
17 Plot Plan of Lake Abiyata Semi-Industrial Soda Ash Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
18 Process Flow Diagram of Lake Abiyata Semi-Industrial
Soda Ash Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Maps

1-1 Metallogenic Map of Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4

II-I Major Tectono-Metamorphic Divisions of the Precambrian in Ethiopia ... 12
II-2 Airborne Surveys of Ethiopia 13
1II-1 Diagrammatic Structural Map of Adola Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . .. 26
1II-2 Geologic Map and Cross-Section of Adola and Kenticha
Greenstone Belts 27
III-3 Mineral Deposits/Occurrences in Adola Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . .. 28
1II-4 Mapping and Exploration Targets in Adola Greenstone Region 29
III-5 Geologic Map and Cross-Section of Kenticha Feldspar-Quartz Deposit,
Adola Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
III-6 Geologic Map of BombawohaKaolin Deposit in Adola
Greenstone Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31
IV-1 Location Map of Agere Maryam Region and Arero Greenstone Region . .. 38

-- -- ------
CONTENTS

Number Page

IV-2 Mineral Occurrences and Anomalous Areas in Agere Maryam Region . . .. 39

IV-3 Gold Occurrences and Anomalous Areas in Choricho-Kape-Kelaltu
Area, Agere Maryam Region 40
IV-4 Gold Occurrences and AnomalousAreas in Guduba Area,
Agere MaryamRegion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 41
IV-5 Mineral Occurrences and Anomalous Areas in Arero Greenstone Region.. 42
IV-6 Gold Occurrences in Okote Area, Arero Greenstone Region 43
V-I Auriferous Quartz Veins NNE of Moyale Town, Moyale
Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . .. 48
V-2 Gold Occurrences in Hassamte-Haramsam Area, Moyale
Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 49
VI-I Precambrian Tectonic Features and Ultramafic Complexes
of Western and Akoho Greenstone Regions 60
VI-2 Location Map of Oda-Godere Area in Western Greenstone Region. . . . .. 61
VI-3 Geologic Map of Kata Area in Western Greenstone Region. . . . . . . . . . .. 62
VI-4 Geologic Map and Cross-Sectionof Yubdo Ultramafic
Complexin Western GreenstoneRegion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63
VI-5 Geologic Map of BikilalArea in Western Greenstone Region 64
VII-l Geologic Map of Akobo Greenstone Region . . . . . . . . . . .. 69
VII-2 GeologicMap of Akobo Basin, Akobo Greenstone Region. . . . . . . . . . . .. 70
VII-3 Anomalies in Stream Sediments in Akobo Basin, Akobo
GreenstoneRegion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 71
VII-4 Placer Gold Exploration Area in Akobo Basin, Akoho
GreenstoneRegion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 72
IX-l Location, Topographic and GeologicMap of Danakil Depression
in Ethiopian Rift Zone . . . . . . . . . . . .. 85
IX-2 Cross-Section Through Potash Interval of Musely Area in
Danakil Depression, Ethiopian Rift Zone 86

Metallogenic Map of Ethiopia, 36"x36"(in jacket at back of this volume)

VI
 ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS
AND CHEMICAL SYMBOLS

ACRONYMS Ni nickel
AGDE Adola Gold Development Os osmium
Enterprise P phosphorus
AMEDP Adola Mineral Evaluation Pb lead
and Development Project Pt platinum
EIGS Ethiopian Institute of Rb rubidium
Geological Surveys Re rhenium
EMRDC Ethiopian Mineral Resources Rh rhodium
Development Corporation S sulfur
UNDP United Nations Development Sb antimony
Programme Sn tin
Sr strontium
ABBREVIATIONS Ta tantalum
BM base metal Ti titanium
em centimeter Tl thallium
gm gram U uranium
gm/m3 grams per cubic meter V vanadium
glmt grams/metricton W tungsten
km kilometer Y yttrium
m meter Zn ZInc
mm millimeter
mt metric ton COMPOUNDS
pH symboldenoting the degree Al203 alumina
of acidity or basicity of a BaO barium oxide
solution CaO lime
ppm parts per million Fe203 iron oxide, hematite
FeO iron oxide
CHEMICAL SYMBOLS KCI potassium chloride, sylvite
Ag silver K20 potassium oxide, potash
As arsemc Li20 lithium oxide
Au gold MgCl magnesium chloride,
Ba barium bisholite
Be beryllium MgO magnesium oxide, peric1ase
Bi bismuth Mn02 manganese dioxide,
Br bromine pyrolusite
Co cobalt MoS2 molybdenum disulfide
Cr chromium NaCl sodium chloride, salt
Cu copper NCo3 sodium carbonate, soda ash
Fe Iron NO sodium oxide
K potassium Nb20S niobium pentoxide
Li lithium OSS2 osmium sulfide, erlichmanite
Mg magnesIUm P20S phosphate
Mn manganese Si02 silica, quartz
Mo molybdenum TOs tantalum pentoxide
Na sodium Ti02 titanium oxide
Nb niobium V20S vanadium pentoxide
\
\
SECTION I

SUMMARY
 SECTION I

SUMMARY

This is the second volume of the Prospectus whichhas been prepared for international investors
who wish to investigate mineral investment opportunities in Ethiopia. In this volume, the
geology and mining of Ethiopia are reviewed to give the reader an appreciation of its largely
untouched mineral wealth. .

To determine which minerals will be of most interest to investors, the Ministry of Mines and
Energy studied the mineral resources of Ethiopia and world demand for them. It was decided
that deposits of the following minerals have the most potential for development:
. Gold
· Tantalum
. Soda Ash
. Potash
. Nickel
. Platinum

The most promising deposits/occurrences of these minerals and the regions where they occur are
listed in Figure 1 on the following page.

Section II describes the geology of Ethiopia. In Sections III through IX, information on each
region is given. Existing mining operations are described in Section X.

Geologists from the World Bank and from Techno-Economic Consulting, Inc. who have visited
southern Ethiopia believe that the geology of that region offers one of the finest prospects for
gold mineralization anywhere in the world. The first primary gold mine in the country, Lega
Dembi, began operations in the Adola region of southern Ethiopia in 1990.. The proven reserves
of the three known ore bodies at Lega Dembi are 62.146 metric tons of gold.

Discovered at the same time as Lega Dembi, the tantalum-niobium deposit at Kenticha has also
been developed. Surface mining techniques are being used and a pilot plant is producing 20
metric tons of tantalum pentoxide concentrate per year. Reserves are stated to be 2400 metric
tons of T~Os averaging 0.015% T~Os and 2300 metric tons of Nb20S.

Evaporation ponds at Lake Abiyata yield trona and a semi-industrial plant has a 20,000 metric
ton per year design capacity. Studies indicate that Lakes Abiyata, Shala and Chitu Contain 460
million metric tons of sodium carbonate at concentrations ranging from 1.1% to 1.9%.

The Dallol potash deposits in the Danakil Depression of northern Ethiopia constitute a major
source of potash. Total proven, probable and possible reserves are estimated to be 160 million
metric tons with an average 32.52% potassium chloride content.
Except for the Dallol potash depositsand the Ondonok goldp"rospectin the Western Greenstone
Region, all targets can be initially mined by surface mining methods.
A 36"x 36"Metallogenic Map of Ethiopia to 1:2,000,000scale is included in the jacket at the end
of this Volume. A reduced, 8%"x 11"Metallogenic Map is included at the end of this Section.

1
SECfION I. SUMMARY

FIGURE 1
TARGET AREAS

Region Deposit/Occurrence Page

Adola Greenstone Region . Lega Dembi (existing mine and plant) 89

.Digati 15
Dermi-Dama 16
. Sakaro 17
, Megado, Bore, Upper Bore, Lega Geshe, 18
Cheketa-Serdo.

Agere Maryam Region Choricho, Kape, Kelaltu, Guduba, Ogo Basin, 33

Demi-Rufo, Bekaka
Arero Greenstone Region Okote, Kelensa-Ebicha, Wondimu-Ibrahim 35
Moyale Greenstone Region 'Moyale Town 44
,lIassamte-lIaramsam 46
Western Greenstone Region Azale, Akendayu 50
Ashashire 51
Boka, Daletti, Bindakoro,'Oda-Godere 52
. Mount Dul 53

Ondonok, Tulu Kami, Metti, Lega Baguda 54

Chokorsa, Tulu Kapi, Ankori, Kata, Bomu 55
Menghi, Bascia, Gambela Mountain, Guba,
Dura Abelli Drainage, Beles Drainage,
Abumare, Abteselo, Mekezen
Akobo Greenstone Region . Chamo Creek, Kari River, Kendibab Creek 67
. Akobo River 68

Tigray Greenstone Region Aragab Mesha, Enticho, Asgede 74

Terakimti (Adi Dairo), Adizere Senai, Zager, 75

lIargets, Mefalso and Adi lIageray, Adi lIoza,
Mekele Quadrangle

2
SECTION I. SUMMARY

Region DeposiJ/Occurrence Page

Adola Greenstone Region ~'Meleka, Chambe 18

I

. Kenticha (existing mine and plant) 96

Ethiopian Rift Zone Lakes Abiyata, Shala and Chitu; (existing 100
evaporation ponds and plant at Lake Abiyata)

Ethiopian Rift Zone Musely 79

Crescent 81

Adola Greenstone Region Digati 15

Tula, Ula Ulo, Monissa, Dubicha, Kenticha, 22
KiIta
Arero Greenstone Region (name unknown) 35
Western Greenstone Region Yubdo 56
Tigray Greenstone Region Samre 75

Arero Greenstone Region (name unknown) 36

Western Greenstone Region Yubdo 56

Tulu Dimtu, Dalatti 57

3
.
1

METALLOGENIC MAP OF ETHIOPIA

MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY OF THE
1
TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA
AND
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Based on .he Geological Map of Ethiopia to 1:2,000,000 published
by the Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys, 1992.
Compiled by Techno. Economic Consulting, Inc.. in collaboration
with the Mineral Resource Explorationand DevelopmentControl
Department and the Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys.
Approved for publication by Hon. Shemsudin Ahmed, Vice Minister
of Mines; Ministry of Mjnes and Ener9Y. Transitional Government of
Ethiopia.
Prepared for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Transitional
Government of Ethiopia, under United Nations CON 7/92 . ETH/90/
SUDAN 016.
Executing Agency: Sustainable Development and Environmental
Management Branch, Division of Economic Policy and Social
Development. Depanment for Development Support and Managem-
ent Services.
Funding Agency: United Nations Development Programme.
Contractor: Techno - Economic Consulting, Inc.. New York. NY..
USA; H.Reid Craig, Jr., compiler of map.
Cartography and Printing: Ethiopian Mapping Authority, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, 1994..
Thedesignations employed and the presentation of material on this
map do not implythe expressionof any opinion whatsoever on the
part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal
status of any country. tenitory, city'or area or of its authorities, or
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
\!:) Copyright all rights reserved. 1994

Tertiary sediments.

. Tertiaryvolcanics

Mesozoicsedimenls

Greenstones, Late Proterozoic ~

Gneissicterrane.Archean 1
UI tramafic bodies

j ....................

Existing Mining Operation

Railroad,AddisAbabato Djibouti
. Primaryroad

. Nationalcapitalcity
. City

,
L
 SECTION II

GEOLOGY OF ETIllOPIA
 SECTION II
GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA

Ethiopian geology consists of a high-grade metamorphic terrane of Archean to Early Protero-

zoic age, Late Proterozoic greenschist facies metavolcanics and metasediments, negligible
amounts of Paleozoic sediments, Mesozoic marine sediments, Tertiary sediments (eastern
Ethiopia) and volcanics (western and central Ethiopia), and Quaternary sediments, volcanics
and evaporites in the structural rift system.
The structure of Ethiopia is dominated by the north-trending Ethiopian Rift Valley, a failed
arm of the triple junction with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In the southwest, a strong,
northwest-striking shear zone with sinistral movement cuts the Precambrian metamorphics
and rotates their regional, generally north-south schistosity, to a direction parallel to the
shear direction.

Known mineral deposits and occurrences, and their geological environments are shown on the
Metallogenic Map of Ethiopia (in the jacket at the end of this Volume).

A. GEOLOGY

1. PRECAMBRIAN BASEMENT ROCKS (MAPS II-I)

a. Archean Rocks (Lower Complex)

Known in southern, western and eastern parts of Ethiopia, the Lower Complex
consists of high-grade gneisses and granitoids. Granulites and migmatites are
noted. The published descriptions suggest that the bulk of these are para-
gneisses, although strongly metamorphosed basic igneous rocks are seen in the
lowermost unit, the Konso gneiss.

On the latest geologic map of Ethiopia, the Lower Complex is divided into five
groups of gneissic rock. From oldest to youngest, they are Konso, Alghe,
Awata, Yavello and Baro. In the Adola and Agere Maryam areas of southern
Ethiopia, the Awata has been divided locally into the Bora and the Buluka
formations.

b. Early Proterozoic Rocks (Middle Complex)

The lowest unit of the Middle Complex is the Wadera Group, which consists of
meta-sandstone, quartzite and biotite and muscovite schists. Contrary to earlier
work, the latest geologic map places the .Mormora Group in the Middle
Complex rather than Late Proterozoic. It consists of biotite schist, gneiss,
marble and graphitic schists, and is found in a narrow belt east of Kibre Mengist
in the Adola region.

5
SECI'IONn. GEOLOGY
OF ETIDOPIA

c. Late Proterozoic (Upper Complex)

Discussion of the formations of the Late Proterozoic must be divided into two
geographical parts: the units in the Adola Group of southern Ethiopia and
those in the Western, Akobo (southwestern Ethiopia), and Tigray (northern
Ethiopia) Greenstone Belts. These two geographical parts have yet to be
correlated with any certainty. It is generally considered that the units in the
Adola Group are older than the other groups. Folding is locally isoclinal and
even recumbent, with thrust faulting in certain zones.

The Adola Group, which has been broken down into the Chakata and Finki1cha
formations and the Kajimiti beds, is developed in the area commonly called the
Adola Goldfield. It consists of amphibolites of intrusive and volcanic origin, a
suite of mafic and ultramafic rocks, quartzites, both iron-bearing and graphitic,
and chlorite and graphitic phyllites. Metamorphism is generally greenschist
facies, although it may reach amphibolite facies locally. The Kajimiti beds,
consisting of meta-conglomerate and meta-sandstone, overlie the Adola Group.
They are restricted to a narrow belt between Shakiso and Digati in the Adola
Greenstone Belt.

The Late Proterozoic in the Moyale area, farther south, is considered to be an

extension of the Adola belt based on lithologic similarities.

The Western, Akobo and Tigray Greenstone Belts are made up of a series of
metavolcanics, from basalt to rhyolite, phyllites (chloritic, sericitic and graphitic
types), greenschists, limestone, quartzites, metasediments of different types,
meta-cherts and amphibolites. Small bodies of serpentinite and pyroxenite also
occur. These lithologies are broken down into three groups: Birbir, Tulu.
Dimtu and Tsaliet. Between the Western and Akobo Greenstone Belts, there
are a number of granitoid intrusions, both post-tectonic and syntectonic.

Overlying the Tsaliet Group of metavo1canics and metasediments is the

Tambien Group of metasediments. This group is made up of chlorite, sericite,
and graphitic phyllites, and limestone, slate and dolomite. It is well-developed
in the Tigray Greenstone Belt. The contact with the underlying Tsaliet is
gradational. The Tambien probably accumulated in relatively shallow water.

Conformably overlying the Tambien Group of metasediments is the Didikama

formation. It is well-developed in the Tigray Region and consists of dolomite
and grey, black or variegated slates. Unconformably overlying the older rocks,
and also restricted to northern Ethiopia, is the Shiraro formation of sandstones
and conglomerates. This formation is less strongly folded than the underlying
formations.

The Matheos formation, the youngest of the Precambrian succession in Ethiopia

is restricted to northern Ethiopia. It consists of limestone, dolomitic limestone
and dolomite, and overlies the older rocks unconformably.

6
SECTIONll. GEOLOGYOF ErmoPIA

The regional structural trend of the Late Proterozoic in the Akobo Basin is
northwesterly, due to drag along a major shear zone. In the Western and Tigray
Belts, the trend is generally northerly. Thrust faults in the southwest dip to the
east and suggest a west-directed movement. The thrusts in the Adola region dip
to the west and an east-directed sense of movement is inferred.

2. PHANEROZOIC COVERROCKS

a. Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic Sediments

Late Paleozoic sediments are found in a number of restricted areas. Fluvio-
glacial sediments overlie the continental to shallow marine sands of the Permo-
Carboniferous Enticho formation. Late Paleozoic to lowermost Mesozoic
continental clastics are found in the Abay (Blue Nile) Basin and in southeast
Ethiopia. These clastic sediments are generally localized in narrow grabens.
Wells in the Ogaden Basin of eastern Ethiopia have cut thick pre-Adigrat
Paleozoic sediments, consisting of a basal arkosic sandstone, 1200 meters of
shale and siltstone, and 400 meters of sandstone with chert pebbles and
anhydrite (Calub #1 well).

In the early Paleozoic, Ethiopia was landlocked in the interior of the ancestral
Gondwanaland. Erosion leveled the Precambrian terrain. In the Lower Perm-
ian, regional extension commenced, which resulted in the development of
normal faults. These developed into a major rift system which ran down the
present east coast of Africa. Although marine sedimentation has been identified
in the Ogaden and Somalia, continental sedimentation predominated west of the
Ogaden.

b. Mesozoicto Early Tertiary Sedimentary Rocks

Three transgressive cycles have been identified in the Mesozoic: the Trias-
sic-Jurassic, Albian-Aptian, and Cenomanian-Maestrichtian. The Triassic
Adigrat in the Ogaden is the base of this first transgression. It consists of
siltstone, shale, dolostone and marl. The Adigrat in northern Ethiopia is
probably lower Jurassic and consists of crossbedded sandstones. The formation
grades upward through a transition zone of dolostone and anhydrite into a thick
Jurassic carbonate unit, the Antalo Group in the Ethiopian plateau and
Hamanlei in the Ogaden.

The Middle to Upper Jurassic Antalo Group is divided into the older Abay
beds, the Antalo limestone and the Agula shale. In the Abay beds, there is
alternating limestone, gypsum, dolomitic limestone, sandstone, and shales. The
Antalo is made up of limestone and marl with oolites and coquina. In the
Mekele outlier of northern Ethiopia, a sandy oolitic limestone is found in the
western portion, sep~rated by a reefal facies from deeper-water marls and shales
in the Afar escarpment area. The Agula, overlying the Antalo, is a black pyritic

7
SEmON II. GEOLOGYOF ETHIoPIA

limestone with shale and marl interbeds. Overlying these older units is the
Upper Jurassic to lower Cretaceous Amba Araden formation. It consists of
sandstone, shale and marl.

The Hamanlei is Callovian to Oxfordian in age, and is composed of a thick

sequence of Liassic to Oxfordian carbonates and anhydrite. It is overlain by
Upper Jurassic clastics, shales, and gypsum, with some carbonates.

c. Tertiary Volcanic and SedimentaryRocks

Tertiary marine sediments are found only in the Red Sea Basin and the Ogaden
east of the Marda fault zone. In the Red Sea Basin, evaporites and volcanic
units are interbedded with tuffaceous sandstones and conglomerates, shale and
an uppermost limestone horizon. Thick sequences ofTertiary volcanics,ranging
in composition from rhyolitic to basaltic, are found in central and western
Ethiopia.
d. Late Tertiary to Quaternary Volcanic and Sedimentary Rocks

Late Tertiary to Quaternary sedimentary rocks are found in four general areas
in Ethiopia. In the eastern Ogaden, both marine and continental sedimentation
proceeded from early to Middle Tertiary. The coastal sediments of the Red Sea
region consist of late Tertiary sandstone, evaporite and limestone. These were
followed by Quaternary conglomerate, sand, silt, clay and reef limestone.
Deposition in the Danakil Depression is found to be similar in character. In the
lower Omo Valley, in southwestern Ethiopia, sands, sandstones and rare
volcanics have been reported.

The Danakil area is of particular interest owing to the occurrence of potash in

the evaporite sequence. Late Tertiary sediments outcrop on both sides of the
Danakil Depression, fringing the thick evaporite sequence. They in turn are
overlapped by Quaternary volcanics. The Red Series, of Miocene to Pliocene
age, consists of coarse, generally fresh-to-brackish-water clastic sediments.
Above the Red Series is a thick evaporite formation of bedded halite, gypsum,
anhydrite, potash and magnesium salts and shale. This sequence fills a basin in
the center of the Danakil Depression. Drilling has indicated a total thickness
of 1200 meters of halite and gypsum, some 40 meters of potash salts and 15
meters of magnesium salts. The evaporitic formation is Pliocene to Holocene
In age.

B. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

The Late Proterozoic greenschist facies metavo1canics, metasediments and the associated
meta-ultramafics offer opportunites for gold, platinum, niobium, tantalum, cesium and
nickel in the Adola, Arero, Moyale, Western, Akobo and Tigray Greenstone Regions. Also
with potential for these and others is the Agere Maryam area. The possibilities in these

8
..
SECl10N ll. GEOLOGYOF ETIDOPIA

areas have been studied to a variable degree, the greatest concentration of work having
been in the Adola region. Primary free gold, together with variable amounts of sulfides,
occurs in quartz veins, in quartz lenses, as disseminations, and in swarms and stockworks
of quartz veinlets in the host greenstones and associated intrusions.

It is possible that volcanogenic massive and disseminated base metal sulfide deposits may
be found in the Akobo, Western and Tigray metavolcanic-metasedimentary terranes.
Evidence exists - remnant pillow lavas, ferruginous chert layers and water-laid tuffs - that
submarine volcanism was commonly the source of these lithologies. Auriferous sulfides
were reported in a number of areas in the Western Greenstone Belt, and base metal
mineralization is common in this belt and the Tigray Greenstone Belt.

Although there has been little exploration directed specifically toward the base metal
potential of Ethiopia, occurrences and indications of copper, lead and zinc have been
reported in greenstone belts of metavo1canics and associated metasediments. The greatest
number of these are in the Western, Akobo and Tigray Greenstone Belts. Some of these
may indicate the presence' of volcanogenic massive to heavy-disseminated sulfide deposits
at depth, possibilities of which are suggested in Oda-Godere, Azale-Akendayu, and areas
north of Kurmuk, all in the Western Greenstone Belt. Copper and zinc mineralization has
been reported at a number of localities in the Tigray region, such as those near Aragab and
Samre. The Tsehafi Emba copper occurrence in western Tigray has been studied, as has
the Kata base metal and gold occurrence in the Western Greenstone Belt.

Belts of ophiolites, which are present in western and northern Ethiopia, as well as the
Adola region, are known to have great mineral potential. Examples are found in Cyprus,
western Colombia and northern Turkey.

The only known deposit containing a substantial tonnage of iron is at Bikilal in the Western
Greenstone Belt. The lenticular bodies of ilmenite-magnetite ore are associated with an
anorthosite horizon within a belt of hornblendite.

A tantalite-bearing pegmatite is currentlybeing exploited at Kenticha in the Adola region.

The pegmatite body lies along the gradational contact between a granite and a serpen-
tinized ultramafic body. Other occurrences and indications of rare metals are found at
Meleka and Chambe to the north of Kenticha, as well as in the Agere Maryam Region.

The Pliocene to Holocene deposits of saline evaporites in the northern Danakil Depression
contain an appreciable proven tonnage of sylvite and other potassium and magnesium salts.
The upper bed of potash ore has been only partially explored. The lower horizon has been
intersected by one drill hole; lateral extensions are unchecked. The possibilities for
extensive potash reseIVes north and south of Musely are excellent.

Evaporitic deposits of potash, similar to those of the Danakil Depression, are found in the
back-reef basins in Saskatchewan (Canada), New Mexico (United States) and various
localities in Europe. These have been producers for many years and the same may be
expected in Ethiopia.

9
SECTION II. GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA

Soda ash is being produced by evaporation of the waters pumped from Lake Abiyata in the
Rift Valley. The water in nearby Lake Shala also has a chemical composition suitable for
the extraction of soda ash by evaporation. The potential reselVes of soda ash from the area
are extensive.

The large areas of Tertiary felsic volcanics west of the Rift Valley have received little to
no exploration for hot-spring type or large-tonnage, low-grade gold deposits. The felsic-to-
intermediate volcanics, of which there are large thicknesses, should be considered as
worthwhile exploration target areas for gold and associated metals.

In the western United States, similar volcanic terranes have hosted many such deposits, and
recent studies in Yemen have indicated the presence of exploration target areas in the
extensive areas underlain by Tertiary volcanics. Large-tonnage, low-grade gold deposits in
Tertiary volcanic fields, amenable to open-pit exploitation, have recently been developed
in Peru. Two of these are currently producing.

The regions underlain by Mesozoic shelf carbonates, such as the Mekele outlier, Abay
Basin, and western and northern Ogaden, merit consideration for Mississippi-type lead-zinc
environments.

To date there has been no exploration of consequence for carbonate-hosted base metals,
principally lead and zinc, in these areas. This type of deposit has been a great producer
of ore in many areas of the world, such as the Mississippi Valley and Appalachian regions
of the United States, northern Mexico, the Pine Point area of Canada, France, Germany
and Brazil.

In summary, analogies between the several favorable geologic situations in Ethiopia and
similar ones containing known mineral deposits in other parts of the world, strongly suggest
the likelihood of such mineralization occurring in Ethiopia as well.

c. MAPS
1. GEOLOGICAL ANDGEOPHYSICALMAPS

The Ethiopian Institute of Geological SUlVeys(EIGS) has mapped about 25% of the
country at the 1:250,000scale. The geological and geophysical maps below are
available from EIGS:

Geological Map of Ethiopia (1973), Scale 1:2,000,000

Geological Map of the Ogaden, (1985), Scale 1:1,000,000

Geological Map of the Adola Area (1988), Scale 1:100,000

Geological Map of Adola Area (1992), Scale 1:100,000

10

..
SEcrION n. GEOLOGY
OFErHIOPIA

Adigrat ND 37-7 1977

Adi Remets ND 37-9 1982
Dire Dawa NC 37-12 1985
Gore NC 36-16 1987
Mekele ND 37-11 1987
Nazret NC 37-15 1978
Omo Project Area O.P.A 1979

The followingmaps are due to be published and are available as black and white
copies:
Agere Maryam NB 37-10 1993
Kurmuk, Asosa NC 36-7, 8 1987

A Bouguer gravitymap, a residual gravitymap and a regional gravitymap are being

prepared by EIGS at scales of 1:2,000,000and 1:10,000,000. The geological map of
Ethiopia is being digitized for future integrated interpretation of the gravity data.
Airborne geophysicalsUlveysof various parts of the country have been undertaken
over the years. Airborne coverage is shown on Map 11-2at the end of this Section.

The address of EIGS is as follows:

Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys

P.O. Box 2302
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 251-1-513877

2. TOPOGRAPHICMAPS

Topographic maps at various scales are available. The most important scales are:
Scale Coverage Year of Publication
1:1,000,000 100% 1984
1:250,000 98% 1972
1:50,000 40% 1980-1994

The maps may be purchased from the Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA), the
Government agency responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the
national geodetic network and for national mapping. The EMA's address is:

Ethiopian Mapping Authority

Menelik Avenue
P.O. Box 597
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel. : 011-251-1-51 59 01
Fax: 011-251-1-51 51 89

11

-- - ---
 Map 11-1
Major Tectono-Metamorphic Divisions
of the Precambrian in Ethiopia
After Senbeto Chewaka and M. de Wit (1981)
o 100 200 300 400

Kilometers

Calc-alkalinevolcanic-
plutonic belt

Western ophioliticsuture
belt; ophiolites in Eastern
metamorphic belt

Basement in calc-alkaline
ERITREA calc-plutonic belt

Central high-grade
metamorphic zone

Eastern metamorphic belt

Southwestern cataclastic
belt

Precambrian outcrop

SUDAN

SOMALIA

KENYA
12
 4:ZOE

Map 11-2 +180N

Airborne Surveys of Ethiopia
RED SEA o 100 200
SUDAN Kilometers

. 14'N~-f-

GULF OF ADEN
12"N
12"Nt ( 103) : ; : : (

100N1 } IL I I I I .. \...
t 1 OON
SOMALIA

.
1238
1L

1338 I

-'1311 I
SOMALIA
KENYA

Survey No.1 031 Survey No. 1238 Survey No. 1337

Magnetics - 1968 Magnetics - 1951 Magnetics - 1983
No. line km: 24000 No. line km: 8725 No. line km: 3436
Une spacing (km): 10 Une spacing (km): 8 Une spacing (km): 3

Survey No. 1033 Survey No. 1311 Survey No. 1338

Mag. & Radiometry - 1971 Mag. & Radiometry - 1970 Magnetics - 1970
No. line km: 35443 No. line km: 9726 No. line km: 16978
Une spacing (km): 1 Une spacing (km): 1 Une spacing (km): 4.8

Survey No. 1035 Survey No. 1312

Magnetics - 1976 Mag. & Radiometry - 1970
No. line km: 14345 No. line km: 15274
Une spacing (km): 5 Une spacing (km): 1

13
 SECTION ill

ADOLA GREENSTONE REGION

 SECTION III
ADOLA GREENSTONE REGION

The Adola Greenstone Region is located in southern Ethiopia, 500 kilometers south of Addis
Ababa. (See Maps 111-1to 111-6.)
.
The modem gold mining history of the Adola Greenstone Region can be divided into three
periods. The first period began in the 1930s with the discovery of placer gold in Bedakessa
Valley in the Adola area. A large number of placers with high gold content were put into
production in a short time. In 1944 alone, over 2500 prospectors recovered 1630 kilograms of
gold. Between 1945 and 1950 the first attempt was made to examine the gold potential of the
area systematically.

During the second period, from the early 1950s to 1978, gold production declined since the rich
and easy-to-work placers had been nearly exhausted. Exploration efforts identified approximately
150 placer gold deposits. The discovery of gold lodes by prospectors at Dermi Dama and Sakaro
in 1975 strongly suggested the existence of major primary gold deposits in the Adola area.

The third period began in 1978, when the Adola Gold Exploration Project was established with
Soviet technical assistance to evaluate the mineralization in the Adola area. The Project
explored for placer and primary gold deposits, as well as for rare metals and ceramics. This work
resulted in the discovery of the primary gold deposit at North Lega Dembi and the tantalum
deposit at Kenticha.

The area covered by geological mapping is underlain by units of the Precambrian basement
complexes. Only the Middle and Upper Complexes have been studied in any detail. These have
been deformed in linear north-trending folds, which have been cut by deep-seated longitudinal
faults, and flexures trending northeast and northwest. The Upper Complex, the Adola volcano-
sedimentary sequences, is confined to the 20-25 kilometer-wide Megado graben-syncline. The
syncline is a down-faulted and folded block bordered by the higher metamorphic grade Middle
Complex units.

The Middle Complex is divided into two groups, the Awata and the Mormora, which represent
two major cycles of sedimentation. They are metamorphosed to the amphibolite facies. The
Awata is the older of the two and is made up of migmatitic biotite-hornblende gneiss (Bore
formation) and a biotite gneiss (Buluka formation). The Mormora Group consists of a lower
psammitic lithology (Zembaba formation), which grades upward into the pelitic Aflata formation,
which in turn grades into the carbonate-pelitic lithology of the Kenticha formation. These have
been intruded by the Gariboro ,granites, which have been dated at 680:t30 million years.

The Upper Complex Adola Group is weakly metamorphosed and consists of the volcano-
sedimentary Chakata and terrigenous Finkilcha formations. Overlying these formations uncon-
formably are the metaconglomerates and metasandstones of the Kajimiti beds. Accompanying
the volcanic activity of the Upper Complex units was the pre- Kajimiti emplacement of ultramafic
and gabbroic rocks along the deep, north-south trending faults. A number of cross-cutting
post-Kajimiti granite bodies intruding the area have been dated at 515:tl0 million years.

14
SECTIONm. AnOLA GREENSTONEREGION

A helicopter-borne geophysical sUivey was done by a Canadian contractor. Magnetometer,

electromagnetic and radiometric data were collected along the flight-lines. The results in hard
copy and CD-ROM will be available in December 1994.

A. GOLD MINERALIZATION

The majority of the known gold-bearing areas are in the Adola Greenstone Belt, which
is composed of Late Proterozoic metavolcanics and metasediments. The Adola belt is 20-
25 kilometers wide by some 150 kilometers long. Both alluvial and primal)' gold occur
along this north-striking zone. The Kenticha Greenstone Belt, lying 12 to 15 kilometers
east of the eastern marginal thrust of the Adola belt, contains some gold, but is chiefly
of interest for nickeliferous laterites and rare metals, associated with ultramafics and
pegmatites respectively.
1. PRIMARY GOLD

a. Lega Dembi Ore Zone

The Lega Dembi ore bodies, mine, plant and reseIVesare described in
Section X.

. b. DigatiGoldand Base Metal Prospect

The Digati prospect is situated at N05000'00", E38°50'00", 72 kilometers
south of the town of Shakiso. The lithologies obselVed are amphi-
bole-chlorite schist, meta-gabbro, meta-ultramafics, and plagioclase-amphi-
bole-tremolite rock. Associated with these principal lithologies, metavol-
canic breccias, quartz veins of varying textures, and basic and aplitic dikes
have been mapped. These show both concordant and discordant relation-
ships with the strike of the main lithologic units. Varying types of alter-
ation are noted in the different lithologies and to a lesser extent in the
amphibole-rich rock. The most common types are silicification, chloriti-
zation, epidotization, biotitization and sericitization.

The rock formation strikes NlOoWto NlOoE and dips moderately to steeply
to the west as a rule, although an occasional dip to the east is found. At
the contact between the amphibole-chlorite schist and the amphibole gneiss
there is a 160-180 meter wide shear zone. This has a strike generally
similar to the rock foliation.

Disseminated sulfides consist of chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite and pyrrhotite.

In the quartz veins, galena, pyrite and chalcopyrite are seen in association
with free gold. A total of 11 veins with free gold are known in the prospect
area. Two of these are near Digati, hosted by a biotite-amphibole gneiss.
The remainder of the veins are southeast of Digati, hosted by amphibole
gneiss. Fine- to vel)' fine-grained gold grains are found in sulfide-bearing
quartz boulders in the creek and in the sulfide-bearing quartz veins in the

15
SECfIONm. ADOLAGREENSTONE
REGION

southern part of the area. In the central part, primary gola was also
obseIVed in quartz veins hosted by amphibolites.
Placer gold in terraces is found near the Dawa bridge and up the Maralo
Valley. Geochemical stream sediment samples showed high copper and
nickel values as well. Soils gave values up to 2400 ppm Cu and 5400 ppm
Ni in the area underlain by meta-ultramafics.

Three zones of interest for gold and Cu-Ni mineralization by were found
by geophysical exploration. The central zone is the most promising.
Quartz veins with gold and associated sulfides are found near the contact
of amphibole-quartzo-feldspathic gneiss and amphibole gneiss (central part),
and near the contact of amphibole gneiss and amphibole-chlorite schist
(southern part). Quartz veins are considered to be the host rocks of the
primary gold mineralization.

The placer possibilities have been examined and the wash thicIaiess varies
between 0.2 and 2.0 meters, carrying 0.13 to 2.59 grams Au per cubic
meter. The overburden varies from 3.0 to 5.2 meters thick in the lower part
of the Dawa terraces in the 40-meter-wide valley. The overall grade varies
from 0.12 to 0.76 grams per cubic meter. The part of the valley near the
Dawa bridge requires further prospecting.

c. Denni-Dama Gold Prospect

This prospect area is located at approximately N05°00'00",E39°00'00". It
is in the Kenticha belt, 2 kilometers east of Dermi-Dama Village, on the
left side of the Mormora River.

There are two principal lithologic units in the area, biotite schists and
altered ultramafics. Foliation dips variably to the east. Lenses of quartz,
up to one meter thick, ultramafics and amphibolites are found within the
biotite schist. Quartz veining and pegmatite bodies are obseIVed in the
main lithologies. The ultramafics have been altered to talc, chlo-
rite-tremolite-talc schist and serpentinite. The biotite schists have under-
gone various types of alteration, silicification, introduction of calcite,
chloritization (of Ti-rich biotite), and tourmalinization. The biotite schists
and quartz veins contain generally less than 1% disseminated pyrite and
pyrrhotite. The primary gold occurs in quartz veins and veinlets without
appreciable amounts of sulfides. The host rocks are usually biotite schists
near the contact with the ultramafics.

The Dermi-Dama gold prospect is of the stockwork type, associated with

the general Mormora gneissic terrane. The mineralized zone, as presently
known, is 200 meters long and 15 to 30 meters wide.

16
SECTIONm. ADOLAGREENSTONEREGION

Another type of gold mineralization has been explored in the area, appar-
ently in biotite schists within gamet-amphibolite (green rock) intercalations.
Three drill holes were put down. DDH #1, at a depth of 125.34 meters,
cut 1 meter containing 11.3 ppm Au. A 4.6 ppm Au intersection was also
cut. These were fire-assay results. These intersections were in gar-
net-biotite-amphibole and a staurolite-gamet-biotite schist. DDH #2 cut
two gold-bearing zones. Three samples from DDH #3 were analyzed by
atomic absorption spectrometer and gave 0.1 ppm Au.

Sixty-one rock samples were analyzed for gold. Seven of these contained
more than 10 grams of gold per metric ton, 28 had more than 1 gram per
ton. One of the samples, in the vicinity of an old pit, reported 68 grams of
gold per ton. During the exploration work, 130 pits were dug, of which 96
gave positive gold indications.

High Pb values, 36 to 70 ppm, were obtained in the southeast part of the

area, where the underlying rock is serpentinite. At Lega Dembi high lead
values are related to the areas of gold mineralization.

d. . Sakaro Gold Prospect

This prospect is located at N05°38'54", E38°51'58", about 9 kilometers
southwest of Shakiso, in the Adola belt. The area is underlain by metasedi-
ments (biotite-sericite schist interlayered with micaceous and graphitic
schists), basic meta-igneous rocks (amphibolites), meta-ultramafics (talc-
tremolite and chlorite-actinolite schists), and amphibole-plagioclase gneiss.
The foliation strikes north-northeast and dips westerly.

The mineralized zone is in the Adola belt, along the eastern margin of the
Megado graben-syncline. Four gold-bearing quartz veins are found The
veins strike N700E and dip NW50o-60°. Sulfide mineralization includes
pyrite, pyrrhotite and rare chalcopyrite, but the gold mineralization in
general is interpreted as low-sulfide, quartz type. The gold in the quartz
veins is reported to be both crystalline and sheet-like.

Geochemical and geophysical anomalies were found generally overlapping

along the zone. Pitting and drilling were done, with values up to 5.79 ppm
Au reported. The maximum value was at 159 meters depth from a bio-
tite-sericite schist. Below 57 meters, pyrite decreases and pyrrhotite
becomes the dominant sulfide. Geophysical study outlined a 1.6 kilometer
long anomalous zone, and the gold- mineralized zone can be traced for 760
meters along strike.

The placer deposits in the Sakaro and Wollena Valleys are considered to
be exhausted for all practical purposes.

17
SECTIONm. ADOLAGREENSTONEREGION

e. Other Primary Occurrences

There are a number of known primary gold occurrences in the Adola
Greenstone Region. Among these is the area from Megado south. Near
the exhausted Upper Bore gold placer, there is a zone of gold-bearing
quartz veins that merit further exploration. The occurrence near Megado
is in quartzites. There are also primary quartz vein gold possibilities at
Bore I and II, and Lega Geshe.

Occurrences worthy of concentrated exploration efforts exist in the Cheketa

area and in an area about 7 kilometers north of Digati and above the Dawa
Digati drainage area.
2. PLACER GOLD

The locations of some of the known placer deposits are marked on Map 111-3,but
only those where some geological studies have been made. Quite apart from the
possibilities for small- to medium-scale alluvial mining, these placer accumulations
are an excellent guide to primary gold possibilities.

Artisanal mining operations are not uncommon in the Upper Mormora River and
at Shorte, near the town of Megado. A semi-mechanized operation has been
undertaken at Kajimiti. The Bedakessa placer, a short distance north of Shakiso,
remains 70% unexploited, and the Kelecha placer, in the Shakiso area, is only 20%
worked. The Cheketa-Serdo placer in the Wanza and Serdo Valleys, at N05°38',
E38°50', is worth further examination.

B. KENTICHA TANTALUM DEPOSIT

The geology and reserves of the Kenticha tantalum deposit, and the operations of the
Kenticha mine and pilot plant are described in Section X.

C. MELEKA AND CHAMBE RARE METAL PROSPECTS

The Meleka prospect is located at N05°52'48"-N06°04'07", E38°48'38"-E38°55'00".The

Chambe prospect is 30 kilometers north of Kibre Mengist,between N06°00'00"-N06°10'00"
and E38°54'34"-E39°00'00".These prospectslie on the northern extension of the Adola
belt, and the general rock types and structural trends are similar to those in the southern
part of the Adola belt.

The area in general is underlain by Upper Complex rocksof the Chakata and Finkilcha
formations and by Middle Complex rocks of the Aflata and Kenticha formations. The
Chakata and Finkilcha are volcano-sedimentarywith ga:bbroicintrusions. The latter two
formations are biotite-amphibole,biotite-plagioclase-quartzand quartz-hornblendeschists,
and biotite-quartz-feldspar and quartz-hornblende gneisses. Two.-mica and gneissose
granites are exposedalong the right side of the Genale River. The regional trend of the
units is north-south.

18
I
~
SECflON m. ADOLAGREENSTONEREGION

Concordant and discordant quartz veins occur in zones of hydrothermal alteration.

Malachite and copper sulfides occur in quartz veins cutting the basicrocks. Alluvialgold
was also found in several of the rivers - the Abeba, Oda-Buta, Udetu, Hortumie and Hill.
Pegmatites with associatedberyl, amazonite (microcline), tungsten, molybdenum and, in
some cases, columbiteminerals were seen around the town of Chambe. A pegmatite with
columbite was located five kilometers south of Chambe.

Mineralization in the area consists of twotypes,placer gold and tantalite-columbite. Chip

samples taken from the-Chambe pegmatites are reported to have returned the following
analyses:
Figure 2
Chambe Pegmatite Rock Chip Samples

Deposit Niobium Tantalum

Pentoxide Pentoxide
% %
Chambe West 0.52 0.08
Chambe East 35.06 6.709
SOURCE: Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys internal
report, 1987.

Exploration samples from the alluvium in the Hobone Valley gave an average 0.396 grams
Au per cubic meter. A gold halo was found along the Abeba River in panned concen-
trates (this area included the town of Chambe).

D. KENTICHA FELDSPAR-QUARTZ DEPOSIT (MAP 111-5)

This deposit is situated between N05~9'09"-N05~9'29" and E39°01'30"-E39°01'58". Itlies

on the northwest slope of Kenticha Mountain, approximately 49 kilometers southeast of
Shakiso, in the Kenticha belt.

The eastern part of the area is underlain by the Aflata formation of aIternating biotite
gneisses and schists, amphibole schists and amphibolites. These strike north and dip
generally westward. The western part of the general area is underlain by rocks of the
youngerKenticha formation. These are biotite and muscoviteschists,graphite schists,and
some marble and amphibolite. They strike northerly with variable dips.

Between these two is a northerly-trending massif of ultramafic rock, 4 to 5 kilometers

wide. The massif is made up of lenticular serpentinites and talcose rocks with zones of
talc-chlorite schists and tremolite-ta1c rocks. Large elongated masses of relict
metamorphics were noted within the massif. A few 100 to 200-meter-wide bodies of
muscovitic, aplite-like pegmatoid bodies are encountered in various parts of the massif
and in the stratified metamorphics.

19
SECfIONm. AnOIA GREENSTONE
REGION

The Kenticha feldspar-quartz deposit incorporates a group of pegmatite veins within the
serpentinites. They are variably northerly-striking along with linear zones of tremolite-talc
rocks. Eight pegmatite veins were identified. Veins 1 and 5 undeIWent the most detailed
exploration. Vein 1 is found in the southwestern part of the area. It is 1.5 kilometers long
and between 50 and 150 meters thick, and trends northeast, dipping 50 to 70 degrees
southeast. It contains isolated occurrences of quartz blocks, the largest of which is 52
meters long by 30 meters wide. The smallest is 13 to 15 meters long by 4 meters wide.
The blocks are highly jointed.

The quartz is pure milky-white and translucent to glassy. The texture is massive- to
coarse-grained, occasionally cryptocrystalline. Samples from these blocks showed 98.7%
SiOzless than 0.1% alumina, lime, magnesia, soda, potash, titania, manganese oxide, and
loss on ignition. Less than 0.4% Fez03 was reported as well. The material appears
suitable for the ceramic and glass industries. The total inferred reseIVe is 268,000 metric
tons of quartz.

Vein 5 is located in the eastern and southeastern parts of the area. It pinches to the
south and is cut off on the north by a northwest-striking fault. This vein is 650 meters
long and averages 27 meters thick. It trends northerly and dips variably between 38 and
80 degrees east. A lens of serpentinite, 380 meters long and up to 10 meters thick, is
found in the central part of the vein. Five boreholes were drilled, for a total of 337.5
meters, geologic mapping of 5000-scale was done, as well as pitting and trenching.

Vein 5 is made up of orthoclase, quartz and muscovite, with occasional spodumene, beryl
and tourmaline. Chlorite and talc are found near the contacts. The orthoclase is coarsely
crystalline, microclinic, with intergrowths of albite (5% to 10%). The quartz is massive,
translucent, and milky-white to light gray, and is chiefly confined to the central part of the
body. Quartz may constitute 3% to 10% of the pegmatite mass. Aside from intergrowths
with feldspar, the quartz may be in blocks up to 1 meter across. Panned concentrates
showed what are considered to be background amounts of rare metals: UzO 0.05%;
TazOs 0.22%; and NbzOs 0.12%.

The Vein 5 reseIVes are given below. With selective mining and some beneficiation, this
material can meet industrial requirements for ceramics, glass, insulators, abrasives, glaze,
and other products.
Figure 3
Kenticha Vein 5 Reserves

Reserve Feldspar Feldspar with Quartz Tails

Category mt % mt % mt % mt
I Reserves
000 000 000 000

Probable !
366.4 I 50.4 184.5 I 35.7 130.9
113.9
51.0

Possible I 775.8 I 40.8 316.5 I 51.1 396.4

[ 8.1 62.8

Source: Sabov, Y. V. et aI, "Bombawoha Kaolin and Kenticha Feldspar Quartz Deposits,"
Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys internal report, 1985.

20
SEcnON m. AnOIAGREENSTONE
REGION

It is calculated that 420,700 metric tons of overburden must be stripped to exploit Vein
5's probable reserves of 366,400 metric tons, giving a stripping ratio of 1.15:1, waste to
pegmatite. The ratio of waste to ore in both reserve categories is 3.5:1.

Vein 4 is 70 meters long and 2 meters thick, and Vein 10 is 150 meters long and 4 meters
thick. They are undifferentiated pegmatites made up of feldspar, quartz, muscovite and
occasional spodumene.

Vein 2, the largest and longest, has an inconsistent composition along and across strike.
To the south, the eastern veIn material is feldspar and quartz, whereas the western vein
material is undiffere~tiated and ferruginous pegmatitic material. Locally, 90 x
90-centimeter blocks of pure microc1ine are found. The northern part is composed of
undifferentiated, ferruginized pegmatitic material, with highly-weathered spodumene
making up 10% of the total mass.

Vein 3 is 150 meters long by 2 to 25 meters wide. It strikes north-northeast and dips 30
to 25 degrees east. It is made up of feldspar, quartz and spodumene, with local muscovite
plates. Veins 7 and 11 are small quartz-muscovite-feldspar bodies, which are poorly
studied.

E. NICKELANDCHROMIUMMINERALIZATION

Nickel and chromium mineralization are associated with ophiolitic rocks of the Late
Proterozoic Adola Group. These crop out in the north-south striking Adola and Kenticha
belts. The nickeliferous bodies occur in two alignments of ultramafic bodies within a
serpentinite belt that goes from Cabalanca in the north to the Burjiji River in the south.
A second, parallel belt exists about 60 kilometers to the west. This also contains
ultramafic bodies, which have not been well examined.

The Adola belt is flanked on both sides by high-grade basement gneisses. The eastern
contact is undoubtedly tectonic, a thrust zone. The Adola belt consists of altered ultra-
mafic and mafic igneous rocks (Adola Group) and associated sediments (Mormora
Group). The ultramafics are altered to talc, talc serpentine and locally anthophyllite
schists, and occur as lenses up to tens of kilometers in length. Massive serpentinites are
also included in this length. The altered mafics are amphibolites and diabases, both
metamorphosed. The lower parts of the amphibolites display a gneissic structure, whereas
the upper parts locally have pillow structures as well as intercalations of graphitic
phyllites. These upper parts thus appear to be products of submarine basaltic eruptions,
and are interpreted as being part of an ophiolitic sequence.

Metasediments in the Adola Group are younger than the amphibolites, as may be seen
in the outcrops at Kajimiti Village. These are psammitic, pelitic and graphitic schists, and
graphitic and ferruginous quartzites.

The Kenticha belt is 12 to 15 kilometers east of the eastern marginal thrust of the Adola
belt. It consists of two parallel zones of talc and talc-serpentine rocks, separated by a thin

21
SECfION m. ADOLAGREENSTONE
REGION

strip of granitic gneisses. The Kenticha belt can be traced along strike for at least 60
kilometers. The east contact is with metasediments of the Middle Complex Wadera
Group. The west contact shows strong evidence of shearing. Structurally the belt consists
of three or more tectonic slices overthrust to the east. The soles of the two largest slices
are represented by zones of talc-serpentine-chlorite schists up to 1.5 kilometers thick.

Mineralization is associated with serpentinites and serpentinized peridotite lenses sur-

rounded by extensive belts of chlorite-tremolite-talc and talc-serpentine schists. Peridotite
is often altered to the "lizardite" form of serpentine. These are remnants of a once more
extensive and continuous ulframafic mass that was subjected to shearing and alteration.

There are at least 25 major bodies of serpentinite, in two groups, whose dimensions are
known roughly. One group consists of isometric lenses 0.5-1.5 kilometers long associated
with gently-dipping thrust planes. Examples are the Dubicha, Monissa and VIa VIo
bodies. VIa DIo has dimensions of 1000 meters by 600 meters, and dips W75°. Kilta is
950 meters by 300 meters. The second group consists of steeply-dipping elongated bodies
up to 6 kilometers long which follow steep dislocations. An example of this group is the
Kenticha body, which is 5.7 kilometers long.

On the surface the serpentinites are strongly weathered, leached and limonitized. Fresh
serpentinites contain less than 0.5% Ni and 0.05% Cr. There are three layers in the
weathered zone: lateritic iron to ochre, now largely eroded; red clay with weathered
serpentine fragments; and weathered serpentinite not yet gone to clay (lowest layer). The
nickel is mostly in the second layer, and in the upper part of the altered serpentinite. The
VIa DIo, Kilta and Tula deposits are typical of the nickel deposits in the western align-
ment of serpentinite bodies. At VIa VIo, grades range from 0.66% to 1.82% Ni, and
from 0.28% to 0.79% Cr. According to reports, garnierite was identified. The
nickeliferous residual soils overlying the VIa VIo, Tula and Kilta serpentinite bodies are
2.2, 5 and 6 meters thick, respectively.

No nickel sulfides have yet been discovered in the region. The secondary enrichment is
attained during serpentinization and weathering by the breakdown of the crystalline
lattices of olivine and pyroxene. Chromite is a commonaccessory. In the Budussamassif,
chromite is in cumulate lenses up to 3 meters long by 0.2 meter thick. No economic
concentrations of chromite have been found.

Of interest is the discovery of the platinoid mineral siserskite (osmium 70%, iridium 30%)
in heavy concentrates from the alluvium in the Demi Denissa River, a tributary of the
Bore River. The source has not been located, but the siserskite may be related to or
derived from a talc-serpentine schist near the upper reaches of the Demi Denissa stream.

Of the known bodies, seven have been explored either by pits or boreholes, or both. The
results of this work are tabulated below.

22
SECI'lONm. AnOIA GREENSTONE
REGION

Figure 4
Adola Region Nickel Reserves
Inferred

Deposit Boreholes/Pits Reserves Grade

Metric Tons %
Tula 27 boreholes 466,000 1.33
Via Vlo 138 boreholes 2,973,981 1.60
Lolotu 65 pits 817,000 1.52

Big Dubicha 98 pits 1,573,452 1.20

Kenticha 386 boreholes 3,780,978 1.28
Small Dubicha 46 pits 783,999 1.20
Kilta ? pits/holes 260,000 1.38

TOTAL - 10,579,219
SOURCE:EthiopianInstituteof GeologicalSurveys.
lCalculated.

The cutoff grades used in the above calculation were not consistent. Material grading
0.5% to 0.8% Ni was either not considered or was improperly assessed.
The borehole grades were checked by digging 16 pits over 16 boreholes in the VIa VIo
deposit and samplingthem. The borehole grades were consistently 7% lower than the
corresponding pits, e.g., a 1.38% Ni borehole was 1.47% Ni in the pit.

The reserve estimates from the earlier study may be low, for the following reasons:

· Borehole grades are consistentlylower than those obtained from pits;

· A large number of boreholes did not penetrate the total thickness of the deposits,
stopping in the well-mineralizedzone;

· An insufficientnumber of holes were drilled in some cases, which did not allow
for contouring the zones on a grade basis for mining;
· A considerablepotential tonnagewas disregarded for insufficient information and
lack of continuity;

· Study of the reserve calculations suggests that there may be more tonnage when
exploration is completed;

· There has been no drilling for the roots of the deposit below the lateritic mantle;
'\
23
SECI10N ID. ADOLA GREENSTONEREGION

· Only 7 of the 24 known serpentinite bodies have been partly examined; those 60
kilometers to the west have not been studied.

The Monissa Guba body has also been explored by boreholes. High-grade ore, 3.1% to
4.4% Ni, was found in well-weathered serpentinite but reserves were not estimated.

Taking into account that very preliminary work on some of the bodies for which reserves
have not been calculated, has verified the presence of significant nickel grades, consider-
able additional tonnage can be reasonably inferred to exist.

F. BOMBAWOHAKAOLINDEPOSIT (MAP 111-6)

This deposit is located between N06°04'40"-N06°05'00" and E38°45'50".E38°46'40". The

main road between Kibre Mengist and Awassa crosses the deposit. The deposit is near
the contact zone of the Kenticha and Chakata formations, which are separated by a
northerly-trending fault. The Kenticha formation (Middle Complex) is dominated by
biotite gneiss, containing amphibolite, garnet and staurolite schists, as well as marble.
The upper part of the formation contains graphitic schists. The Chakata formation of the
Upper Complex consists chiefly of amphibolite, chlorite and chlorite-actinolite schists and
quartzites. The Chakata is confined to the north-trending Megado graben-syncline.

Post-tectonic granitic and quartz diorite intrusions, dominated by leucocratic granites and
pegmatites, occur in the Adola Region. The general dip of the units is E300-35°. Rare
metal-bearing pegmatites are considered to be associated with these intrusions and
injections. The upper parts of the pegmatites and the granitic gneiss have been kaolinized.

The Bombawoha deposit is located in a massif of highly-weathered granitic gneiss and

covers an area of 1.5 square kilometers. Exploration consisted of 78 pits, 34 trenches and
2 boreholes, complemented by geological mapping. The grid that defined probable ore
was 25-50 meters by 5-5 meters.

Two deposits have been defined, some 300 meters apart. Bombawoha I, the larger of the
two, is composed ofkaolinized pegmatite and granitic gneiss, to a depth of 23-25 meters.
The pegmatites are made up of strongly-kaolinized feldspar, quartz, mica and tourmaline.
Bombawoha I trends east-northeast to northeast, and enters a highly-weathered mica-
amphibole gneiss to the east. The width of the Bombawoha I pegmatite ranges from 20
to 80 meters, and encloses a 20-meter-wide zone of red granite gneiss. It dips approxi-
mately 580°. The Bombawoha II deposit trends north-northwest and is 4-6 meters wide.
The wall rock is the same red granite gneiss. The pegmatite dips W80°.

The Bombawoha kaolin deposits are amenable to open-pit mining, and the mineralogical
and chemical characteristics are believed to meet the requirements of the ceramics
industry. Details of the probable and inferred reserves of kaolin, and the average
chemical make-up of the ore and the kaolin are found in Figure 5.

24
 SECTIONm. ADOLA GREENSTONEREGION

Figure 5
Bombawoha Kaolinized Pegmatite
and Gneiss Reserves
Reserve Reserves Kaolin Kaolin
Category Metric Tons Grade Metric Tons
000 % 000

Bombawoha I
1. Probable 726.3 35.7 259.3
-
I
2. Inferred 653.7 37.9 247.8

Bombawoha II
,.....
3. Inferred 35.7 34.7 12.4

Reserve Si02 AI203 F03 CaO+ MgO+

Category NO+ K20
% % % %

r
Bombawoha I

r
I
1. Probable
2. Inferred
67.6
67.0
20.0
20.6
0.94
0.89
2.22
2.44
Bombawoha II

3. Inferred 68.7 18.6 1.00 3.06

r ....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Bombawoha I
r 1. Probable 47.2 35.0 0.93 1.69

r 2. Inferred 47.2 35.1 0.96 1.49

Bombawoha II
r 3. Inferred 48.7 34.2 0.86 2.09

" SOURCE:Sabov,Y. V. et aI, "BombawohaKaolin and Kenticha Feldspar-

- I Quartz Deposits";Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveysinternal report,
1985.

...,

-
25
 6°13'N 6°13'N Map 11I-1
w w
Co \'"" Diagrammatic Structural Map of
M °
\'""
fo (I) Adola Greenstone Region
M M
Scale 1:500,000

L
.~
.4
Upper Complex: Central Block (Megado graben-syncline)

e
I I
{t
Middle Complex: 1. Western Block; 2. Eastern Block - Mormora
sub-block; 3. Eastern Block - Awata sub-block

123
NS-trending deep fault
CS:=J
ClJ Deep fault bordering the Megado graben-syncline

f
[Z] Diagonal fault

.f-
"..."ff' ,
+ 4-..+..
f1..+
t_..
t ~ I:!!I Axes of the first orde~folds: 1. Anticline; 2. Syncline

21 I:~)
>--<>-<
(, ~I Axes ofthe second orderfolds: 1. Anticli ne;2. Syncline
N
'"
21 I'"
~.... , Axes of the third order folds: 1. Anticline; 2. Syncline

I ~~~~~ I Paleogene lava flow

I:+:+~+I' Post-tectonic granite

Gabbro and gabbro-amphibolite

[IJ Ultrabasic rock Adola Magmatic Series

Subvolcanic intrusion

Dome of granite-gneiss

w !:U
Co \'""
M \'"" SOURCE:Shiferaw Demissie, Yu. Marchuk, V. Evdokimov. Summary of
fo In
M M the Geology and Mineral Potential of the Adola Area. EMRDC, 1987,
5°09'N 5°09'N p17-18. Based on Adola Gold Exploration Project data (1982).
z
o
o
o
CO

z
o
C')
o
to

SOURCE:Senbeto Chewaka and M. J. de Wit

(editors). Plate Tectonics and Metallogenesis:
Some Guidelines to Ethiopian Mineral Deposits,
EIGS Bulletin No.2, July 1981, P 89.

27
 \
./
/, / Cabafanca
Map 11I-3
Mineral Deposits/Occurrences
In Adola Greenstone Region
o 9 18
'~~Ie 6'30'N
.:, KIlometers
.:..---- (Scale Is approximate.)

.'., PuJanto

L::- X
.
Miningoperation
Placergold
I
.
,.
I
Primary gold

) Uttrama/ic bodies

Town
~ River, stream

Road

6'OO'N

, Kabessa
(NI)

Big Dubicha
I (Nj.Cr)

. Small Dubicha
(Ni)

S'30'N

28
S'OS'N
 , 1
I I
I Map 11I-4
I
I
I
Mapping and Exploration
S04S'N Targets in Adola
I
I
Greenstone Region
r J
I
I
I r----
I
I t___J Geological Mapping 1: SO,000
I
I
I
EZ:) Geological Mapping 1: 2S, 000

G Follow-UpExplor~tion

I
I
I
S DetailedExplorationTargets
I
IWERSETI ~ Lega Dembi Open Pit
I
I
I
I
I o 2 4 6 8 10km
I I I I I I I I I .J
I I I I I I I 1
I o 2 4 8mi
I
I
I
I The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply
I officiel endcrsement or 8CC8ptatlCftby t1Ht United Nations.
I
I
I
S030'N - '---- S"30'N
ULA-ULO
KAJIMm

'WACHUDIMfu 1ESTBLO~'A'

BURSAND/f!j
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DI<:;ATI
8 Mo
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-DAWA I
S01S'N IS01S'N

--------------------------------------
38°4S'E 39°00'E

SOURCE: Map No. 3656, United Nations,

October 1991. 29
 c .::: J ,\, If; c S'29'SO"N ( Map 11I-5

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,
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Geologic Map and Cross-Sectlon of
Kentlcha Feldspar.Quartz Deposit,
Adola Greenstone Region
.: If 5,~,
'
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After Sabov ef a/. (1985)

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.:::. ~
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c fl ,~ I'J:I: I IS' "

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x
Mica amphibole gneiss,
heavily weathered ,.. /
/'

\(
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white, highly kaolinized /
... I .. '" '" -Vl. "-
"-
--
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I
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,. ,.
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\ - /

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I - Deposit I
II - Deposit II
".... I

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I

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8
b--
c _._.
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b - Inferred
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'- /'

....

/
/

Fault ....

Attitude

31
 SECTION IV

AGERE MARYAM REGION AND

ARERO GREENSTONE REGION
 SECTION IV
AGERE MARYAM REGION AND
ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

A. AGERE MARYAMREGION (MAPS IV-I TO IV-4)

The Agere Maryam area is some 260 kilometers southwest of the town of Kibre Mengist.
A 1991 Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys report by Teferi Birru and E.P. Zhbanov
summarizes the work done in this area by a joint Ethio-Soviet program. Work included
regional and follow-up heavy concentrate geochemical surveys, regional and follow-up
lithogeochemical surveys, and detailed geological prospecting and exploration in selected
parts of the area.

The heavy concentrate geochemical sUlveys found priorite, probably tantalaeschynite

([Y,Ce,Ca][Ta,Ti,Nb]206)' carrying up to 5% Ta, in streams draining granosyenitic rocks,
granites and aplites. The source of this mineralization was not located, but was hypothe-
sized to be a large concealed subalkaline pluton underlying the roughly circular area of rare
earth and rare metal anomalism. This anomalous area tends to run transverse to the
regional north-south to north-northeast structural grain. Anomalous samples were found
in Dega Burka, Lega Kiticha and Titu streams.

These surveys located gold anomalism along a north-south zone some 48 kilometers long
by 4 kilometers wide. In the Ogo Basin the coarser gold grains are probably derived from
quartz veins, whereas the finer gold is from pyrite which is found as disseminations and
stringers, predominantly in graphitic quartz-mica schists. Overall, the low-metamorphic
grade schists are the host for the gold in this basin.

During the regional lithogeochemical survey, tantalum dispersion trains were located over
the gneisses of the Buluka and Bore formations. The anomalism has associated Nb, Li, Sn,
Pb and Mo. These, coupled with the high tantalum contrast between background and
anomalous contents, suggest that they are related to rare earth mineralization, and hypo-
thetically linked paragenetically to albitite apogranites formed by metasomatism (Teferi
Birru and Zhbanov, 1991).

The regional survey defined four regional geochemical zones:

. The east-central part of the area is marked by anomalous amounts of the lithophile
elements Ta, Nb, Be, Sn, W, and Bi. .These are located over a hypothesized, con-
cealed granitic pluton, whose inferred location is in the crest of a northerly- striking
anticlinal fold which dips steeply to the west. Acidic metasomatism in this geochem-
ical environment is indicated by faint greisenization and quartz-pegmatite veining in
the apical part.

. In the same general area as above, there is anomalismin As, Bi, and Pb. This is a
favorable indication for gold-sulfidemineralization in the area.

32
SECTION IV. AGERE MARVAM REGION AND ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

. In the northwest, north and northeast portions of the area, there is anomalism in
chalcophile (As, Bi and Pb), siderophile (Cu and Ni), and lithophile (Nb, Sn, W, and
Mn). These are attributed to both basaltic magmatism and the reactions of hydro-
thermal solutions with crystalline basement rocks. It is inferred that this mineraliza-
tion is epigenetic. The presence of arsenic and a high Au:Ag ratio suggest the
potential for gold-tellurium mineralization.

. In the western, southern and southeastern parts of the Agere Maryam area, anoma-
lous amounts of both lithophile and chalcophile elements were found in the northern
portions. In the southern portions the elements were predominantly chalcophilic. Ar-
senic, bismuth and lead, found particularly in the northern sections, suggest the
potential for gold mineralization, probably related to deep-seated faults. Considering
that Sn, Wand Bi anomalism is found in the southern portions, there is the possibility
of trace metals with superimposed Au-As- Bi mineralization.

Follow-up lithogeochemical sUlveys in the Ogo Basin showed anomalous concentrations of

Ag, Bi, Pb, Sb, Li, Be, and Nb. These are related to quartz-sericite alteration on one hand,
and to propylitization on the other. The Ag-Bi-Pb-Sb assemblage is related to the former
alteration type, and the Li-Be-Nb to the latter. The Ag-Bi-Pb-Sb group is considered a
pathfinder for gold in the area. Target areas indicated by these sUlveys are the following:
Choricho-Kape-Kelaltu, Guduba, left side of the middle Ogo Basin, the Demi-Rufo area
and the Bekaka area.

Detailed work was done in the Choricho- Kape- Kelaltu area and the heavy concentrates
defined three centers of gold mineralization. (See Map IV-3.) The association of lead,
copper and silver, as well as molybdenum and tin anomalism suggests that the gold is
related to sulfides. The gold anomalism was in areas underlain by carbonate sediments
enriched with sulfides, and in areas of silicified rocks with stringers of quartz. Hosts for
the gold are silicified quartzo-feldspathic, graphitic, quartz-mica and quartz-sericite schists.

Mineralization is believed to be confined within zones of silicification and stringers of

sulfide and quartz veinlets in these units. Resistivity data suggest that a mineralized body
or zone is at least 100 to 150 meters below the surface.

In the Guduba area, a heavy concentrate geochemical surveyindicated three centers of gold
mineralization. (See Map IV-4.) The conclusions drawn by the geologists involved are the
same as for the Choricho-Kape-Kelaltu area, except that the resistivity survey puts the
mineralized zone at not less than 150 to 200 meters below the surface.

Three areas containing placer gold were found in the Agere Maryam area and determined
to be suitable for small-scale mining operations:

. Most of the tributaries in the northern and central zones of the Ogo River Basin were
found to be gold-bearing. The northern zone of the basin is 8 kilometers long by 3.5
kilometers wide. The central zone is 10 by 3.8 kilometers. The pay streaks in both
are thin and average about 0.1 grams of gold per cubic meter. Higher-grade portions

33
SECfION IV. AGERE MARYAM REGION AND ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

might be found by more detailed work. The Ogo River Basin is underlain by
basement rocks, probably biotite and amphibole-biotite gneisses.

· The Kape Valley is underlain by Tertiary basalts in its upper reaches and fresh-to-
weathered basement in its middle and lower course. The basement rocks are quartzo-
feldspathic gneiss, amphibole gneiss of the Buluka formation, and biotite-bearing,
quartzo-feldspathic gneiss with subordinate amphibole schist, chlorite-mica schist and
quartz-sericite schist. These are commonly cut by submeridionally striking quartz
veins and veinlets, between 15 and 80 centimeters wide by a few meters long. The
basement rocks have a northerly trend and dip moderately to steeply to the east.
Occasionally the weathered rocks contain minor amounts of gold. Exploration in this
valley was done on profiles of 200-600 meters. Pits were dug every 20-40 meters
along the profiles, and auger and Banka drillholes were put down on profiles passing
through marshy parts of the area. Trenching was done to control the pit and drill
data. Geophysical methods were utilized to trace recent and old alluvial deposits.
Placer gold was found restricted to the alluvial sediments of the flood plains and to
certain terrace levels. The valley-floor placer length is 2.9 kilometers, with an average
width of 67 meters. The wash (pay) grade was 0.742 grams of 950-fine gold per cubic
meter. A reseIVe of 174 kilograms of gold was calculated.

· The Kadida is a seasonal tributary of the Ogo River. It is underlain by basement

biotite gneiss and amphibole-biotite gneiss. The gneissosity trends northerly and dips
moderately to the east. Pegmatites and quartz veinlets are commonly seen in the
gneiss. Channel and flood-plain sediments are the only gold-bearing alluvials. Pay
streaks in the gravels are found in the lower part of the river, and are 0.7 to 2.0
meters thick and highly irregular. The placer is 2.2 kilometers long by 18 meters
wide, with overburden between 0.0 and 3.5 meters thick. The pay-gravel to overbur-
den ratio averages 0.6. ReseIVes were estimated to be 163 kilograms of gold from
material grading 100-5251 milligrams per cubic meter of material, averaging 4528
milligrams per cubic meter.

B. ARERO GREENSTONEREGION (MAPSIV-I, IV-5 ANDIV-6)

The Arero Greenstone Region is some 100 kilometers south-southwest of the town of
Kibre Mengist. It is the southern extension of the Adola Greenstone Belt. The work in
the Arero region was presented in the same report as the work in the Agere Maryam
Region (Teferi Birru and Zhbanov, 1991) and followed the same procedures, i.e., regional
and follow-up heavy concentrate surveys, regional and follow-up lithogeochemical sUIVeys,
and detailed prospecting and exploration surveys in selected parts of the area.

The regional heavy concentrate work demonstrated that high gold contents were associated
with high contents of pyrite. The auriferous pyrite occurs in metabasic and meta-ultramafic
lithologies. Bismuth, tin and tungsten anomalies are confined to a northwest-trending zone
which crosses the regional structure and lithologic trend. It was suggested that this
granitophyllic-type mineralization is controlled by a northwest structure. It may be related
to the localization of late subalkaline to acid intrusions.

34
SECI10N IV. AGERE MARYAM REGION AND ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

The conclusions drawn from this first phase of work were that there are three types of
mineralization. One type is gold related to pyrite-bearing metabasic and meta-ultrab asic
rocks which are confined to two zones within a northwest-trending zone. The second type
is Cr-Co-Ni- V-(Pt?) related to meta-ultramafic rocks occurring along deep-seated faults or
perhaps along a northeast-trending thrust zone. The third type contains Bi-Sn-W-(Nb?)
related to intermediate-to-acid alkaline intrusions occurring as dikes and veins within
metabasic to meta-ultramafic rock units. These are confined to a northwest-trending
metallogenic zone discordant to the general regional geologic trend.

In the Okote area, the follow-up heavy concentrate surveys found that the anomalies were
confined within the metabasics and the inner parts of the contact zones of the meta-ul-
tramafic units. (See Map IV-6.) Here the units are enriched with syngenetic sulfides
(pyrite). The inner parts of the contact zones of the meta-ultramafic bodies are typical of
contact metasomatism, although silicification and chloritization are found as well. Quartz
veins are the likely sources of the coarser gold found in the dispersion trains. The finer
gold is believed derived from either quartz veins or auriferous sulfides, or from the hydro-
thermal and/or metasomatized alteration zones.

Nickel generally has the same dispersion train as cobalt and chromium. The stronger nickel
anomalies follow the northeast-trending meta-ultramafic zone.

From the follow-up survey it was concluded that there are three types of mineralization in
the general Arero area. One type is hydrothermal (or metasomatic) gold in quartz veins
and alteration zones. Silicification zones in metabasics and contact zones in metaultramafics
are seen at Kelensa-Ebicha, Okote and Wondimu-Ibrahim. The second type is the mag-
matic Cr, Co and Ni mineralization in the meta-ultramafic suite of rocks along the
northeast thrust or deep-seated fault zone. The third type is the W, Mo, Sn, and Bi in
granitic massifs.

The lithogeochemical surveys resulted in dividing the Arero area broadly into east and west
geochemical blocks, separated by a thrust or deep-seated fault zone. The east block is
characterized by acidic intrusions, and the west block by metabasics and metaultramafics
intruded by basic and acidic dikes, pegmatites and quartz veins.

It was concluded that in the two regional geochemical zones of the eastern block, concen-
trations of Mo, Sr, Bi, Li, Nb, and Zn are genetically related to two granitic massifs in the
area. The greisenized and albitized portions of the massifs that have not suffered greatly
from erosion are the most favorable geochemical sites for mineralization of trace and rare
metals.

In the western block, two geochemical zones with concentrations of Mo, Sn, Be, Nb, and
Zn are genetically related to small intrusions of plagiogranites, granodiorites and pegmatite
dikes, while Cu, Co and Ni are related to ultramafic units. Anomalous concentrations of
Ag, Bi and Pb are related to auriferous quartz veins and wall-rock alteration zones of the
host basic and ultramafic rocks. Therefore, the western block was considered favorable for

35
SECTION IV. AGERE MARVAM REGION AND ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

hydrothermal auriferous sulfides and magmatic Co, Ni, and perhaps Pt mineralization.

Follow-up work in the Okote area found that anomalous Pb, Mo and Sn are found in
stream sediments derived from the basic and ultramafic rock units (Chekata formation),
and are indicators for gold mineralization. Anomalous Be and Bi in stream sediments are
derived from granites and the AfIata formation. These may indicate trace and rare element
mineralization.

The Okote area is underlain by the Chekata formation. Numerous quartz veins and
veinlets were found during detailed exploration. Hydrothermal alteration, i.e., silicification
and calcitization, is characteristic in the area. The heavy concentrate survey indicated three
centers of mineralization. In the litho-geochemical survey, pyrite samples gave from 0.3 to
20.0 ppm Au. The conclusion was reached that the gold is related to disseminated pyrite
in silicified host rocks and quartz veins. In the Ebicha zone, in the northern part of the
area, the Chekata formation is composed of schists and amphibolites. Silicification is
pronounced, especially in the amphibolites.

Placer gold possibilities were investigated along one part of the valley of the BUljiji River,
a tributary of the Dawa River. It was explored along a 5-kilometer stretch, by profiles at
200-800 meter intervals, with 40 to 60 meters between pits. The width of the valley was
between 20 and 30 meters. The gold distribution was irregular and the auriferous gravels
discontinuous. For these reasons only an approximate estimation of reserves was possible,
of some 163 kilograms of gold.

The Burjiji Valley is underlain by units of the Chekata and Aflata formations, including
amphibolites, chlorite-epidote schist, chlorite-actinolite schist, talc-tremolite schists, and
biotite-amphibole gneiss and biotite gneiss. Schistosity is northeast-striking, dipping
moderately to the northwest. The units are intruded by quartz veins and veinlets, as well
as by aplitic and granitic dikes. Silicification, chloritization and calcitization are commonly
noted.

c. SUMMARY
1. PRIMARYGOLD POSSIBILITIES

Gold mineralization is confined to north and northwest-trending belts in Agere

Maryam and Arero, respectively. The auriferous belt of Agere Maryam is mainly
confined to rocks of the Buluka formation that have undergone hydrothermal-
metasomatic alteration, i.e., silicification, sericitization, chloritization, fuchsitization,
carbonatization and pyritization. The auriferous belt of Arero is mainly confined to
rocks of the Chakata formation which have undergone hydrothermal alteration, such
as silicification, carbonatization and pyritization.

2. NICKEL, PLATINUM, CHROMIUM, COBALT,COPPER, VANADIUM

Anomalous amounts of these minerals are found chiefly in the Arero area. The
associations of anomalies in these elements are confined to a meta-ultramafic massif

36
SECTION IV. AGERE MARYAM REGION AND ARERO GREENSTONE REGION

some 4 kilometers wide and 18 kilometers long. It was probably emplaced along a
deep-seated fault or thrust zone. There appears to be a zonal pattern to the metal
distribution. Cobalt and nickel are confined to the serpentinized core; chromium is
concentrated in the inner part of the contact zone of the massif; vanadium is found
in both inner and outer parts of the contact zone.

3. MOLYBDENUM,BISMUTH,TIN, TUNGSTEN

The occurrence of mineralization of these metals is mainly related to pegmatitic,

granitic and aplitic dikes, as well as to quartz veins. This granitophyllic suite/zone
partly overlaps the Arero auriferous belt. The relationship of the two is not known,
but the granitophyllic suite is assumed to be related to late tectono-magmatic activity.
4. RARE EARTHAND RAREMETALS

Conspicuous dispersion trains of priorite, xenotime, and monazite are found in the
southeast part of the Agere Maryam area. The priorite, by X-ray analysis, contained
up to 5% Ta and 11% U. The zone containing priorite and xenotime in Agere
MaI)'am is roughly circular and is associated with either a concealed granitic pluton
or U-bearing granitic pegmatites and albitites.

37
 Map IV-1
Location Map of Agere Maryam Region
and Arero Greenstone Region

o 25 50 75 100 125

Kilometers

I'
. Awasa
Add" Ababa

Dila \

Kibre Mengist

Agere \ Maryam

Yabelo
. ". ..- -"-
. ....-- '"
Arero

1 - Agere Maryam Region

2 - Arero Greenstone Region

38
 Map 1V-2
Mineral and Anomalous Areas in
Age... Maryam Region

-
After Telerl Birru and E. Zhbanov (1991)

\\
Aurifelous beft (Au occurring in quaru veins
end pyrit. hosted by smofied grephite
beering QUORZ ,.schisI, auanz.sericit.
__~lic;schisQ
Metanogen;czone 01 metels (perhaps
_lOled with_ _ plutons
end_tites)
Auriferous %ones
I Nonhem
n Control
m SouIhem

TOM!

AI_108II

_or_
GeochemCei
AI
~
enometies
-
Prim8rygold Ct>oridto
Prim8rygold. Kepehe. ..
(See Mop 1V-3)

KJ Prim8ry;".J -K_ Area

M Prim8rygold . G_ _. (See MapIV..)
A5 Prim8rygold -I.en bank 01 Ogo hea
A8 Prim8ry gold . [)em;.Rulo
__
A7 Prlmarygold'__
M . Prim8rygold
A9 Y1trium. cerium. __
A10 Primary gold
All_e._
A12
A13Molybdenum
_e._
A1. Priorite.xenotine
A1s Prim8rygold
A18 Prim8rygold
~ M_.' OccurTences
B1 Chrysotile. asbeslos
B2 Graphite in graphite be8ring quartZ.
_schist
B3 CIvysotiIeasbes10s
B4 SameasB2_
Bs Chfysotile asbeStos
Be MoS, in pegrnelites
B7 Muscovit. in pegmalrtes
Be Euxenite in _lites
ag PenUandileend pyrmotite ...
unr fierockS
B10 _.in_lites
811 ~ in QU8IZiIe

39
 Map IV-3
Gold Occurrences and Anomalous Areas in
Choricho-Kape-Kelaltu Area (A1-A3on Map IV-2)
Agere Maryam Region
After Teferi Birru and E. Zhbanov (1991)

o 100 200 300 400 500

Meters

Geochemical anomalous zone of

silver, lead, molybdenum and tin

Choricho Area
. Gold-bearing heavy concentrate

o High content of gold in bedrock,

fire assay analysis

Kape Area

!.I.I
N
M
-o
Go
co
M
...
...
5°37'17.N
...
...
...
-uJ
~
Ag, Mo', 10
Pb,Sn \
I
I Kelaltu Area Ag-Pb-Mo-Sn -=
(,)

.. .. ;>...-- ....
M
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...

~ '
,/
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o
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k
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( I
, '
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,
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-- "
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Co
o
co
M
,
40
 Map IV-4
Gold Occurrences and Anomalous Areas in
Guduba Area (A4 on Map IV-2),
---
I" Geochemical anomalous zone of silver,
" _ _ .; I
...
Agere Maryam Region

.
lead, molybdenum, tin, copper and vanadium
After Teferi Birru and E. Zhbanov (1991)
Gold-bearing heavy concentrate
o 100 200 300 400 500
I I I I I I

Meters

, " r 5°34'03"N Cu-Pb

\
\ \ ,
>( .i I \
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I 41
 5'OD'N

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.
Oulline 01 geochemlcel anomelie.
\.', /
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Geochemical Anomaliea
AI Primary gold
Observed MineralOccurrences
BI Au In quartz vein. in
'\ 1>2 Primarygold amphibolite.

,(', ,
B2

.\ \
\",
''... '--
'\
~.
"" A3

A4
Prlmery
Area
Primary
gold

gold
(See Mep IV-S)
. Kelense.Eblcha

-
.
Ok ole Area
B3
Au in quartz veins and pyrite
In amphibolita and laic-
"emolita-actinolite schisthosts
Malachite showings in

\ .\ \
------~~\. "" AS

AS
A7
Primary gold - Wondimu-
IbrehimArea
Cr,Co,NI
B4
B5
metabasic lithologic unit.
Bismulhinile In acidic dikes
Chromlte and nalive coppar In
acidic dikes
\ H AS
A9
Cr. V
Cr,V
Cr, Co, Ni,V,Cu
B6 Chromilile in meta.ultramaf,c
I
".\I />.22 qI. A10
All
A12
Co,Ni
Co.NI
8I,W
litholgic units

\\ /1 A13
A14
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81,Sn, W
.~
'\ , ,.,// A15
AIS
Bi,Sn,W
Bi,W
A17 8I.W
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. { A19
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A23
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~

t. I
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42
 5'OD'N

it"'>-
~ '>....
.........
u
""
"- .(
,< y

.
/y0,/
(, '
)
.
"
\

)
I
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/"
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";-

~ . \
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/>.23
.I/1
;,.,-',..-'
!(L~
AID
~{<Z;
,,'

.
Oulline 01 geochemlcel anomelie.
\.', /
'. '-.//
\ Geochemical Anomalies
AI Primary gold
Observed MinerelOccurrences
BI Au In quartz veins in
.........
\ 1>2 P,imarygold amphibolite.

,r'\ ,
B2

'~,." \" '

'\
". "" A:J

A4
Prlmery
Area
Primary
gold

gold
(See Map tV-S)
. Kelense.Eblcha

-
'
Okole Area
B3
Au in quartz veins and py,ila
In arnphibolila and laic-
"emolita-actinoliteschisthosts
Malachile showings in

\.\ \ ----~~I, "" AS

A6
A7
Primary gold. Wondimu.
Ibrahim Area
C"Co,NI
B4
B5
melabasic lithologic unit.
Bismulhinile in acidicdikes
Chromlte and nalivecoppa' In
acidic dikes
\ H A6
AD
C',V
C',V B6 Chromilile in meta,ultramaf,c

".\I
I
/>.22 qI. AIO
All
AI2
C" Co, Ni, V, Cu
Co.N!
Co.N!
BI,W
litholgic units

\\ /1 A13
A14
Bi,Sn,W
BI, Sn, W
'~
'\ , ,.,// A15
AIS
Bi,Sn,W
Bi,W
Al7 BI,W
",,-,/ { AIS BI, Nb
, { Ale
1>20
BI, Sn
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1>21
~ i A22
Sn,Nb
BI, Sn, Nb
A23 Sn, BI
~

t. I
f
'v
w

~
#/~ 4'58'N
w
i->
..
10
..

42
. Gold-bearing heavy concentrate Map IV-6
Gold Occurrences In Okote Area (A4 on Map IV-5),
o Gold-bearing quartz vein on panning Arero Greenstone Region
and/or fire assay analysis
After TeferiBirruand E.Zhbanov(1991)
o 100 200 300 400 500
O Gold-bearing pyrite on panning
and/or fire assay analyses '
I I__~ I I I

43
 SECTION V

MOYALE GREENSTONE REGION

 SECTION V
MOYALE GREENSTONE REGION

The Moyale Greenstone Region is in southern Ethiopia, on the border with Kenya. Owing to
its location almost due south of the Adola Greenstone Belt and to similar lithologies, it is
considered to be a southern extension of the Adola Greenstone Belt.

Exploration is currently in progress in the Moyale region but the results of this work are not
yet available. Two areas in this region are discussed below: an area near the border town of
Moyale, and the Hassamte-Haramsam area east of Moyale Town.

A. MOYALE TOWN AREA (MAP V-I)

This area is about 2 kilometers north-northeast of Moyale Town, and is bounded by

N03°33'09"to N03°34'14" and E39°03'02" to E39°04'18". The geology of the area is
relatively simple. A metagranodiorite (orthogneiss) batholithic body underlies the area.
It is in tectonic contact with basic to ultramafic rocks on the east and on the west
(Solomon et al. 1991). It is cut by two long, north-south trending metagranite sills,which
are between 4 and 8 meters thick. Other lithologies consist of quartz veins, aplites and
pegmatites. For the most part, the latter two follow the northerly-striking foliation of the
orthogneiss (Amanuel et al. 1991). The pegmatites tend to be massive and gar-
net-bearing.

There are many quartz veins in the area. They have three general orientations: north-
south (following the general foliation), N35°.700E, and N800W. The quartz veins parallel-
ing the foliation are 300 to 350 meters long and dip to the west. They are up to 3 meters
wide, and pinch and swell along strike (Amanuel et al. 1991).

The veins that strike northeasterly have a limited strike length of 70 to 80 meters and a
N40°.700W dip, and range from 25 to 40 centimeters in width. These generally form an
en echelon pattern and characteristically contain galena along with free gold (Amanuel
et al. 1991). This vein system was discovered by trenching, as the structures are covered
by soil and erosional debris.

The N800W-striking quartz lode has a strike length of 80 to 85 meters, dips N75°-80° and
varies between 16 and 20 centimeters in width. Free gold is present in this lode, as well
as pyrite and chalcopyrite, but galena is scarce (Amanuel et al. 1991).

At least 10 of these discordant veins have been uncovered by trenching, and the assump-
tion is that there are more. They are clustered in the southwest quadrant of the area.
The mineralization is of two types: gold-sulfide in quartz, and gold-quartz without or with
very minor sulfide (Amanuel et al., 1991). The gold-sulfide quartz veins are characterized
by appreciable lead, copper, zinc and pyrite. This mineralization is in the discordant veins
that are essentially en echelon gash veins within conjugate shear planes (Amanuel et al.
1991). The gold is largely free, both visible to the naked eye and in panned concentrates

44
SECTION V. MOYALEGREENSTONE REGION

of the crushed vein material. The low-sulfide gold-quartz veins and veinlets are concor-
dant with the foliation and have subvertical dips. Their gold content is low.

The quartz vein rock chip samples are numbered on Map V-I. The fire assay results of
the quartz veins chip samplesare tabulated below.

Figure 6
Fire Assay Analyses of Rock Chip Samples from
Quartz Veins NNE of Moyale Town
(Locations shown on Map V-I)
Vein Fire Assay Gold
Sample Sample ppm
MC9 MC-9 0.5
MC35 MC-35 <0.1
MC 41-43 MC-41 5.0
MC-42 21.0
MC-43 54.5
MC45 MC-45 2.2
MC 53-56 MC-53 9.0
MC-54 0.3
MC-55 0.2
MC-56 <0.1
MC59 MC-59 29.0
MC 62-64A MC-62
MC-63 0.2
MC-64a 8.5
MC65 MC-65 22.8
MC76 MC-76 14.0
SOURCE:Amanuel,Kassahun, Tesfaye and Tewolde (1991).
ppm: parts per million.

45
SEcrION V. MOYALEGREENSTONE
REGION

B. HASSAMTE-IlARAMSAM
AREA(MAP V-2)

This area of 170 square kilometers is located east of the town of Moyale, within the
following geographical coordinates: N03<>J4'00"to N03<>J7'OO",
E39003'00"to E39°15'00".

The rocks are metagranodiorite, amphibolite, amphibolitic gabbro, gametiferous

gabbro, banded amphibolite, and chlorite amphibolite schist. Four stages of deforma-
tion have been determined. The report on this area implies that high-grade metamor-
phic effects have been retrograded to amphibolite and greenschist facies (Tolessa Shagi
and Tefera Eshete, 1991). The same source states that the mineralization in the area
is related to quartz-vein-filling of fractures related to shearing.

The amphibolitic lithologies are often interlayered with serpentinite and talcose rock.
Gneissosity is developed in the south. There are narrow horizons of biotite-muscovite-
quartzo-feldspathic schist. In the northern part of the area, very thin graphite schist
is commonly interlayered and a small bed of crystalline limestone is also found in the
same general area. The banded amphibolite shows gneissosity on a 1-2 centimeter
scale. There are many narrow horizons of talc-serpentine and amphibolitic
meta-ultramafics. Pegmatite veins are commonly seen in the Hassamte gabbro.

Quartz veins are sugary-textured, and are en echelon in the deformed granodiorite.
They are 10 to 30 centimeters wide and contain galena along with some chalcopyrite
and pyrite. The gold-bearing veins strike N45°-700E, whereas the barren quartz veins
strike N200-500W in the granodiorite. Veins in the Haramsam amphibolite and in the
schists are laminated and reddish-brown in color. Some are gold-bearing. These veins
are common and generally closely-spaced. They are associated with extensive shear
zones.

The Hassamte veins are gray to white, massive, with voids after leached pyrite crystals.
These massive quartz veins contain chalcopyrite, bornite and malachite. The 2-3
centimeter-wide veinlets of this type are frequently observed within parts of the
massive gabbro. The structures indicate a sinistral sense of movement. The shear
zones in granodiorite trend N45°W. One of these is 60 meters wide and over 3
kilometers long. Shears in the amphibolite and the Hassamte gabbro show a sinistral
sense of movement, strike north-south and N800E, are 20-50 meters wide, and several
kilometers long.

Veins are of two general types. One is within the early S-foliations, and the other is
at right angles to the S-foliation. In the granodiorite, concordant veins, parallel to the
foliation, strike north-northwest. The discordant veins are commonly discontinuous -
N600W, n~rth to northeast and N300W - and are interpreted as extension gash veins,
oblique shear veins and parallel shear veins .

Placer gold is extensive along the Satiche River and other tributaries of Haramsam
stream (Ayele et al. 1991). Its occurrence appears restricted to areas underlain by
highly-shearedamphibolite. Placerthickness is variable,the maximumbeing2.5meters

46
SECTION V. MOYALE GREENSTONE REGION

along the Satiche stream course. Here the angularity of the rock fragments and of the
gold suggests a nearby source, probably amphibolite and quartz veins (Ayele et al.
1991).

Primary gold is found in both amphibolite and granodiorite. There are different
generations of quartz veins with visible and invisible gold. The most prominent are
quartz veins filling extensive gash fractures of the shear zone in the granodiorite. Most
of these are less than 50 centimeters wide. In the amphibolite, limonitized and stained
quartz veins contain visible and invisible gold. The intensely sheared part of the
amphibolite contains fine, disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization.

The zone is 20 to 30 meters wide and more than 400 meters long (Tolessa Shagi and
Tefera Eshete, 1991). It is greenschist facies through the retrogressive process of
diaphthoresis. Rock samples of this zone returned 0.2 to 0.3 grams Au per metric ton.
The intensity of mineralization is related to the intensity of alteration and shear-zone
fracturing. The mineralization, therefore, could be epigenetic. Disseminated sulfides
are detected in the fresh Hassamte gabbro and surrounding amphibolite. Quartz float
with sulfides and gold are found in the central part of the gabbro (Abnet et al, 1989).
Crushing and panning the coarser pyite has revealed gold. Thus there are two types
of gold occurrence: one is within the pyrite crystals, and the other is gold deposition
within zones of weakness related to shearing, i.e., the parallel and oblique fractures in
the gabbro.

47
 Map V-1
Auriferous Quartz Veins NNE of Moyale Town,
Moyale Greenstone Region
After Amanuel et al. (1991)
o 100 200 300 400
Meters

~
N
o I
M
oo
en
C')
~ 4 ~34'14'N ~

,- ~ ~
I

ij n~MC
50 0
)t

I
I
~ u ~ p
tl 'I //
" ""
il II""
,
\ ~
I MC38R
A
At>
>c'
~ MC 59
~ .:'C 76
~ ~,
MC 35 _..:~~-:. /1 MC 17
- -" V MC66 >II
MC 41-43 0
(MC 62-64A l"1
"
MC65~~
~ MC 9 I
c:::::> Quartz vein ~ .

\\
MC45
MC19
Auriferous
quartz vein

'"'if Ie ac~ Metagranite

o MC 52 ij'1J
--- o..,
---- - Shear plane MC24
",

MC-OO Vein sample. Fire assay "

results are given in text.
,.q 3°33'09"N

48
 3.37'N
1 ~. I Lb
Map V.2

i
\
\
, " Gold Occurrences In Hassamte.Haramsam Area,
.
\
,
Sce \" --i, , . Mayale Greenstone Region
I
" I , After 10lessl Shag I and 1efera Esbale (1991)
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jss J

\
Amb Banded amphibOlite
Amg Gametderous amph I' "
'" Site of aJteralion and J
bOlite \'- II abundant quartz veins \
"',.,
Amp Amphibolite
a . Inferredcontact ..
19b Meta-gabbro
Lgd Delormedgranodiorite / b ~
b . Observed
On Quaternarydeposits 'f
/ contact 1
Onl LaeruStine deposits
................... Stream I Amg It
SDq Muscovite-biotite quartzo..
feldspatnieschist '" ~\
Sce EptdOte-clinozoisite
'II
III
Shear Zone ~ ~
"'__"''''...1.. ....hict _ith nArrnw II,
\
2
 SECTION VI

WESTERN GREENSTONE REGION

 SECTION VI
WESTERN GREENSTONE REGION

The Western Greenstone Belt lies between N8OJO'-12~O'and E34°10'-36OJO'.(See Maps VI-l
to VI-5.) The predominant lithologies of the Western belt are chlorite, sericite and graphitic
schists, phyllites, quartzites, and andesitic to rhyolitic volcanics. Iron-bearing quartzites and
intraformational conglomerates are also present. The metamorphic grade is no higher than
upper greenschistto lower amphibolite facies, but commonlydoes not exceed lower greenschist
facies. Uralitized andesites and diabases, tuffaceous slates and graywackesdominate near the
Sudanese border.

The area is underlain by a plutonic basement of metadiorite-granodiorite, unconformably over-

lain by the metavolcanic-metasedimentary sequence of the Late Proterozoic Tsaliet Group.
Continuous volcanic and plutonic activity during rapid sedimentation is indicated by (1) the
presence of intermediate to silicic metavolcanics (andesitic, dacitic, rhyolitic), tuffs, lapilli tuffs,
agglomerates and a vast amount of volcanoclastics, and (2) the presence of late-magmatic
blue-quartz porphyries.

The metasediments overlie the metavolcanics and volcano-sediments; the conglomerates are most
commonly found lying on the basement. There are infrequent calcareous rocks, ranging from
pure marbles to thin-banded calcareous phyllites. A borehole at the Kata prospect showed the
marble there to be heavily mineralized with chalcopyrite, pyrite and magnetite, though no
mineralization. was noted at the surface. Both the greenschist metavolcanics and the meta-
sediments may show disseminated mineralization.

A narrow belt of meta-ultramafics stretches from Yubdo to north of Gimbi in the southeastern
part of the Western Greenstone Belt.

Although various regional studies have been made in this region, as well as some more detailed
work in selected areas, it is relativelyunexplored along itstotal length. A number of mineralized
areas have been located, however, and these are described below.

A. GOLD AND BASE METALS

1. AZALE-AKENDAYU GOLD AND BASE METAL AREA

This area is 22 kilometers southeast of the town of Kurmuk. Proterozoic su-

pra-crustal rocks lie in a V-shaped inlier, infolded between Early Proterozoic
gneisses to the west and an intrusive granite to the east. The major lithologic units
include amphibolite, andesitic metavolcanics, metasedimentary schists, and small
intrusions. The metasediments include various compositions of quartzites
(quartz-chlorite and chloritic quartzites), talc and amphibole schists. The units
show low-grade metamorphism and are aligned in a north east-southwest direction.
North-northeast-trending faults, bounding the ridge on both sides, are the promi-
nent structural features. Microfolds are commonly found in the area. The
volcano-sedimentary pile tapers to the south and thickens toward the north.

50
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

Mineralization is of two types: gold mineralization in the gossans and ferruginous

quartzites of the Azale Ridge, and sulfide mineralization (pyrite, chalcopyrite, and
the oxidation products malachite and azurite) associated with the gossanous bodies
in the ferruginous quartzite zone. The geochemical work identified four anomalies
closely associated with the gossaniferous metasediments (quartzites) and their
contacts with other rock types. AU the anomalies trend about N15°E, parallel with
the generallithogic alignment. Copper appears to be dominant in the south; lead
and zinc increase toward the north.

Soil geochemical results showed the following ranges of values: copper 5-3000
ppm, lead 3-800 ppm, and zinc, for which 28% of the analyses were above the
detection limit of 6000 ppm and ranged up to 6100 ppm.

An induced polarization-resistivity survey showed high charge ability associated with

the metasediments, increasing with depth. The study strongly suggested that the
Azale-Akendayu Ridge is mineralized. The gossaniferous material contains copper
and gold, and the mineralization appears to be a base metal type containing gold.
2. ASHASHIREGOLD ANDBASE METAL AREA

The Ashashire area is at NI0~9'32", E34~'34". The country-rocks of the area

are metavo1canics, metasediments, ultramafics, and granitoids of dioritic to granitic
composition. The metavolcanics predominate, and include basic, andesitic and
quartzcalcite-chlorite schists. The metasediments are conglomerate, slate, gray-
wacke, quartz-sericite schist, chlorite-calcite-quartz schist, with cherts occurring in
all parts of the area. The ultramafics are peridotite, dunite, pyroxenite, and
homblendite, with disseminated chromite and magnetite. The structural trend is
north to north-northeast. Crossfaulting trends are west-northwest and east-north-
east.

Mineralization is confined mainly to the metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks.

Gold is associated with disseminated sulfides, pyrite and chalcopyrite, and with
bipyramidal magnetite. The bipyramidal magnetite is associated chiefly with
ferruginous quartz-sericite- (::!:chlorite) schist, and occasionally with granite and
diorite.

Alluvial gold is found southwest of the subject area, along Ashashire River and
Dul creek. Hematite and magnetite bodies are widely distributed in the form of
isolated lenses, beds and large irregular masses. Nickel and cobalt geochemical
anomalies are, in most cases, related to the meta-ultramafics. Geochemical studies
showed the presence of copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, lead and silver anomalies. The
copper-lead-zinc anomalies are associated with metavolcanics and metasdiments.

The mineralization is apparently controlled by lithological and structural features.

51
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

3. BOKA-DALEITI-BINDAKOROAREA

This area is between N9°55'OO''-10011'18''and E35oo7'33"-35°16'53". Geologically

it is made up of greenschist facies metasediments and metavolcanics, locally
reaching to the amphibolite facies. The metasediments include marble, dolomarble,
calcarenite schist, and quartz-hornblende schist, intercalated with carbonates and
biotite-garnet-staurolite-anthophyllite-cordierite-sillimanite schist. The metavol-
canics are divided into intermediate to basic amphibolite and greenstones. The
latter are greenschists, muscovite-quartz schist, meta-rhyolite, dacite and acidic
tuffaceous schists.

Mineralization in the area consists of sulfides, primary and placer gold, iron, and
industrial minerals such as marble and dolomarble. Primary gold is associated with
veins and veinlets. The alluvial gold occurs as fine, irregular-shaped flakes,
suggesting that the primary source is probably nearby. The primary gold appears
to be concentrated along specific zones in the quartz veins in metacalcareous host
rock. South-southwest of Daletti Village, sulfides occur within the biotite-gamet-
staurolite-anthophyllite-cordierite-sillimanite schist.

Iron is concentrated in three localities. West of Daletti Village, hematite-magne-

tite-ilmenomagnetite occurs; southeast of Indako Hill, iron occurs as a concentra-
tion of hematite associated with calcareous metasedimentary rocks; and in the flat
area of the eastern border of the area, iron occurs as hematite-bearing chert in
calcarenitic sediments. The iron showings seem to have a volcanogenic origin.
Primary gold is associated with quartz veins and veinlets.

4. ODA-GODEREGOLD ANDBASE METAL PROSPECT (MAP VI-2)

The Oda-Godere area is between NlOo14'50''-10016'52'' and E35OO6'05"-35OO8'01".
It is located east of the Dabus River and some 75 kilometers north of the town of
Mendi. The area is underlain by metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary sequences
of Late Proterozoic age, later covered by Tertiary basalts and intruded by young
granitic bodies. The metavolcanics include metabasalts, chlorite schists and acidic
tuffaceous schists. The metasediments are marble, phyllite, quartzite, quartz--
feldspar-chlorite schists, and brecciated and silicified rocks. They have a general
northerly strike with steep dips. Two fault systems are seen in the area, trending
north-south and east-west.

Early studies indicated the presence of gold and some sulfides. Later studies
identified pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, malachite and azurite. Chalcopyrite and
pyrite occur in quartz veins and veinlets. Induced polarization sUlVeysoutlined
interesting values of charge ability, interpreted as zones of probable mineralization.
These zones correspond to brecciated and silicified zones at the contact between
marble and metabasalts.

Gold is concentrated within zones containing quartz veinlets with associated sulfide
mineralization. Most of the geochemical anomalism appears to be associated with

52
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

the marble, the metabasalts, and the alteration zones of brecciated and silicified
rock. Lead and barium anomalies are confined to the eastern part of the area.
A peak barium value of 3500 ppm is probably related to barite-bearing faults.
One quartz vein, mineralized with chalcopyrite and pyrite has been traced for 400
meters. It strikes N12°E and dips W60°. Its width varies between 0.30 and 3.0
meters.

Mineralization is of the copper-gold-baritetype and the barium-polymetallictype.

The latter suggestsa late-phase introduction of sulfidesand precious metals. The
presence of massivevolcanogenic (Kuroko-type) sulfides is a possibility.
5. MOUNT DUL GOLD AND BASEMETALAREA

This area of 16 square kilometers is located between N10ozg'30".10OJ6'06" and

E34OZ2'58"-34OZ4'35".Mount Dul is underlain by alternating volcano-sedimentary
sequences dominated by metavolcanics, ultramafic bodies, metagranites and
swarms of quartz veins and veinlets. The metavolcanics consist of meta-andesite,
dacite and metabasalt. The metasediments are metaconglomerates, various types
of phyllites, chert and marble. The ultramafics include serpentinite, talc schist and
homblendite.

Geologists have defined the deformational events which resulted in the structural
features noted in the area: foliation, folding, shearing and probable thrusting
phenomena. The foliation trend generally north-south to north-northeast. The
S-folds have a steeply-plunging axis and are associated with shear zones having a
sinistral sense of movement.

The presence of primary gold and base metal mineralization was confirmed by
field obselVationand chemical analyses. Placer gold is also present on the slopes
of and below Mount Dul. The free gold occurs in quartz veins and veinlets, in
chert, metaquartzites and other metasediments. Disseminated gold is found
associated with sulfidesin andesitic and metasedimentary rocks. Sulfide mineral-
ization consistsof pyrite and chalcopyrite,and the oxidation products malachite
and azurite. The sulfidesare associatedwith metavolcanics,metasediments, quartz
veins, and cherts.

Geochemical studies of soil and rock have been made. Anomalies of gold, arsenic,
tungsten, silver and cobalt were delineated over the greenschists. Nickel was
present as well. The cobalt was anomalous over the ultramafics. Rock-chip
samples showed that primary gold is associated with altered meta-andesite (most
significant), quartz veins and veinlets, ferruginous cherts, geenschist, metabasalt
and phyllite (least significant). The gold mineralization is structurally controlled,
but has a close association with volcano- sedimentary units, in a possible stockwork
arrangement. Geologists and mining engineers with experience in the area
consider the gold mineralization to be epigenetic and associated with a wide zone
of hydrothermal alteration.

53
SECTIONVI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

6. ONDONOK GOLD PROSPECT

This prospect is located at NI0~0'00", E35OO0'00",some 55 kilometers northeast

of the town of Asosa. Since thick overburden covers large portions of the area,
the rock boundaries are largely speculative. The presumed oldest units are metav-
olcanics and metasediments, chiefly greenstones, greenschists, and chloritic or
sericitic phyllites. These are intruded by a deeply weathered metadiorite. A
medium-grained micaceous granite is believed to be post-tectonic. The quartz
veining is believed related to this late granite. The veins strike generally
west-northwest or north, and dip to the west. They appear from the mapping to
be in the metadiorite and metavolcanics, crossing the north-northeaststriking
contact.

Primary gold has been obseIVed in gently dipping quartz veins and lenses.
Accessory minerals are tourmaline and siderite, with rare pyrite and chalcopyrite.
There are three major veins, numbered 18, 19 and 20. Veins 18 and 19 were
tested by an Italian mining group in the late 1930s. Vein 18 was studied by
underground drifts and winzes to 55 meters depth. It was traced on the surface for
800 meters and examined intermittently over a length of 1200 meters. Some 450
meters of tunneling, 170 meters of shafts and winzes, and some 150 meters of
pitting are reported to have been done. Work in depth stopped due to encounter-
ing the water table and to the fact that the values were uneconomic at the 1930s
gold price.

Ondonok was re-examined during 1975-1976by EIGS and UNDP personnel. The
average gold content was estimated to be 5 glmt, with the highest values being 8-
9 glmt. Reported vein thicknesses averaged 0.50 meter, with gold values from 1-2
glmt to 30-40 glmt.

7. TULU KAMI

Located 4.5 kilometers east of Nejo. Gold-bearing quartz veins occur in

amphibolite schists on Tulu Kami and Lega Gimbi hills. Explorationwas accom-
plished for 60 meters along strike and up to 80 glmt were indicated from the
oxidized zone.

8. ME'ITI

Located in the Metti Valley, near the junction with the Birbir River. Auriferous
pyrite associated with quartz veins in greenschist was reported.
9. LEGA BAGUDA

Located 4 to 8 kilometers southeast of Yubdo. Quartz inclusions rich in gold were

reported in diorite or dioritic orthogneiss.

54
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONE REGION

10. CHOKORSA

Located 20 kilometers southeast of Nejo. Exploration operations were carried out

in the past along quartz veins containing free gold.
11. TULU KAPI AND ANKORI

Located some 15 kilometers northeast of Yubdo. Quartz inclusions containing

auriferous pyrite and chalcopyrite within schists, were reported from both areas.
At Ankori the mineralization is in fine-grained diorite and the many quartz veins
outcropping on the hillsides. At Tulu Kapi (UNDP Mineral SUlVeyProject, 1972),
one of the three diamond drill holes, cut 24.7 grams Au per metric ton, 19.85
grams Ag per metric ton, and 0.6% As between 69.3 and 71.5 feet. The core was
syenitic, cut by quartz veins containing pyrite and arsenopyrite, and micropegmat-
itic veins, in which the higher gold values occurred.

12. KATA (MAP VI-3)

Located 7 kilometers east of Nejo. In one of three adits, talcose chloritic and
carbonate schists were reported. No gold analyses are available, however. Float
of blue-quartz porphyry is found on the hill above the granodiorite east of the
Kata 3 target. Up to 550 ppm Cu was reported from this area, which coincided
with a well-defined, elliptical, deep-seated (150 meters) induced polarization
anomaly. The induced polarization high coincides with rocks of low conductivity,
probably plutonics. The Kata 2 target contains mineralization along the deformed
interface between plutonic rocks and the metasediments. .

13. BOMU MENGHI

Primary gold has been reported near the old Bomu Village in the Bomu-Menghi
area between Asosa and Gizen.

14. BASCIA

Located 25 kilometers southeast of Asosa. A number of years ago, a German

group worked auriferous veins here and erected a stamp mill for gold recovery.
No records of this operation are available.
15. GAMBELA MOUNTAIN

Located near the border with the Sudan, Gambela Mountain has long been
considered the source of the alluvial gold found in the rivers of the region.

16. GUBA, DURA ABELLI DRAINAGE, BELES DRAINAGE, ABUMARE,

ABTESELO, MEKEZEN

There are indications of placer or primary gold in these locations.

55
SECTION VI. WESTERNGREENSTONE REGION

B. PLATINUM

1. YUBDOPLATINUMAREA (MAPVI-4)

The Yubdo platinum deposit was discovered in 1923-1924and mining wasstarted

in 1926. Through 1976, approximately 2000 kilograms of platinum concentrate
were produced.

The Yubdo area is underlain by an ultramafic complex of serpentinized dunite,

pyroxenite and peridotite. It is bounded by a metamorphosed aureole of tremo-
lite-actinolite-chlorite-talc serpentine, locally schistose. It is surrounded by meta-
sediments of the Tsaliet Group. The complex is part of the predominantly
tectonized Alpine-type, basic-ultramafic belt that trends northeast through the
eastern part of the Western Greenstone Region. Several similar complexes occur
north of Yubdo, such as the Dalatti and Tulu Dimtu complexes described below.

The platinum concentration occurs chiefly in laterites developed over the dunite,
the lower parts of which are essentially in situ weathered serpentinized dunite.
The laterites have a distinct layering as described below, from the top down.

· Wokassa layer. brown, fine-grained laterite; contains nil Pt and 0.26% Ni.

· Chirecha layer. deep red with semi-angular to rounded nodular grains of

laterite and some grains of chalcedony or quartz; it may be a fossilplacer;
contains 0.3-4.5g/mt Pt and 0.29% Ni.

· UpperBondo: mottled yellow to brownishrotten bedrock; characterized by

boulders of soapstone; contains 0.4-0.7glmt Pt and 0.25% Ni.

· Lower Bondo: same description as Upper Bondo; contains 0.4-1.3 g/mt Pt.

· Kua layer. in situ weathered bedrock, yellow-ochre in color; weathered

dunite in places with thin silicified layers showingnetwork fabric;contains
1.3-14 g/mt Pt and 0.13%Ni.

In the Kope workings (southwest quarry), the Kua layer is a chaotic mixture of
serpentinized dunite blocks, from a few centimeters to meters in size, set essen-
tially in a granitoid (granite-syenitic) matrix. The feldspars of this rock are altered
and replaced by talc-sericite. This chaotic zone is a contact reaction zone more
than 10 meters thick between the serpentinized dunite of the Yubdo Complex and
a later intrusive alkali granite. A lithology known locally as "birbirite" is a para-
quartzite interpreted by geologists working in the area as being derived from the
laterization of dunite. Others (de Wit and Berg) consider it to be an alteration
product associated with serpentinization.

From nearby drainages, nuggets several millimeters across have been analyzed.
They are a Pt-Fe alloy, with platinum far more abundant than iron. Minor copper

56
SECTION VI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

is reported in them as well as smaller inclusions of osmiridium and erlichmanite

(OSS2). Accessory pentlandite and chalcocite may be present.

The average composition of platinum concentrate from the Yubdo deposit is

Pt 79.48%, Pd 0.49%, Rh 0.75%, Os 1.41%, Au 0.49%. The remainder is iron.
Reserve estimates vary widely due to insufficient data. Most experts are said to
agree on a reserve figure of 2000 kilograms of platinum, from a proven volume of
72 million cubic meters of material with an average grade of 0.031 gram per cubic
meter. Other estimates are much higher, from 12 to 30 metric tons, but the grades
utilized are considered unrealistic. Much of the platinum mineralization is
extremely fine, and recovery of this material has not been possible to date.
2. DALATI1ANDTULU DIMTU

Platinum occurrences at Dalatti and Tulu Dimtu have been reported. At the
latter, platinum may occur as intergrowths or solid solution in heavy concentrates
of magnetite and chromite along the western flank of Tulu Dimtu Hill. Grades
are low, 4 grams per cubic meter of heavy concentrate. However, zones may be
found where favorable secondary enrichment has occurred, such as at Yubdo. The
geologic history is similar at Yubdo, Dalatti and Tulu Dimtu, so additional
platinum occurrences are possible along the northern extension of this mafic--
ultramafic belt.

c. BIKILALIRON ANDPHOSPHATEAREA(MAP VI-5)

This area lies between N09°15'331-N09~0'36"and E35°51'421.E35°54'49".It is located 18
to 20 kilometers northwest of the town of Gimbi. The area studied is underlain by three
principal rock groups:
· Amphibolite and amphibole schists occur as xenoliths within the amphibole
anorthosite. Amphibole schist, the oldest rock in the area, is intruded by the
Bikilalintrusiveand granite. The amphibole-richlithologiesare discontinuousand
are scattered throughout the amphibole anorthosite, with sizes of tens of meters
in length, and in the granite from 0.1xO.7to 0.02xO.1square kilometer. Titanium
only rarely occurs in associationwith the amphibole schist.

· The Bikilalintrusive is a basic rock,more or less ellipticalin shape, with major and
minor axes of 19 and 17kilometers. From the core to the margin, the rock types
are porphyriticolivine gabbro, olivine gabbro, anorthosite, amphibole anorthosite
and amphibolegabbro. Irregularlydistributedhornblendite and magnetite-bearing
hornblendite occur in zoneswithinthe anorthosite and the amphibole anorthosite.

· Granite group rocks are widelydistributed along the boundary of the Bikilalbasic
intrusive, and intrude it, givingrise to a migmatiticcontact zone. The granite has
generated dikes that cut the Bikilalintrusive and the periphery of the granite.

57
SECTIONVI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

In the Bikilal deposit there are three ore types: ilmenite-magnetite, apatite-ilmenite, and
ilmenite. The ilmenite-magnetite bodies in the Bikilal area are genetically and spatially
related to the basic intrusion, and are localized in the anorthosite in the hornblendite belt.
This belt is 1 to 1.5 kilometers wide and more than 15 kilometers long. Each iron-rich
lens is from 10 to 100s of meters long and up to 100 meters wide. The attitudes of the
ore lenses follow those of the hornblendite. In the northern part of the area they trend
east-west and dip 70 to 80 degrees south; in the southern part the lenses strike northeast
to north-south, dipping 62 to 85 degrees northwest, and occasionally southeast.

At the surface, the sizes of the ore bodies vary in length from 60- 250 meters, and in
width from 4-6 meters. BaITen ground between the ore lenses is 30-40 meters wide and
230-250 meters long. The total length of the ore body is 4900 meters. The average
length of a given subzone is 700 meters, and 40-60 meters wide. The ore is
ilmenite-magnetite. The principal minerals are martitized magnetite and ilmenite. Chlorite
and, rarely, phlogopite are found in the massive ore. The disseminated ore contains the
following minerals in varying quantities: acicular amphibole, plagioclase, epidote, orthite,
melilite, biotite, olivine, pyroxene and garnet. Accessories in both massive and dissemi-
nated ores are chrome spinel, pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite.

The high-grade ore is generally massive with sharp contacts with the country rock. The
disseminated ore is medium to low grade with gradational contacts with the country rock.
Allotriomorphic texture is characteristic of the massive ore, sideroid texture being typical
of the disseminated ores. Magnetite and ilmenite are allotriomorphic with smooth
boundaries. Their grain size is 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters. The ore is late orthomagmatic,
genetically associated with gabbro-anorthosite magma.

Magnetic separation of the ilmenite-magnetite ore gives a high-grade concentrate because

(1) the spaces between the mineral plates are large, from 0.05-0.1 millimeter, and (2)
most of the magnetite grains are free from ilmenite. Regulating the grinding and the
magnetic intensity of the separator results in a good iron concentrate.

In summary, the ore is 33-55% martitized magnetite, 30-40%ilmenite, and rarely, 5-10%
hematite. The ore zone is 15 kilometers long. The length and width of the ore bodies
are 4.9 kilometers and 40-60 meters. Depth is 200 meters. A probable ore reserve is
estimated to be 18 million metric tons of ore grading 44% Fe from 40 bodies. By
magnetic separation, 30% of the iron and nearly 30% of the ilmenite goes into the tails.

The phosphate potential is in an apatite-bearing anorthosite gabbro formation. Spatially

and genetically it is associated with an intrusion of gabbroic rocks. The intrusion,
oval-shaped in plan, extends roughly north-south and is 9 kilometers long by 2.6 to 9
kilometers wide. The intrusion cuts migmatite, metadiorite, and amphibole schist of the
Lower Complex. It is intruded in turn by a post-tectonic Late Proterozoic granite.

The apatite-magnetite-ilmenite deposit is represented by a zone of ore-bearing homblen-

dite in the northern and northeastern part of the intrusive. Spatially, the zone is confined
to banded mesocratic hornblende gabbro. The total length is 15 kilometers; the width

58
SECTIONVI. WESTERN GREENSTONEREGION

varies between 0.7 and 1.2kilometers. The strike fluctuates from roughlynorth-south in
the eastern and southern parts to roughlyeast-westin the northern part. The bodies of
ore-bearing homblendite dip W450_750and occasionallyup to W85°in the central portion.
The disseminated apatite-ilmenite ore is mainly associatedwith hornblendite in the upper
part of the pseudo-layered ore zone. This zone is 170-350meters above the hornblendite
containing the major magnetite-ilmenitemineralization.Althoughthe apatite-ilmenite ore
bodies are not yet outlined in detail, observationsalong traverses indicate a 2-70meter
thickness for the bodies, averaging between 10 and 50 meters. The number of bodies
seen and their thicknessesdepend on the amount of exposure. In good outcrop areas,
a vertical succession of the ore zone reveals 2-5 ore bodies in a zone 66-87 meters thick.

The larger apatite-ilmenite bodies can enclose gabbro or anorthosite beds 1-10meters
thick. Thinner bodies form frequent intercalations with gabbro and hornblendite.
Erosion has uncovered the apatite-ilmenite ore to a depth of 240-250 meters with no
obvious changes in composition or grade.
Figure 7
Hikita' Disseminated Apatite-Ilmenite Ore
Components Percent

Apatite 5-40, commonly10-15

Ilmenite or titano-magnetite 10-40
Pyrite 1-5
Hornblende 40-80
Biotite 1-5
1-20
-Plagioclase
Chalcopyrite 1-3
Gamet 1-20
Actinolite 1-5
Pyroxene and olivine sporadic
::::i:i:i:!:i::!::i:i:iii:iiii::i:::i:i:::i:i::II'=II."i:il_ili:il:Jlli:I~JI:!lli::llllijl::::!!:i:i::!i:::i:::::::::!:!:::i:::::::::i:::::::::::~:i:::::::!iii!::::i:i:i:i:iiiii:ii:i:iiiiii:i::::!!i::

PzO, 456, commonlyhigher in

upper part of ore zone
TiOz 7.32
-
FezO) 23.82
FeO 15.32
VzO, 0.03
SOURCE:Serghienko,V.N. and AkliluAssefa. "Reconnaissanj:eSurveyto Assess
Apatite Ore Potential of an Anorthosite-Gabbroic Intrusive and Alkaline-Ultrabasic
Ring Complexes in Ethiopia"; EIGS internal report, 1988.

59
 Map VI-1
Precambrian Tectonic Features and Ultramafic Complexes
of Western and Akobo Greenstone Regions
After Senbeto Chewaka and M. de Witet al. (1981)
o 100
Kilometers

II
/ I
//
I I

IAsosa \1\
I'" \\\,
I)" ~ ~J~I \\ \ ./.'/9'
II / ~ " \. v \ \ \ \ I" / /..
I / .- -- -~,-,~ \ (J "/. J&"'I
Bambesi ~~ \ \ \ I
, ... I,../. ,'"
/t,/i
Diddessa River
i'
Kata "'~II
\

.. :.f~'?Tulu Dimtu

SUDAN
"/"f ( . .
I /. t-.. Glmb.
"
· -,
\
/ / ,~ Nekemte
~): . rDalattf',
- - _.' .."
~ "/; ~ Yubdo
-'. '/

Gore
.
,//.
/'. . / Ultramafic
belt
./.

Ultramafic complexes

0-
1//
//1
Main structural trends

SUDAN

~ River

,/ Road
....-....

60
 Map VI-2
Location Map of Oda-Godere Area in
Western Greenstone Region
After Mewa et al. (1989)
o 5 10 15

Kilometers

10<>20N 1\
\
I
,
I Oda-Godere Area
,
Oda

f
J I
/ ./
./
~ Bildigilu
I r
,
I
./
..- /
./
10"1ON
w W w .w. w
o 10 o 10 o
oo o .,.. .,.. N
o '0 o o I
10 10 10 10 10
C') C') C') C') C')
I

61
 " " "
" ~
"
(
... ...
Map VI.3
Geologic Map of Kata Area In
WesternGreenstoneRegion
AfterSenbetoChewakaand
M. de Witet ai, (1981)
o 500
I I
N Melera

Marble

D Undmerentiatedphyllile

Phyllite
o Intraformational
,, , conglomerate
,I I " Intraformationalbreccia
I I

f
I I
'.\ J
Greenschist (undlUerentiated
,
metavolcanlcs,tuUs,volcani-
clastics)

....... Quartzite
E2J
:: ......::

[Z] Metadiorite/granodlorlte

f XXIC

Gneiss, mylonite
ULJ
, ,
[I[]
" I Blue quartz porphyry

K.1
K-2 I Kataarea targets
K.3

62
--..----
 Map VI-4
Geologic Map and Cross-Section of Yubdo Ultramafic
Complex in Western Greenstone Region
o 1500
I I

Meters

Granite, granodiorite,
quartz diorite, grano-
syenite

Serpentinized dunite
~
N

I
Wehrlite (01and cpx)

Pyroxenite

Serpentinite

Birbirite

S Sulfides

Laterites
Quarry

,.. Birbirite stockwork

SECTION A - A'

SOURCE:Senbeto Chewaka and M. J. de Wit (editors). Plate Tectonics and Metallogenesis: Some Guidelines to
EthiopianMineralDeposits. EIGSBulletinNo.2, July 1981,P 86.

63
 Map VI-5
Geologic Map of Blkllal Area In
Western Greenstone Region
After Sergfenko and Ak/ilu Assefa (1988)
o .5 1 1.5 2
I I I I _I

Kilometers

Ogb Olivine gabbro

An Anorthosite, (eucocratic gabbro

Hbg Hornblende gabbro

... 0
0 0 Mineralized zone
)(
>< ')(.
Magnetite-ilmenite zone

.. . Apatite-Ilmenitezone
+
+ + Granite

J Migmatite

, 2 Amphibole schist
...
r' Contacts
+
, ,.-- \
/ I Facies boundary

,----' Fault

64
 SECTION VII

AKOBO GREENSTONE REGION

 SECTION VII
AKOBO GREENSTONE REGION

The Akobo Greenstone Belt lies between N6°-9° and E34°30'-36°15'. (See Maps VII-I to VII-
4.) The lithologic units here are generally similar to those in the Western Greenstone Belt
and are considered a southern extension of that terrane.

tittle exploration has been done in the region. In the 1970s the Omo River Project, by a
Canadian-Ethiopian geological team, conducted reconnaissance, geological and geochemical
work in the Akobo River Basin. The geological information on the Akobo Basin given in
section A below is from The Omo River Project: Reconnaissance, Geology and Geochemistry of
Parts of Illubabor, Kefa, Gamo Gofa and Sidamo, Ethiopia, Davidson, A., compiler, EIGS
Bulletin No.2, 1983.

EIGS recently explored some gold placers along valleys in the Akobo Basin (Map VII-4).
The results are given in section B below.

A. GEOLOGY OF THE AKOBO BASIN (MAPS VII-2 AND VII-3)

The portion of principal interest lies in the Akobo Basin, at the extreme southern end of
the Akobo Greenstone Belt. The rocks here include relatively low-grade metasedimentary
and metavolcanic units which enclose ultramafic lenses. Also present are plutons ranging
from gabbroic to granitic in composition. Unlike the general north-south trend of the
Ethiopian greenstone terranes, the structural trend in the Akobo Basin is northwesterly.

The five general lithologic types in the Akobo Basin, disregarding the plutons, are as
follows:

· Maficschist and gneiss(mapsymbolPbh): These are dark, amphibole-richschists

and gneisses. In the Akobo Basin they are mainly fine-grained amphibole schists,
some highly mafic. Interlayered are granular amphibolites, smaller amounts of
gray feldspathic schists, chlorite schists, chlorite-sericite schists, calcareous and caIc-
silicate-bearing schists, and rare cherty-textured quartzo-feldspathic rock with small
quartz eyes.

· Meta-ultramaficbodies(mapsymbolPuad): These are elongated masses conform-

able with the trend of the layering or foliation of the enclosing rock units. Twelve
bodies have been mapped, all of which are associated with the mafic schist (Pbh).
The westernmost occurrences lie in a line, like lenses pulled apart from an
originally larger mass. The commonest type consists of coarse, interlocking
tremolite. Varieties of this type contain varying proportions of talc, chlorite,
serpentine and carbonate, along with small amounts of opaque oxides. These are
probably slivers of tectonically emplaced plutonic rock. An ophiolitic origin may
be conjectured. .
· Metasedimentaryschists (mapsymbolsPs, Psmand Pqm): The dominant rock type
in the Akobo Basin, it is highly fissile, and light buff gray to medium gray in color.
65
SEcrION VB. AKOBOGREENSTONEREGION

Sericite schist (Psm) often appears more phyllitic, and at other times has a highly
attenuated lenticular structure that suggests extension by shearing, resembling a
phyllonite. Some outcrops have interlayered, very fine grained siliceous rock with
sericitic partings and variable amounts of pyrite and hematite. This may be a
metamorphosed chert or a cherty iron formation.

. Marble(map symbol Pc): This lithology occurs sporadically as thin interlayersin

the mafic schists.

. Undifferentiated schist and gneiss (map symbol Pe, s): These are occurrences of
metasediments and mafic schists among rocks of more gneissic character. They are
mainly gray, fine-grained hornblende and/or biotite gneisses, and light gray to pink
biotite quartzo-feldspathic gneisses with or without muscovite. Some of these
gneissic rocks may be equivalents of Ps and Pbh lithologies.

These greenschist facies, supracrustal, Late Proterozoic rocks, are considered correlative
with the Tsaliet Group of the Western Greenstone Region. They are bounded to the east
by the Hamar terrane and to the west by the Surma terrane, both of which are higher
grade, older gneisses.

The amphibolite facies Hamar rocks have been metamorphosed twice, and were intruded
by plutonic rocks both prior to and subsequent to the first metamorphic event. The older
metamorphism was associated with development of a large upward-opening fan-fold deep
in the crust whose west side forms most of the exposed Hamar terrane. Subsequent or
continuing deformation, with partial retrogression of earlier-formed granites, was accom-
panied by plutonism. Sedimentary and volcanic rocks were deposited on the west side of
this complex, probably prior to the second metamorphic event. They were deformed
before the west-directed overthrusting of the Hamar domain rocks. They were structur-
ally modified and metamorphosed to a relatively low grade during this earlier event, then
refolded following imbrication and introduction of thrust sheets from the east. Lastly,
they were intruded by late to post-tectonic granites.

The latest event in the whole region involved the juxtaposition of the gneissic rocks of the
Surma (west) domain against both the HaJ;Ilar domain gneisses and the younger
supracrustal rocks of the Akobo domain along a steep, northwest-oriented, sinistral shear
belt. The Surma rocks are essentially blastomylonitic gneisses. The pre-cataclastic meta-
morphic grade was at least as high as micJdle amphibolite facies.

Placer gold is found south of the Akobo River in the Akobo River Basin. This area is
underlain by mafic schists commonly cut by quartz veins. Swarms of quartz veins are
present in the lower-grade metamorphics of the Akobo Basin. The principal locations of
the auriferous gravels are closely correlated with the distribution of low-grade
metavolcanic and metasedimentary schists. They seem to be concentrated in areas where
meta-ultramafic rocks are exposed in the area south of the Akobo River. North of the
river, ultramafic rocks are poorly, if at all, exposed. Primary gold has been reported
occurring in quartz veins in the area. The placers are worked on a small, artisanal scale.

66
SECI'lON VII. AKOBO GREENSTONE REGION

The geologic and geochemical maps of the Akobo Basin (Maps VII-3 and VII-4) show
the anomalous areas, all associated with the meta-ultramafics. The Akobo Basin merits
prospecting for platinum as well as for gold and other metals such as copper and nickel.

B. GOLD PLACERS IN THE AKOBO BASIN (MAP VII -4)

The information in this section on goldplacers in the Akobo Basin is taken from Report
on Alluvial Gold Prospectsof Chamo Creek,Karl,Kandibabaand Middle Akobo River,by
Taye Habtewolde et aI., EIGS, 1993. Map VII-4 showsthe locations explored and those
proposed for future work.
1. CHAMO CREEK

Chamo Creek is a dry seasonal river valley about 5 kilometers long and 70 meters
wide on an average. It is a southern tributary of the Akobo River and drains
meta-ultramafics,mainly serpentinites,talc chlorites, schistsand amphiboliteswith
acidic dykesin its upper and middle reaches, and granodiorites and quartz diorites
with simple pegmatites in its lower reaches. Minor quartz veins are obseIVedin
all lithologies.
A total of 14 pits, 13 of whichsunk to bed rocks, were dug on three profile lines
spaced 1.6km apart and with 20 meters pit inteIVal. The average depth was 1.81
meters and stripping ratio was found to be 0.515:1.295. A geological reseIVeof
182.47kilogramsof gold was estimated, with gold content of 0.50 gm/m3in wash
and 0.381gm/m3overall.
2. KARl RIVER

Kari is a perennial stream and a major left tributary of the Akobo River. This
stream drains basalts, silicifiedamphiboliteschists,phylites,chlorite schists,quartz-
biotites, amphibolite schists, diorites, quartz-diorites, serpentinites, meta-sand-
stones, and meta-conglomerates.

A total of 35 pits were dug, out of which 24 pits were sunk to the bedrock and 11
pits were incomplete because of boulders, ground water seepage and pit wall
collapse.
The average depth of the pits is 5.74 meters, with a stripping ratio of 3.23:2:03.
A reseIVeof 853.7kilograms of gold is computed with goldvalues 0.123 gm/m3in
overall and 0.342 gm/m3in wash.
3. KENDIBABCREEK

Kendibab is a seasonal dry creek right tributary to Karl River. It drains

metavolcanics and metasediments, such as amphibolites, quartz biotites,
amphibolites and phyllites, chloriteschists. Numerous quartz floats and veins of
various sizes and generation are obseIVedin the locality.

67
SECTION VD. AKOBO GREENSTONE REGION

Twelve pits were sunk at 40-meter inteIValson two profile lines of 1.6kilometers
apart. The pits were dug and all have reached bedrock. The average overall
depth of the pits is 2.5 meters, with overburden-to-wash ratio of 1.12:1.35. A
reseIVeof 301 kilograms of goldwith gold content 0.18 gm/m3in overall and 0.35
gm/m3in wash has been calculated at PI category.
4. AKOBO RIVER (RIGHT FLANK)

A rapid reconnaissance sUIVeywas undertaken to the right flank of the Akobo

River east and west of the Akobo-Chamoconfluence. Thirteen pits at 40 meters
apart were sunk to bedrock on two profiles 1.6 kilometers apart. Only three
consecutive pits showed gold values of up to 0.56 gm/m3in a wash in the flood
plain (old cemented gravel).

68
,, \
\
,, ,
, ~I Pg,x
.,
. ,
\ P81S
\,
Map VII-1
Geologic Map of Akobo Greenstone Region
\
, , Alter Orno Riller Project Report (EIGS, 1983)
, ,,
\ o 10 20 30
,\ 40 50

, \
" \
", p""

'--~._------

6"3O"N
Pv

Nms- Miocene basalt

Pa. Hamar terrane and Swma terrane
Pax Strongly lineated layered gneiss
P Gabbro, diorite and meta-equivalenls
Pbh Malic schist of predominantly votcanic origin;
minor graywacke and metaconglomerate
Pc Marble
Pebh Undivided gneiss
PebI1It CataclasllC gneISSderived from Pebh
PernI> Predominantly muscovite-biolile grarlllaid gneiss
and rnagmallte Pv
Pe,s Gneiss and schist of undivided sedimentary and
volcanic origin
Pg, Pre- and/or synlec:tonlc granite
Pgd, Pre- and/or synteaonic granodionleJtonalile
Pg,x Graniloid gneiss derived 'rom Pg, and Pgd,
Pm Permian sandstOne and conglomerate
Pom Oligocene Mekkonen basalt ..
Pqm Quanz-muscovite schist, minor quatUjle
Ps Sedimentary schist, melagraywacke, melapelile,
meta-rhyotitic tull and metaconglomerate
Psm Sericite schist; minor pyritic and graphite phyUile;
metachert
Puad Meta-ultramafic rocks, predominantly talc,
amphibole schist, minor serpentlnae
Pv Eocene-Oligocene main votcarnc sequence, basa!\,
rhyolite, trachyte, tull and ignimbrite

69
 Ps IP_~'
....
"\ V )
I
" t
, ',-I
,
Pgd,
/
"
,\ \.\ Pgd, V
I
,
,
\
\

S030'N

V
Pb, Gabbro, diorite and metamorphosed equivalants
Pbh Mahe schisl 01 predominant Iy volcanic origin;
minor graywacke and metaconglomerate
Pc Und~terentiated marble
Pee Calche marble
Pebh Undivided gnaiss; predominantly biothe and horn.
blende gnaiss, in part migmathic, whh minor
metasedimentary gneiss, quartzo.leldspathic
gneiss, a"1'hibolhe and granitoid orthogneiss
Pe,s Gneiss and schist 01 undivided sedimentary v
and igneous origin
Pemb Muscovhe-biotite granhoid orthogneiss
Pex Strongly lineated layered gneiss
Pg, Pre-tectonic/syntectonic granite and pegmathe
Pg, Late 10 posl-tectonic Precambrian granhe
Pgd, Pre.tectonic/synt ectonic granodiorh eltonalhe S01S'N
PhI Tertiary hypabyssallelsite v
Pm Permian sandstone
Pqm Quartz-museovhe schist; minor quartzhe \ Map VII.2
Ps Sedimentary schist: metagraywacke, metapelite,
\ Geologic Map 0' Akobo Bas'n,
\
metarhyolite lull, metachert
\
Akobo Greenstone Region
Psm Seriche schist; minor pyritic and graphhe phyllhe;
melachert
\ After Omo River proJec' Report (EIGS, 1983)
\
Puad Mela.ullramalic rocks; predominanlly talc- "
amphibole schist; minor serpentinite II II 12 18
v Tertiary volcanics, undifferentieted ....-..." I I I I
" KIlometers
34°4S'E 3so00'E V ...)I V
\ 3so1S'E
"
70
 \
I
I
J
Map
VII-3
Anomalies In Stream Sediments In Akobo Basin,
Akobo Greenstone Region
After Omo River Project Report (EIGS, 1983)
o 8 12 18
I I I .
Kilometers

6' 30'N:

/".

~ it
[J
tJ

\ r
y ~\ t\
[I
~-"')

~,
-X
"

6'15'N
,
~ Y
\~"'\\. '-" . ·
I
I
'\
\
Sireamseciimenls In = 9221

. .. >,. ",.. ~ '

"-.AJ
"-...
~

o Cu> 45ppm \ "'-.,

'----..
'1
\

34°45'E
I!I N;"d C, r 3S000'E
"\
( 3S01S'E

71
 Map VII-4
Placer Gold Exploration Area in Akobo Basin,
Akobo Greenstone Region
After Taye Habtewolde et a/. (1993)
o 5 10

Kilometers

L Explored

~ Proposed for future work

~ Stream

72
 SECTIONvm

TIGRAY GREENSTONE REGION

 SECTION VIII
TIGRAY GREENSTONE REGION

The Tigray Greenstone Region is located in northern Ethiopia. (See Metallogenic Map in
Section I.) The Late Proterozoic Tsaliet Group is well developed in this region and consists
of propylitized andesites and diabases, tuffaceous slates and graywackes. This predominantly
volcanic sequence merges into the overlying Tambien Group. The main rock types in this
group are slate and shale - commonly graphitic - with interbedded limestones. Small bodies
of pyroxenite and serpentinite are found in western Tigray. Metamorphism has reached the
greenschist facies as a rule, although locally it has reached the amphibolite facies.

The units have been folded and sometimes refolded in a generally regular fashion along a
northeast axis. Locally the folding is isoclinal. Recumbent folding, occasionally accompanied
by thrust faulting, is evident in some areas.

Overlying the older units are Late Proterozoic dolomites and black to variegated shales, fol-
lowed unconformably by sandstones and foliated conglomerates containing clasts of slate,
phyllite and granite. The youngest sedimentary rocks in the Precambrian of northern Ethio-
pia are limestones (with algal fragments and stromatolites), dolomitic limestone and dolomite.
These are in the Shiraro area of Tigray.

Post-tectonic granitoids are abundant in Tigray. They are cross-cutting intrusive bodies that
cut the folded Late Proterozoic sequences.

In the volcano-sedimentary sequences, lithologic changes take place rapidly, and facies
changes are characteristic. Rapid thickening and thinning of local limestones is common.
The relationships are mostly primary variations associated with rapid sedimentation and vol-
canic activity. The metavolcanics comprise lavas and pyroclastics, from basalts to rhyolites.
Poorly-developed pillow structures have been reported. The pyroclastics range from breccias
to fine-grained tuffs of aqueous deposition. The mudstones show gradations to cherts, closely
associated with the volcanics, reminiscent of the environment for volcanogenic massive sulfide
deposition.

The calc-alkaline volcanic activity, the rapid lateral variations and the evidence of slumping
and turbidity current activity suggest rapid deposition along the flank of a volcanic island arc.

Preserved by down-faulting, the Mekele outlier contains a sequence of Jurassic to Cretaceous

sedimentary formations, from the basal Jurassic Adigrat sandstone, to the Antalo limestone,
followed by the Agula shale. Overlying these Jurassic formations unconformably are the
lower Cretaceous Amba Aradem sandstones and conglomerates.

Government geologists currently working in the Tigray Region will provide a solid database
for future, more detailed exploration.

73
SECI10N VIII. TIGRAYGREENSTONE REGION

A. GOLD AND BASE METAL MINERALIZATION

Recent exploration in the Tigray Greenstone Belt has increased our knowledge of the
mineral possibilities in the region. Inasmuch as the existence of massive and heavily-
disseminated sulfide deposits is well-documented in neighboring Eritrea, the same types
of mineralization may well be expected in Tigray. The geological environment is the
same in both, and indeed the Tigray Greenstone Belt continues into Eritrea.

Mineralization in the known deposits is predominantly pyritic, with associated copper, zinc
and lead sulfides. Barite and/or quartz are typical gangue minerals. Base-metal occur-
rences and geochemical indications are found in a number of areas in the Tigray region.
Copper occurrences and geochemical anomalism are found associated with the Tsaliet
metavo1canics in the lower Werri and Tsaliet River drainages as well as in west-central
Tigray.

Lead and zinc anomalies in soils are present at Mariam Adi Destra, southeast of Hauzien,
trending across the Giva River. These base-metal exploration targets are considered to
be hydrothermal in origin and associated with a late phase of the uppermost Proterozoic
Mareb granitic stocks. Gold in quartz veins is also known to be associated with these
stocks.

B. GOLD OCCURRENCES

1. ARAGAB MESHA

A gossan of about 50 meters by 2 meters is known to occur at this place. A

detailed soil surveycarried out has indicated Cu and Zn anomalies associatedwith
graphite-bearing sediments (schists). Cu up to 2% and Pb up to 2300 ppm were
reported.
2. ENTICHO

Detailed geologicalinvestigationup to drilling(3 bore holes) has been carried out

by Ethio-Nippon. Gossans were reported to occur on the surface. Pyrite-bearing
sediments were intersected by drilling.
3. WESTERN TIGRAY

Regional reconnaissance,follow-up and detailed investigations have been carried

out and gold mineralization is known to occur. Local residents engage in panning
for gold along drainages.
a. Asgede
Quartz vein-hosted gold mineralization is indicated in two places. Many
anomalous localities are outlined fromdrainage heavy mineral concentrate
surveying. Detailed investigations are underway.

74
SECfION VID. TIGRAYGREENSTONEREGION

b. Terakimti (AdiDairo)

Quartz vein-hostgoldmineralization is indicated. Further detailed explora-

tion is being carried out.
c. AdizereSenai

Shear related gold-mineralization is indicated associated with ultrabasic

rock (schists), and wideanomalous areas are outlined. A detailed investiga-
tion is being carried out.
d. Zager and Hargets

Gold anomalies, from heavy mineral concentrate sUIVeying,are found in

these localities. They are the subject of a future exploration program.
4. MEFALSO AND ADI HAGERAY

Base-metal anomalies with some gold inciations are reported to occur in these
localities.

s. ADI HOZA

Primary gold is found northeast of the town of Hauzien, near Adi Hoza. There
are numerous gold-bearing quartz veins present. They are iron-stained with
oxidizedpyrite containing traces of gold.
6. MEKELEQUADRANGLE
In the Mekele quadrangle of eastern Tigray, alluvialgold is known alongthe Werri
and Bereh Rivers. A placer is found at N13°53',E39°12'. Potential gold-bearing
alluvium along the Werri River is some 30 kilometers long and 20-300 meters
wide, and consists of both high and low terraces. Four pits gave reported values
up to 117grams of gold per cubic meter. Primary gold in pyrite-bearing quartz
veins was discovered during reconnaissance in the Werri area.

c. NICKEL
1. SAMRE
Stream sediments anomalousin nickel are found seven kilometers southwest of
Samre, at N13°02', £39°15', along a zone 3 kilometers long and less than 1 kilo-
meter wide. The area appears to be underlain by metasediments and meta-
volcanicsof the Tambien Group.

75
SEmON VIll. TIGRAYGREENSTONEREGION

D. COPPER

1. TSEHAFIEMBA COPPER PROSPECT

The Tsehafi Emba copper prospect is in western Tigray. The mineralization

occurs within a meta-gabbro associated with other metamorphosed intrusions, all
forming a syntectonic complex. This complex, known as the Firfira, lies within the
low-grade, regionally metamorphosed volcanics and sediments of the Late Protero-
zoic Tsaliet Group. These are in turn cut by the post-tectonic Mareb granites.
The regional strike of the greenschist facies metamorphics is northeast to
east-northeast, dipping vertically to steeply northwest. Two deformational episodes
have affected these rocks.

There are three groups of metamorphic rocks at this prospect: metavolcanics,

metasediments, and the intrusive Firfira complex in the southeast portion of the
area studied. The metavolcanics and the metasediments are often found inter-
bedded, and gradations exist between graywackes and volcanic tuffs.

The metavolcanics range from basaltic to rhyolitic composition. Some relict

structures may be preserved, but the rocks have been completely altered to massive
or schistose greenstones.

The metasediments are graywackes, siltstones, mudstones, slates and thin marbles.
The graywackes locally include conglomerates and breccias. Gradations exist
between gray-wackes and tuffs, and between graywackes, siltstones, mudstones and
slates.

The Firfira complex ranges from granite to ultramafic in composition. These are
considered syntectonic. Granites and granodiorites make up 70% of the complex,
diorites and gabbros 15%, and fine-grained, mainly mafic rocks 15%. Deformation
is variable in intensity. The gabbros locally show primary gravity layering. Some
contact metamorphic effects are present, but these are generally blurred by the
subsequent regional metamorphism.

There are few visible surface indications of copper mineralization at Tsehafi Emba.
Some malachite staining is present, but no gossans. Finely disseminated sulfides
are visible in some of the less-weathered gabbros. The main evidence reported for
the presence of potential economic mineralization lies in the geochemical analyses
of stream sediment, soil and rock samples. Copper values up to several thousand
parts per million have been reported from the soils, and up to a few percent from
rock samples. Most values in the soils are greater than 1000 ppm, and malachite
stains lie within the outcrop of gabbros. The more basic layered gabbros tend to
give a high proportion of the higher copper values.

Mineralization at Tsehafi Emba probably predates the Mareb granites, as chalcopy-

rite is found in the earlydeformed hydrothermal veins. Later veins have no copper
minerals. The bulk of the copper is disseminated within the gabbros.

76
SECTION VID. TIGRAY GREENSTONE REGION

2. TSALIETRIVER

There are geochemical stream sediment copper anomaliesin the lower Werri and
Tsaliet rivers,and a copper anomalysouth of the Tsaliet River at N13°48',E39°03'.
The anomalies are in Tsaliet metavolcanicterrane. The Cu threshhold is 84 ppm,
with anomalous basins going up to 140 ppm. Small gossaniferous outcrops are
found. The mineralization is perhaps related to the Mareb granite intrusion.
3. EAST LIMB OF NEGACH SYNCLINORIUM

About 20 kilometeres east of Mariam Adisto, at NI3°58', E39°42', streams with

anomalous amounts of copper and zinc are found on the eastern limb of the
Nagach synclinorium,localized along a north-south fault. Copper values up to 178
ppm, and zinc up to 113 ppm are reported. Malachite has been obselVedin the
area.
4. SAMRE

Information concerning an area about 7 kilometers south-southwest of Samre, at

N13°02',E39°16',is available fromthe map ofthe Mekele quadrangle (ND37-11).

E. LEAD ANDZINC
1. MARIAMADISTA
Mariam Adista is southeast of the town of Hauzien. At N13°57',E39°32', zinc and
lead soil anomalies cut across the Giva River. The highest Zn value was 3300
ppm, with 1000ppm values common. The Zn threshold was 140 ppm; 11 of 16
drainages were returned anomalous values. Anomalous Pb samples of 80 ppm
were coincidentalwith the zincs. The area appears to be underlain by the Assem
limestone of the Tambien Group.

77
 SECTION IX

ETHIOPIAN ImT ZONE

 SECTION IX
ETHIOPIAN RIFT ZONE

The Ethiopian Rift Zone forms a valley that cuts through Ethiopia in a general north-north-
east direction. It is a graben, the failed arm of the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden triple junction,
which was formed during the opening of what are today the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

There are several saline lakes in the Rift Valley in southern Ethiopia. At one of them, Lake
Abiyata, soda ash is being produced by solar evaporation. As the Rift Valley approaches
Djibouti, the western boundary faults turn to a more northerly direction, forming the Afar
and Danakil Basins. These lie east of the Ethiopian Plateau and are bounded on the east by
the Danakil Alps, which run parallel to the Red Sea coast in this area. The eastern boundary
of the Rift Valley, at roughly the same latitude, turns to the east toward the Gulf of Aden
arm of the triple junction.

The Danakil Depression is some 120 meters (394 feet) below sea level and is east of the
normal fault zone that borders the Precambrian schists of the Tigray Greenstone Region.
(See Map IX-I.) There are surface deposits of salt and sulfur, shallow manganese deposits,
and subsurface evaporite deposits of potash salts. The latter have been explored by drilling
and underground drifting. Between 1917 and 1929 approximately 70,000 metric tons of pot-
ash was recovered.

Oimatic conditions in the Danakil Depression must be taken into consideration. Monthly
average temperatures are: minimum 27.8°C (82°F) and maximum 40.6°C (105°F). The tem-
perature range at noon is 50.5°-68.1°C (132-152.9°F). The annual rainfall between January
and March is 2-5 mm (J. Matthews, 1968).

Access to the deposits in the Danakil Depression is from the Red Sea. The closest port is
Mersa Fatma, but Massawa, which may be reached from Mersa Fatma by truck or sea trans-
port, is recommended. Land transport is rough. Dallol is accessible by road from Mersa Fatma
and there is a dry-weather road from Mekele to Dallol, which requires 4WD vehicles. A project
to build a 190-kilometer highway from Serdo to Afdera is being bid. The only other access to
Dallol is by air. Dallol is about 208 kilometers by air southeast of Asmara. The airstrip at
Dallol can accommode a DC-3 or equivalent aircraft.

A. SODA AsH RESOURCES

The soda ash resource is located approximately 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
The waters of Lakes Abiyata, Shala and Chitu have medium to high salinity and contain
sodium-chloride-carbonate. Soda ash is being produced from Lake Abiyata on a semi-
commercial scale. The soda ash resource and reserves, and the Abiyata collection and
evaporation operation and plant, are described in Section X.
B. POTASH

Major potash deposits exist between E39°45'-E45°00' and NI3°30'-NI5°15", near Mount
Dallol within the Danakil Depression, The sylvite-bearing evaporite sequence is young
78
SECTION IX. ETHIoPIAN RIFT ZONE

(Quaternary) and relatively undisturbed. Subsidence along a rift zone has resulted in a
basin containing at least 1000 meters of evaporites. Within the evaporite sequence,
gypsum is the most widespread mineral on the surface. Isolated outcrop areas of halite
and potash salts are also present. Around Mount Dallol a sequence of evenly-bedded
halite is found interbedded with thin layers of clay and gypsum. Sylvite, carnallite and
sulfur outcrop around the central crater of Mount Dallol.
1. DEPOSITS

a. Musely Ore Body(Map IX-2)

The Musely ore body, located 4.5 kilometers west of Mount Dallol, was
extensively explored during the 1960s. Three major fault systems affect the
area and the Musely ore body. The strongest trends N30°-400W with
normal displacement. The second trends N600-75°W and exhibits various
types of displacement. The third trends N30°-400E and shows lateral
displacement.

Structurally, the northwest fault system has had the most effect on ore body
continuity, according to one interpretation of the data available. Another
study, however, suggested that the amount of vertical displacement of a
given sylvite horizon was caused by £Iexuring rather than faulting. The
northeast fault system is the most significant in that fresh water is carried
in it. Lateral facies changes are common in individual sylvinite horizons
and may be either subtle or abrupt according to a later office study.
Thinning and thickening of individual beds are common features, but
complete pinch-outs are rare.

The stratigraphy in the area of the Musely ore body was determined by
drilling and underground work. Overlyingthe evaporites are 6-45 meters
of alluvial gravels and fine clastics with numerous gypsum layers. The
evaporite sequence consists of three parts: upper halite zone, Houston
formation, and lower halite formation.

. UpperHaliteZone
The upper halite zone is 6-180 meters thick, consisting of almost
pure halite. It is light-colored, coarse-grained and porous, with
vuggy interstitial openings. Toward the base this unit becomes
darker, denserand well-bedded,withincreased amount of anhydrite.
. Houston Formation

The Houston formation consists of four members. The uppermost

member is a marker-bed 4.5-15 meters thick consisting of laminated
anhydrite. This is a persistent and useful marker.

79

--
SECTIONIX. ETHIoPIANRIFf ZONE

The second part is the sylvinite member. It is variable in thickness,

from 0-11 meters, and is not very distinctive from the overlying
marker bed. It contains even, wavy gypsum layers. Distinct thin
sylvinite beds alternate with thin, valVe-like anhydrite layers.
Bedding is distinct, but often contorted, with slump features.
Toward the base of this member, the content of sylvite decreases
and it becomes more impure with the increased content of other
salts.

The third, or intermediate member, which often contains appreciable

sylvite, especially in the upper parts, is characterized by a complex
and mixed mineralogy of several salts besides sylvite, such as kainite,
kieserite, polyhalite, carnallite, anhydrite, and locally bischofite and
rinneite. The thickness of this member is variable, up to 24 meters,
and it may be quite rich in potash salts.

The fourth, or kainite member, 4-13 meters thick, is fine-grained,

dense, massive, and amber colored. It contains about 25% of
admixed halite. Toward the base, it becomes more impure, and the
last kainite bed marks the base of this member and of the potash
formation.

· Lower Halite Zone

The lower halite formation is more than 150 meters thick. It con-
sists of dense, gray, medium-grained halite, and contains dissemina-
tions and a few thin seams of anhydrite. One core hole penetrated
this third formation and discovered a second potash horizon appar-
ently similar to the upper one described above. This lower potash
horizon has not been explored.

Three groups worked on the deposit between 1959 and 1970. Between
them, over 42,000 meters of drilling were done, and a 100-meter deep,
3.3-meter diameter shaft, and nearly 900 meters of underground openings
were completed. A number of geophysical methods were employed aswell,
including ground and helicopter-borne gravity, ground magnetics, and
seismic refraction. Gamma and temperature logging were done to identify
the sylvinite members in the boreholes. A distinct quantitative correlation
was found between the intensity of gamma radiation and the KQ content.
A pilot plant was built.

During the 1960sa foreignjoint venture companyconsistingof subsidiaries

of Ralph M. Parsons Company and a shippingcompany owned by Daniel
K. Ludwig, an American entrepreneur, began drilling, shaft-sinkingand
underground workings. Transport was to be by water from a port on the
Red Sea (the deposit is approximately 45 miles south of Mersa Fatma on

80
SECTIONIX. ETInOPIAN RIFf ZONE

the Red Sea). Operations were discontinued in 1968 after the mine
workings were flooded by fresh water. A combination of factors, including
the depressed price for potash, forced ~bandonment..of
'" the project.

As defined by the drilling, the Musely ore body is some 4 kilometers long
in a N25°W direction, and about 1.5 kilometers wide. Reconnaissance
drilling and seismic work suggest that the ore horizon may extend longitudi-
nally as much as 16 kilometers. As presently known, the ore body averages
4.76 meters (15.6 feet) thick. In some areas, higher-grade ore exists near
the top of the horizon; in others, the higher grades are found near the base.

During the underground mining, there was no caving or roof trouble of

consequence associated with the leached zone, either in the ore or in the
Houston formation. Formation tests were done to study the brine occur-
rences in the different members of the upper salt formation. The results
were controversial due to problems related to cementation.

Drilling also indicated the presence of a deeper potash-bearing horizon at

500 meters depth, similar in character to that explored by the underground
work and shallower drilling. The potash beds are shallowest in the western
part of the basin, and dip to the east. Drill-hole information suggests that
the explored potash-rich horizon underlies an area of at least 19 kilometers
in length in a north-south direction by nearly 11 kilometers in width.
However, the full extent of this horizon is not yet determined.

b. Crescent Ore Body

The Crescent ore body, 1 kilometer southwest of Mount Dallol, was

discovered later than the Musely ore body in the course of exploration. It
is up to 1000 meters long by 100 meters wide. It is irregular in shape and
relatively flat-lying, and surrounds bubbling springs of MgQ. Potash occurs
on the surface and at a depth of 90 meters in the form of carnallite and
subordinate sylvite. The zone has a maximum thickness of 60 meters. The
mineral body is composed of a mixture of carnallite, sylvite, halite, red iron
oxides and clay, and is saturated with corrosive hot brines.
2. RESERVES

a. Musely Ore Body

The Musely potash reserves were estimated in the late 1960s by the
Parsons- Ludwig joint venture using a drill spacing of 300 meters. It was
determined that the Musely ore body contains 33.1% sylvite, 48.6% halite,
13.3% anhydrite, 3.1% carnallite, 1.7% kainite and 0.1% kiserite. Ore
reserves were estimated at 98 million metric tons (proven and probable),
averaging 33% KCI, using a cut-off grade of 25% KCI and a minimum
mining thickness of 2.1 meters.

81
SECTIONIX. ETInOPIAN RIFf ZONE

Figure 8
Musely Potash Reserves

Reserve Metric Tons KCI

Classification
-
000 %
Proven 66,228 33.04
Probable 32,331 33.96
Possible 61,897 31.22
-
TOTAL 160,456 32.5
Source: Joint venture report; modified by Ethiopian Institute
of Geological Surveys,1965.

In December 1968, Mackayand Schnellman reviewedthe reseIVeestimates

and concludedthat the reseIVescalculated cannot be classified as proven
or probable ore until they are justified by additional underground mining
work. Mackayand Schnellmanalso concluded that the assumptions of 0.3
meter roof cover above and floor cover below the ore horizon are unwork-
able and unrealistic, and suggestedinstead a 0.6 meter cover.

It should be noted that the Musely ore body has been only partially ex-
plored. There is lateral continuationto be considered, aswell as the deeper
potash horizon that was cut in the drill hole.

The work done at Musely suggeststhat underground miningmethods will

have to be used to extract the potash. Solution mining has been consid-
ered, but it is unlikely that would be a successful technique.
b. Crescent Ore Body

The Crescent ore body reseIVeshave been estimated to be 10-12 million

metric tons of ore containing 3 million metric tons of KO, corresponding
to 1.9 million metric tons of K20.

c. MANGANESE
DEPOSITS

Manganese ore has been reported in the Danakil Depression. The Parsons-Ludwigjoint
venture that explored the Mount Dallol area for potash reported the occurrence of a
number of small low-grade showings of manganese in the quaternary rocks on the east
and west of the Danakil Depression. These were all said to be of "secondary origin."
(Geological Report prepared for R. M. Parsons Potash Exploration Company, 1965.)
Two occurrences of manganese ore have been reported in the Mount Dallol area:

82
SECTION IX. ErmoPIAN RIFT ZoNE

1. EN KAFALA

This ore body is in the En Kafala Valley 5 kilometers west of Mount Dallol. The
manganese appears in a bed 1-2 meters thick above the basal conglomerate of the
white series, composedof reef limestone, marble and gypsum,and below the reef
limestone. The upper part of the manganese ore body was quarried mainly by
removing 3-5 meters of the overburden of limestone. The area of quarrying is less
than 1 km:!.(M. Beyth, 1965).
To the east, above the conglomerate, beds of manganese and iron oxide are
interbedded with brown clay of 90 em thickness. The results of chemical analysis
of the lower part showedit to be of poor grade: Mn 22.27%, Fe 6.5%, Ba 0.1%,
Sr 0.4%, and traces of Ti, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Y, and Sr. (M. Beyth, 1969).
The low-grade material is overlain by a bluish porous massive bed of almost pure
manganese oxide, 110 cm thick. This middle part gave the following result on
chemical analysis: Mn 60.78%, Fe 0.7%, Ba 0.8%, Sr 1.2%, and traces ofTi, Cu,
Zn, As, and TI. The assay represents about 95% Mn02, a remarkably pure
deposit. (M. Beyth, 1969.)
At the top of the manganese bed, there is a thin layer (25 em) of dark brown
manganese which looks like lignite. The chemical analysis shows the following
results: Mn 52.52%,Fe 2.4%, Ba 0.3%,Sr 1.2%, and traces of Ti, Ni, Cu, Zn, As,
Rb and Cr. (M. Beyth, 1969.)
Estimated production of manganese ore at En Kafala between 1965 and 1967is
4000 metric tons (Getenehe Assefa, 1985).
2. GARADA

The Garada manganeseoccurrence is 36 km east-southeast of Colluli, 38 kIDeast

of Mount Dallol, and 50 km east-northeast of En Kafala. The manganese is
sedimentary (like that of En Kafala), dark to brown in color, and massive. The
exposed manganese is about 170 meters long, up to 12 meters wide, and 3 meters
in average thickness. Results of preliminarychemical analysis indicate that the
MnO content of the ore ranges from 11.1% to 31.3%.
Geochemical assayresults - chemical and emission spectroscopy- are shownin
Figures 9 and 10.

83
SECTION IX. ETlUOPIANRIFT ZoNE

Figure 9
Geochemical Assay Results (Chemical) for Garada Area
Percent

Description SiO. AI.O. Fe-O. CaO MgO Na.O K.O 0.0 0.1 MnO BaO Sr
at over
HOC 40°C

Manganese ore 29.8 25 41.0 0.9 0.1 0.1 1.2 0.3 4.7 11.1 0.1
from quarry T3.9

Calcite with 2.3 1.0 16.4 13.9 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 16.0 31.3 7.4 0.3
manganese ore 27.0 15 0.3 15.3 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.3 14.9 25.4 6.1 0.2

Cherty calcite 90.0 45 0.3 1.1 0.1 0.1 2.2 0.1 1.1 0.5 0.3 0.'1
band without ore

Cherty quartz in 9.8 1.0 0.1 48.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.1 38.4 0.1 0.1 0.1
calcite band
without ore
SOURCE: Ahmet Mohamed and Admasu Mekete, 1973.

Figure 10
Geochemical Assay Results (Emission Spectroscopy) for Garada Area
ppm

Description Pb Cu Ba Mo Be Ti V Co Ni Mn

Manganese ore from 5 5 0.30 20 3 30 50 - - 1.00

quarry
Calcite with - 10 1.00 10 10 200 30 - - 1.00
manganese ore

Calcitewith - 20 1.00 20 - 200 20 - - 1.00

manganese ore

Cherty calcite band 5 100 0.02 50 - 200 30 8 30 0.20

without ore

Cherty quartz in - - 0.02 - - 20 - 3 5 0.03

calcite band without
ore
SOURCE:Ahmet Mohamed and AdmasuMekete, 1973.

D. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RESOURCES

Geothermal energy resources in the Danakil Depression are described in Chapter VI of

Volume One.

84
 Map IX-1
Location, Topographic and Geologic Map of
Danakil Depression in Ethiopian Rift Zone

N
REEF
LIMESTONE

REO-BEDS

LEGEND
COAASE ALLINIUM REO-BEOS.G\'PSUt04.BASALT
CLAY OUTWASH

.o MUSlEY AREA

BRINE POOt.

HOT SPRING. COMPOSITION

BASAlT.GYPSUM.AHHYORITE

INOICATED

o ~
J
4
. e
. 8
. I
MlES

RED SEA

\I'OLC:.IINIC
wurCRN O CONC
CSCARPNCNT

SOURCE: J. G. Holwerda and R. W. Hutchison, .Potash-Bearing Evaporites in the Danakil Area,

Ethiopia,. Economic Geology, Vol. 63, (1968), P 125 (reprinted with permission of Economic Geology).

85
 Map IX-2
Cross-Section Through Potash Interval of Musely Area
in Danakll Depression, Ethiopian Rift Zone

"21Z "15t1 "'55 'ZII '''D "tJ.

8.CM.CJ Holil.
1000' ,all?
oluvium .CIOY.9YlIsum.
an"~U.
;~!'!!'-"!'1.':!!!~~~
8.CJa.CJHalil.

~
(~rtlca' and """1' toIl
o. .eoo 800
FEET
TD IZS"
WEST
EAST
...-.. ... ;.. .;'''.-... . . ..- - -
:: :: :.: : : : ....
.:.:... .. . .:.::' :.: :.:.:-; .>: ::'~'.::.:;.::: .~: : :: .:.:: :.:: ~:~.;~:i ~.;.;
::.-=: = ...- : . : .: ...-

,
:.:..::::::::=:::: ~v_~~JJ~~~_~~~_~~~~ ."..8... 8. . . : .8. .._... :._~...,~~=_..~_.':';'~:'"-',.~f.-~f~~~.
...: ..-- .0~".'=--::-~-==-.:~:
: ~.~.:..;.
~
---.-...- --..-..-.------
::::.=.-===.::".: :
--.---------- I~ -
...----..-..-..-..-..-..--.-.
---..-..-.- ..- -..
~:--s::--==-:;..:~~~.~:~ ::,
~f.':S~~~ '.'~~?m-~~~I~':~;-;
': :: :~ :'~~-=_~o:
--:--=:.:=. -- -:-"'-.':~l'~'::~~.r}o
t-~-:..:..~:. :'.':':~ ,.~.,.::..n"t4"..~_ ~-"'~!{'':~'''''''''''''''.V'':"!'';:-''' ~~-"':::- ~~ :~?:~: :_~~_.. :: :: ,:' .:.
~i;':'i5r"~~~~~"~~~-"~.r;:~ .-- _~::.z.....__....
--! ,:2Li:i::X:\'2/;iL
;:~~::~:~''.:''';:;;,;:;,G;; "'1.'~'~~/f(;:'~~:.r~it~"::'~.:t\;r.ifl'}JL.~l~~l~~t~i~~~~J~

~~::~~:~.~:i~~~.Lj{U~.t)~.~~~.:~\~\.\:.::..\-.::..::.::.:.::::::::::::::~.:
J('" 04_".:.:. ............
Nal. : ~, 170.1119or. broll.n OneJ
~ " ..." :., : "',.. .. '0."'''
,.clian oJ ""'ile omilltCJ in !hiS o
1hOrilonla
~OO
II
eoo ffi3 Youno.r Holile l. :., . ....
CJrawino10..,oin prooe. Slape OIl .. ---'..\._~:~t"'
lOp Of 0010'" inl.r..o' FEET c::a Mark..
: 80S. oJ ko,nil. not Clrill.CJin ""'.,
Iv.rlicall m 5y1YU.m.mber
712.1~~.211
o 100 200
.. c:J Int m.mber
FEET ~ Koinlle ~r

SOURCE: J. G. Holwerda and R. W. Hutchison, .Potash-Bearing Evaporites in the DanakilArea, Ethiopia,. Economic Geology, Vol.63, (1968),
P 138 (reprinted with permission of Economic Geology).

86
 SECTION X

EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

 SECTION X
EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

A. BACKGROUND

The history of modem mining in Ethiopia is recent. Documents show that mineral
prospecting and exploration began at the end of the 18th century. Gold and platinum
have been produced in western and southern Ethiopia since 1935.

Modem mineral exploration started in 1968-1969with the establishment of the Ethiopian

Geological Survey as a department within the Ministry of Mines and Energy to undertake
sUlveys of the geology and potential mineral reserves of the country. Exploration for
metallic and industrial minerals was also undertaken by foreign companies at that time.

A number of institutions and autonomous organizations directly accountable to the

Ministry have evolved. In particular, the Ethiopian Mineral Resources Development
Corporation (EMRDC) was established in 1982 and the Geological Survey became an
autonomous body the same year, with the official name of the Ethiopian Institute of
Geological Surveys.

Since the establishment of the Geological Survey in 1968, various mineral exploration
projects have been undertaken by the Ethiopian government, both on its own and with
the assistance of outside organizations. Private foreign companies have also carried out
mineral exploration. Surveys were carried out mostly in the Precambrian low grade
metamorphic terrains. Exploration activities so far have outlined priority target areas, and
some reserves of precious metals (primary and placer gold), platinum, rare metals, base
metals and iron.

1. ETHIOPIANINSTITUTEOF GEOLOGICALSURVEYS(EIGS)

EIGS conducts geologic reconnaissance surveys, and mapping and exploration

programs, supported by laboratory services and drilling and geophysics units. In
mineral exploration, EIGS uses ground-based electrical, magnetic and electromag-
netic techniques, permitting the execution of routine, relatively low-cost surveys of
small areas for solid minerals and groundwater. Once EIGS identifies a mineral
deposit, EMRDC undertakes detailed mineral exploration and development.

Mapping at a scale of 1:250,000 of 1030' by 10 sheets was initiated in 1968, when

the Geological Survey was founded. Since then, maps covering an area of about
275,000 square kilometers, 25% ofthe country, have been produced. It is planned
to continue regional geological mapping until the whole country is covered. The
mapping program focused on those parts of the country underlain predominantly
by low grade metamorphic Precambrian terrains in view of their more common
mineralization. The mapping work is followed by mineral exploration activities at
1:50,000 and larger scales.

87
SECI'lON X. ExISTING MINING OPERATIONS

The chemical analysis division uses atomic absorption, X-ray fluorescence, emission
spectrometry and fire assay techniques. Mineralogical and physical analysis units
handle ore microscopy, petrography and industrial mineral analysis requirements.

With its diamond core drilling capacity, EIGS is the only agency which can carry
out deep rotary drilling. It currently has the equipment and manpower to drill
annually up to 30,000 meters of diamond drill holes or hydrogeological boreholes
to depths of about 500 meters. Similarly, up to 15,000 meters of oil and geother-
mal wells to depths of 2000-2500 meters can be drilled annually.

2. ETHIOPIAN MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

(EMRDC)

The principal objectivesof EMRDC are to:

. Undertake detailed mineral exploration of known mineral deposits; ex-
cluded therefrom are petroleum, natural gas and geothermal energy;
. Develop economic mineral deposits;
. Produce and process mineral products;
. Participate in joint ventures in the development, production and sales of
minerals.

Since its establishment, EMRDC has explored many deposits. It has developed
and currently operates three mining ventures, which are discussed in some detail
in this section:

. Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Plant. This state-of-the art gold mine and mill
uses gravity extraction of coarse gold and carbon-in-pulp technology for the
recovery of fine gold. The plant's design capacity is 3 metric tons (96,450
troy ounces) of gold bullion per year. It has been in operation since the
first quarter of 1990.

. Kenticha TantalumMine and Pilot ScalePlant. This plant uses weathered

crust ore as feed material and has a 28-30metric ton per hour throughput
capacity. It produces approximately 20 metric tons per year of tantalum-
niobium concentrate averaging 43 percent Ta20s.

. Lake Abiyata Soda Evaporation Ponds
Lake Abiyata are pumped to a series
precipitated trona is collected. The
metric ton per year output capacity.
tons per year.
and Soda Ash Plant. The brines from
of evaporation ponds from which the
semi-commercial plant has a 20,000
Current plant output is 14,700 metric

The Ethiopian Government will consider privatizing the Kenticha Tantalum Mine
and Plant and the Lake Abiyata Soda Ash Complex or operating them on a joint
venture basis with investors.

88
 SECfION X. EXISTINGMINING OPERATIONS

B. LEGA DEMBI GoLD MINE AND PLANT

1. GEOLOGY

The Lega Dembi ore zone is located in the Adola Greenstone Belt. The rock units
in the area include quartzo-feldspathic gneiss, biotite gneiss, talctremolite schist,
hornblende schist, actinolite schist, plagioclase-quartz-micaceous schist, chlorite
schist and amphibolite. The metasediments are highly dissected by quartz veins
and stringers parallel to the foliation, especially near the contact zones with the
more basic rocks.

Lega Dembi consists of three known gold ore bodies: North, Central and South.
The North ore body is 7 kilometers southwest of Shakiso. It is approximately600
meters long and 50 meters wide and has been proven to a depth of 200 meters.
It strikes generally north-south and dips 70 degrees west. The gold is found
predominantly in quartz veins and veinlet swarms, and as lower-grade dissemi-
nations in the adjoiningschist. The hangingwall rock is a graphitic schist, and the
footwall a quartz-biotite gneiss.
The North ore body was explored both on the surface and underground. Approxi-
mately 2000 meters of underground openings were made, including cross-cutting
and drifting. An 80-meter crosscut was driven 100 meters below the ore-zone
outcrop until the gold-bearing zone was cut. The zone was drifted on to the north
and south. Every 50 meters, crosscuts were driven across the zone and sampled
at 3-meter intervals.

A drilling program at North Lega Dembi to explore ore unavailable to the open-
pit operation will provide information for the development of an underground
mine. Drilling from the surface began in 1993.
2. RESERVES
Figure 11
Lega Dembi Gold Reserves
-
Ore Body Ore Grade Gold
Grams per Content
Metric Tons Metric Tons Metric Tons
Central 4,000,000 2.0 8.0
.
,
North 6,000,000 5.0 30.0

-South 1,875,000 8.0 15.0

TOTAL 11,875,000 4.461 53.Q2
II Source: Verbal report by General Manager, Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Plant, May 1993.
lCalculated average. 2EMRDCreports the proven gold content of tbe tbree ore bodies as of
mid-1994is 62.146metric tons.

,
89
SECTION X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

3. MINING

Run-of-mine ore is currently being obtained from the North ore body by a
conventionalopen pit mine whichis designed to supply3000 metric tons of ore
per day to the process plant. The overall strippingratio is 5:1. Grade control
is accomplished by sampling the blast-hole cuttings. Drilling is done with
tracked drills manufactured in the United Kingdom. Ammonium nitrate
capped with dynamite is used for shooting.

The fragmented ore is worked with D6, D7 and D9 bulldozers, if required, and
is loaded to 35 metric ton capacity, off-highway 769C Caterpillar trucks by 245B
Caterpillar excavators. The total fleet consists of five 245B excavators and
twenty-two 769C trucks.

The mine operates 3 shifts per day, 8 hours per shift, 300 days per year. When
operations first started, the process facilities were located at a ridge approxi-
mately 2000 meters from the open pit.
4. PROCESS

The process consists of crushing, grinding and milling of run-of-mine ore,

gravityseparation, leaching,carbon-in-pulp absorptionand gold recovery. The
process flowdiagram is shown in Figure 13.

a. Primary, Secondaryand Tertiary Crushing

Run-of-mine ore is dumped onto a heavy-duty feeder which conveys the

ore to the primary crusher. Oversize material is removed by means of
a hydraulic grab installed on top of the primary crushing unit. Suitable-
size ore is fed to the jaw crusher, where it is reduced to -100 mm size.

The coarse crushed rock, -100 mm, is transported by means of a belt

conveyor to an open coarse-ore stockpile with a capacity of approxi-
mately 10,000 metric tons. The ore from the stockpile is conveyedto
the secondary and tertiary crushing section.

The secondary cone crusher reduces the ore to 40 mm and the tertiary
cone crusher, to 13 mm. This product is screened out and conveyed to
a fine-ore open stockpile with a capacity of approximately 10,000 metric
tons. Ore is withdrawn from the fine ore stockpile and fed to the mill
feed conveyor by means of vibratory feeders onto the grinding section.

b. Grinding Circuit

The grinding circuit consists of a 3.4 meter diameter x 5.6 meter long
rod mill, powered by a 800 kilowatt motor and a 3.8 meter diameter x
6.2 meter long ball mill driven by a 1400kilowatt motor.

90
SEcrION X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

The mill discharge is combined and screened for sizing at 2 mm.

Oversize material is returned to the ball mill. The undersize is pumped
to a bank of cyclones for classification to give an overflow particle size
of which 80% is less than 0.160 mm. This stream reports to the thick-
ener for further processing in the leach circuit. The cyclone overflow,
which contains the coarser fraction, forms the feed to the gravity circuit.

c. GravityCircuit - FreeGoldRecovery
The overall circuit is designed to maximize coarse gold recovery by use
of gravityseparation, the recovery of fine or locked gold being achieved
in the leach circuit. The gravity circuit is designed to recover free gold
containedin the ore. The circuit consists of rougher and cleaner spirals,
primary and reconcentration shaking tables, Knudsen bowls and mag-
netic separator. The product from this section is a gold enriched con-
centrate, which is collectedand transported to the amalgamation section.
d. Leach Circuit

The leach circuit is necessary to recover the fine or locked gold con-
tained in the ore. This process requires that the major fraction of gold
remaining in the ore be dissolved by adding sodium cyanide to the ore
slurry. To achieve this, several processing steps are required, as de-
scribed below.

Thickening. In the thickening step, the solid concentration of the leach

feed is increased from 24-45% solids. This is achieved in a 13.7 meter
diameter thickener. Flocculent is added to the thickener to increase the
settling rates of the solids. The overflow from the thickener, which is
clear water, is recirculated to the gravity and grinding circuits and used
again as process water. The underflow of the thickener, which is the
thickened slurry, is pumped to the leach tanks.

Tank Leaching. There are six leach tanks in series. The pulp gravitates
from the first tank to the last one. Each tank can be by-passed if
required. The tanks are mechanically agitated. Milk of lime slurry is
added to the pulp to raise the pH to 10.5. This is required to make
possible the addition of a 10% sodium cyanide solution. At a lower pH,
cyanide gas (which is extremely poisonous) would develop. The total
tank residence time of 40 hours is sufficient to dissolve approximately
90% of the remaining gold in the ore. The gold dissolved in the cyanide
pulp is passed on to the carbon in pulp absorption section for further
processmg.

Carbon in Pulp Absorption. This circuit is designed to absorb the gold

dissolved by cyanide onto activated carbon. The Lega Dembi Plant

91
SECTIONX. EXISTINGMINING OPERATIONS

employs the Davy contactor, a new development in absorption. The

Davy contactor consists of six absorption contactors in series. Each
contactor is mechanically agitated and fitted with four side screen
assemblies and pulp discharge launders. The main advantage of this
contactor is that it can be operated at high carbon concentrations, up to
25% by volume, which results in a 20 percent smaller tank.

After the pulp has completely moved through the contactor, about 98%
of the gold has been deposited onto the carbon, which then goes to the
elution section. The remaining 2% is discharged with the slurry to the
tailings pond.

Elution. In the elution section the circuit is designed to elute (desorb)

gold from the loaded carbon by using a caustic cyanide solution, which
is heated to 120°C for better efficiency. The gold previously absorbed
onto the activated carbon is again dissolved into the hot solution. The
new gold-bearing solution (electrolyte) is pumped to a holding tank.
The carbon is returned to a rotary kiln for reactivation and is then again
used in the process.

Electrowinning. In this section, gold is deposited from the electrolyte

onto packed steel wool cathodes. The steel wool is loaded to a maxi-
mum of 4 kilograms Au + Ag. During normal operation about 2-4
cathodes per day are removed from each electrowinning cell.

e. Amalgamation

The concentrates from the gravity section are moved to the smelting
area for gold extraction by the amalgamation process. The gold-enriched
concentrate is loaded into an amalgam barrel, where water, mercury and
other chemicals are added. The barrel is then rotated for 2-8 hours to
enable the free gold to combine with the mercury to form an amalgam.

After several cleaning steps, the amalgam is placed in a retort and

becomesgold sponge after removal of mercury from the amalgam. The
gold sponge is transferred to a crucible furnace for smelting to gold
bullion.

f. Smelting
The gold-loaded steel wool cathodes from the electrowinning section are
dried and the steel wool is oxidized in an electric calcining furnace. The
calcined residues, together with gold sponge from the retort furnace and
flux, are smelted in an electric resistance crucible furnace. The molten
gold is poured into bullion molds. The cast bullion is cleaned, weighed,
assayed, and stored in the strong room prior to despatch.

92
SECTION X. EXISTINGMINING OPERATIONS

g. Tailings Detoxification

Tailings from the processing plant, containing barren gold ore and
cyanide solution with a pH of approximately 10.5, are discharged from
the plant by gravity to a storage pond. The storage pond was designed
for an initial storage capacity of two years' production. Under sunlight,
most of the free cyanide in the sluny is destroyed by natural degrada-
tion.

The tailings dam overflow, nevertheless, may contain residual cyanide,

depending on weather conditions. Since the clear overflow could still be
very poisonous and harmful to the environment, it is detoxified by use
of chlorinated lime. The tailings overflow is continuously monitored and
checked. If the cyanide level exceeds the predetermined level, the
solution is detoxified. To achieve this, the tailings dam overflow flows
into two detoxification tanks.

Hypochloride solution is added to the first tank. The dosage is auto-

matically controlled by a redox probe. Milk of lime must be added to
operate the system efficiently. The lime addition is controlled by a pH
probe. The detoxified solution is then discharged to the environment.

h. Electrical Control System

The gold plant is controlled from three control centers, located in the
crushing-screening section, mill building and gold recovery building.
5. ANCILLARYFACILITIESAND UTILITIES

The ancillary facilities and utilities consist of the following:

. Administration building
. Change house
. Workshops
. Warehouses
. Laboratory
· Electrical switchyard and primary and secondary distribution facilities
. Pipeline for process water supply
· Other utilities for potable water supply, etc.
6. EMPLOYMENT

Employment and pay ranges at Lega Dembi are shown below.

93
SECTIONX. EXISTINGMINING OPERATIONS

Figure 12
Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Plant
Employment and Pay Ranges

Classification Employees Pay Range

Birr/month

Managers 40 1000-1300

Engineers 160 500-1040

Operators, 400 200-500

Journeymen
Laborers 200 200
TOTAL 800
SOURCE: Kebede Regassa Feyessa, Mining Engineer, Mineral Operations
Department.

94
 Figure 13
Process Flow Diagram of Lega Dembi Gold Plant

ore -.. ~ -.. ~ .....

0_
CRUSHINGI // t ~
~~
THICKENING (DEWATER)
flocculent

.~
water
/ / ". ~
I
I,f?')
I
cold cyanide

GRINDING
.~~~~~
I
lime.~ ~ solution

/ / -4--..
re-uae'f~ I LEACHING

/ t-0-
~"tJ4 e

..."...rc fine
o I .- - W . carbon
Ihot cyanide'
SIZING '...'
i. fine -4-- -4-- -4--'
LEACHTAS!;O-.I.
I
::RBONINPULP :..__I
-
I
CYCLO~ ~oar.e
0'" coar.. ,I c: · t,p..~ aolutlon
caustic t ,
I GRAVITY I
CONTACTORS
'''J'''~ , STRIPPING WASTEDAM II
t ,
',.
LAMALGAMATION
I -:Jr':'" mercury
tP., &~

.
V

~
~t
STRIPVESSEL
steel wool
... .
ELECTROWINNINGl:::III EFFLUENTDETOX I
~ .
RETORTFURNACEf=t mercury
I
amalga~.

I U
J~
distillate W CELL
t ~~
"1 IJ
..-~!
~
HEAT
~
t -.. ~ -.. ..... t
\.;I sponge gold ~bullion
SOURCE: Ethiopian Minerai Resources Development Corporation

95
 SECI10N X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

-
c. KENTICHATANTALUMMINE ANDPILOT PLANT
1. GEOLOGY

The Kenticha tantalum-niobium deposit is located approximately 50 kilometers

southeast of the mining town of Shakiso, in the Kenticha Greenstone Belt of
the Adola Region. The deposit was identified by the Adola Mineral Evaluation
and Development Project. Exploration work was done between 1983 and 1987
and in 1988 the ore body was delineated.

r The pegmatite body is 2.5 kilometers long by 150 meters wide, with a true
J thickness of 50 meters. It strikes north-south and dips 20 degrees east. The
hanging wall is serpentine and the footwall is granite. The contact with the
r
.
I granite is gradational. The TCizOsgrade increases toward the hanging wall of
the body, whereas the Nb20S content increases toward the footwall. The
- tantalum-rich zone is approximately 2 kilometers long. The richest niobium ore
is found in the south end of the pegmatite body.

-. At the hanging wall contact there is a 50-centimeter zone of green micaceous

selvage and other uncommon minerals. In the pegmatite body, a white beryl
occurs as the hanging wall is approached. Spodumene and c1eavelandite (albite
in lamellar masses) appear to be guides to good ore. The pegmatite has fingers
going into the hanging wall serpentinite. The composition is mainly microcline
feldspar and glassy quartz, suitable as raw material for the ceramics industry.
rI 2. RESERVES

r Two types of ore have been recognized: weathered crust ore and primary ore.
Intensive exploration of the weathered crust ore body has indicated the exis-
tence of economic ore reserves. The ore reserves were determined by pitting
,.... and boreholes. Pits were put down on a 20 by 40 meter grid, and the boreholes
II were on a 40 by 80 meter grid. Reserves are stated to be 2400 metric tons of
TCizOsaveraging 0.015% TCizOsand 2300 metric tons of Nb20S' A cut-off grade
of 0.005% was used for ore reserve calculation purposes. The primary ore zone
is open-ended and additional reserves will probably be identified.

Though detailed exploration of the primary ore zone has not been conducted,
the limited geological information and chemical analyses available indicate
,...,. reserves of TCizOsof 17,000 metric tons with 0.017% average grade.
......
3. MINING

The open-pit mining operation uses the following equipment:

. Stripand stockpile: three D7D Caterpillars, 14 hours per day;
. Workstockpile: two D6D Caterpillars, 14 hours per day;
. Load: one 3 cubic meter Volvo loader, 16 hours per day.

96
~
SECTION X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

4. PILOT PLANT

After the ore body was delineated in 1988, a concentrator pilot plant with 200-
metric ton capacity per 8-hour shift was built. The plant, which has been in
operation since 1990, produces approximately 20 metric tons per year of
tantalum pentoxide. A description of the process follows and a process flow
diagram is shown in Figure 15.

The ore is delivered to the feed bin's grizzly, which has 125 mm openings.
Oversize, + 125mm rocks which do not pass through the grizzly are removed
and stored separately. The undersize, 125mm product of the bin is transported
by water to the scrubber trommel where it is disintegrated and washed so that
useful mineral constituents are separated from clays and rock. The undersize
product is classifiedinto two classes according to the grain size.

The -16 to 0 mm product passes throughthe openings of the scrubber trommel

and then, by gravity feed, passes through 300 millmeter slurry pipes to two
immobile, inclined 4 mm screens. The oversize product, -125to + 16 mm, is
delivered to a conveyorwhere the large-sizetantalite aggregatesare picked out.
The remaining product is delivered to the dump.
The undersize, -4 mm, product of the screens is delivered to a dewatering cone
to obtain two products, the overflow and the sandy condensed product. The
overflow of the cone is directed to hydrocyclones of 150 mm diameter, where
the product is classified and dewatered. The slurry is delivered to the concen-
tration table; the underflow of the hydrocyclones is sent to the tailing-dump.
The condensed product of each screen is transported for further processing to
the first spiral separates.

The oversize, -16 to 4 mm, product of each screen is transported for further
processing to MOD-2m jigging machines. The jigging machines produce three
products: oversize concentrate, undersize middling and tailings. The tailings are
delivered by gravity to the dump. The oversize, -16 to + 2 mm, concentrate is
removed periodically, as it accumulates, from the screen of the jigging machine
and hand-sorted to obtain monomineral, coarse-grained tantalite concentrate.

The middling, -2 mm, product of the jiggers, preliminarily dewatered in the

cone, is delivered to the second spiral separator together with the product of
the first separator.
The spiral separator produces three products: rough concentrate, middling
product and tailings. The tailings are sent to the dump, the rough concentrate
is delivered for additional cleaning to the concentration table, and the middling
product is transported for a cycle of spiral separation.
;A

The tailings of the second spiral separator are also sent to the dump. The
rough concentrate, together with the concentrate of the first spiral separator,
97
SEcrION X. EXISTINGMINING OPERATIONS

is transported to the concentration table for additional cleaning. The middling

product is sent for a cycle of spiral separation.

Thus, additional cleaning operations are carried out by three concentration

tables of a similartype and size. Concentratesfrom all the concentration tables
are transported to the dewatering bin and then further processed to obtain a
marketable concentrate. The middlingproduct from the concentration tables
is accumulated in the sump and pumped from the sump to the second spiral
separator. The tailings of the concentration tables are directed from the
dewatering bin to a 0.2 mm vibrating screen. The product on the screens is
classifiedaccordingto the grain size: to +0.2 mm, sand product, and -0.2 mm,
slime product.

Both products are transported to the magnetic separators, where the magnetic
fraction such as magnetite, etc. is separated from the concentrate and sent to
the dump. The non-magnetic fraction of each magnetic separator is sent
separately on to small-size slime and sand concentration tables. Cleaning and
productionof marketabletantalite concentrateswith 35-41% T~Os is completed
in the concentration tables. The tailings of the tables are pumped into the
second spiral separator for processingtogether with the middlingproduct of the
large-size concentrate tables.

Hand-sorted and coarse-grained concentrates have a much higher grade than

fine concentrate. The different concentratesare kept separate and are mixed
to arrive at a marketable concentrate grade of 43% T~Os.

The plant is designed to operate 300 calendar days per year. Tbe basic
schedule is 2 shifts per day, 8 hours per shift. Employment at the plant is
shownbelow:

Figure 14
Kenticha Tantalum Mine and
Plant Employment
Classification Employees Shifts
Professional 30 1

Semi-professional 100 2
Laborers 50 2
TOTAL 180
SOURCE: Regassa Kebede, Mineral Operations
Department.

98
 GRIULY

TROMMEL

SCREEN&mm

m SCREEN
UNDERSIZE

WET.IIOOINO

JKI
IIIDDlING,

ROUGHERSPIR.OL

AOUGH
SPIRAL
F((D

ROUGHER ROUGHI"
CONCS MIOS

SANDTABLE

SAND TABLE t
FEED
I SUMU fABLE t
'EED

SECOND SPIRAL

SECOND SPIRAL
FEED

SECOHOSPIRAL
1110.

I SLIMESTABLE12 I

SUMES TULE 2
FEED

SUMES TAILE 2
CONC8

SCREENZmm

FINAL 2rnmSCREEN
FEED

CD MAD SE'
FEED
I I

I Fa WAG
REJECTS
I
COARSECLE.ANUP 'INE CLEANUP

co CLEANUP
TAIUFUD
--,
CO CUANUP
TAU

99
SECTION X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

D. LAKE ABlYATA SODA ASH OPERATION

This semi-industrial soda ash operation is situated on the shores of Lake Abiyata in
the Ethiopian Rift Valley, approximately 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. The
plot plan of the soda ash plant is shown in Figure 17 and the process flow diagram in
Figure 18.
1. SODAASH RESOURCE

The waters of Lakes Abiyata, Shala and Chitu have medium to high salinity and
contain sodium-chloride-carbonate. Their brines are amenable to the extraction
of trona and other salts.

2. RESERVES
Studies indicate that these lakes contain 460 million metric tons of sodium
carbonate at concentrations ranging from 1.1% to 1.9%. Lake Abiyata is
sufficient for the current production level. Lake Shala, with a larger storage
capacity, is considered the prime source of brines for future industrial produc-
tion.

3. BRINE COLLECTION ANDEVAPORATIONOPERATION

Two pumps are used to pump 2 million cubic meters of brine out of Lake
Abiyata into two reconcentration ponds. These ponds are nearly 6 kilometers
long and provide an evaporation surface of over 1 million square meters.
4. PLANT

A 20,000 m~tric ton per year capacity treatment plant has been in operation at
the site since 1990. The latest production figure is 14,700 metric tons of
product per year. Soda ash is produced by solar evaporation and fractional
crysta11ization,followed by washing, classifying, centrifugal solid liquid separa-
tion and calcination. In the liquid separation and calcination stage, impurities
which discolor the salts are removed, resulting in a 99 percent pure product.

Of the current production, 1000 metric tons is used for testing export potential
and the balance is shipped to Addis Ababa for use by domestic industries. In
the future, 12,000 metric tons will be sent to a new caustic soda plant being
built in the town of Ziway.

EMRDC has considered commercial scale plants ranging from 200,000-

1,000,000 metric tons per year output capacity, subject to successful market
development, adequate inland transportation, and availability of project financ-
ing. The Ministry envisions increased production in the future for caustic soda
and other products of commercial value. If and when domestic demand justifies
it and export markets are developed, an industrial scale plant of 200,000 metric
\
100

_.
SECTIONX. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

tons per year or larger designcapacity might be economicallyviable. Produc-

tion mightthen be increased in successivesteps up to 1,000,000metric tons per
year.

Employment at the Lake Abiyata operation is shown below.

Figure 16
Lake Abiyata Soda Ash
ComplexEmployment

Classification Employees
Professional 15

Journeymen 80

Laborers 55
TOTAL 150
SOURCE: Kebede Regassa Feyessa,
Mineral Operations Department.

101

-- -- ---
 Figure 17
Plot Plan of Lake Abiyata Semi-Industrial
Soda Ash Plant L? -z.

170m

---- ---I ,I
GATE
HOUSE o
SODA ASH
PRODUCT
REFINING &
STORAGE
DRYINGSECTIONS
en
Wen RAW
E -w
11:_ MATERIAL
It) we!::
co PILES
u~z
i:i:a::w
LLO:E
°m«
:5~
~d
UTlliTIESI I
RESERVED FORI
CAUSTICSODA I
ATHLETIC FIELD
L~LANT_J
P t 9 WORKSHOP
-----------------

102
 -

Figure 18
Process Flow Diagram of Lake Abiyata r------------------.
Semi-Industrial Soda Ash Complex I PONDS SYSTEM
I .. I
I SECTION11 T'
I effluent
I
I
,

I
I
I
-~
I
CJ I
Z ,

ZN I
U::,.. lime
I
Wz I
a:o
x-
<1)1-
I

<tfrl
<t<l)
C
o<I)
---.......
I CAUSTICSODA-., waste CaC03

. W~M
I WASHING t-t
I
1
'fueT--- I L__ "rNT __J.'Udge ·
"z a~
... un , II'U I
I
8700 mt/year 30% NaOH solution
>M
a:....
C Z
I
GRINDING
x_o 1
<1)1-
<to I
<tW I
g <I)
<I)
1000 mt/year > 99.3% 7000 mt/year > 97% I
II
_ _ __ J

SOURCE: Ethiopian Minerai Resources Development Corporation; drawing by Glulunl Chemle Gmbh.
Note: The caustic soda plant shown above Is In the planning stage.

103

- ---"1". -- ---
SECI10N X. EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS

E. PROFILES OF OTHER EMRDC OPERATIONS

1. ADOLAGOLD DEVELOPMENTENTERPRISE

AGDE is responsible for the exploitation of the placer gold deposits in the
Adola Greenstone Region. During the last 50 years, over 37 metric tons of
gold have been recovered fromthe riversflowingthrough the region. In recent
years, mechanized mining methods, including hydraulic mining, have been
increasingly used and many formerly inaccessible deposits are now being
exploited. AGDE is currently mining fiveplacer deposits. Each year AGDE
moves nearly 2 million metric tons of overburden and produces about 300
kilograms of gold.
2. ADOLAMINERALEVALUATIONANDDEVELOPMENTPROJECT

The Adola Gold Exploration Project (AGEP) was established in 1978 with
Soviet technical assistance. In just twelve years, AGEP geologists mapped an
area of nearly 7500 square kilometers and identified 40 primary gold sources,
numerous alluvial deposits and a range of other rare metals. Among their
discoveries are the North gold deposit at Lega Dembi and the Kenticha tanta-
lum deposit.

Later AGEP was transformed into the Adola Mineral Evaluation and Develop-
ment Project (AMEDP), which is responsible for the exploration and evaluation
of mineral deposits and prospects. AMEDP has seven drilling crews operating
in the region. A well equipped analytical laboratory based in Shakiso backs up
the field workers.

3. BOLE BULBULACONSTRUCTIONSTONEPRODUCTION ENTERPRISE

The Bole Bulbula Construction Stones Enterprise is situated 10 kilometers

outside Addis Ababa. The biggest crushingfacilityof its kind in Ethiopia, it has
the capacity to produce more than a millionmetric tons of material a year and
currently produces 300,000metric tons of crushed basalt each year for aggre-
gate. EMRDC plans to increase the plant's capacity.
4. GEM STONE DEVELOPMENTPROJECT

Established in 1989,the Gem Stone Development Project trains technicians to

grade, cut and polish the semi-precious stones found throughout Ethiopia.
5. CERAMIC RAWMATERIALSSTUDYANDDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The kaolin, feldspar and quartz required for the production of ceramics are
found in abundance in Ethiopia. To help develop this industry, EMRDC has
set up a project to develop exploitable ceramic deposits. In 1990work began
on an operation to produce 14,000 metric tons of washed kaolin per year.

104
 REFERENCES

Abebe Ayele and P. Broddi. Integrated Geophysical Exploration for Gold and Sul[ule Deposits
in Azale-Ak£ndayu, Kurmuk. Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys (EIGS) internal
report, 1990.

Abenet Zekewos. Report on Gold and MetalMineralization,Kurmuk. EIGS internal

report, 1991.

. Final Report on Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Exploration for Gold

and Base Metals, Kurmuk Distrk:t, Assosa Region. EIGS internal report, 1991.

Ahmed Mohammed. Report on Kurmuk-Geissen Integrated Mineral Exploration Project.

EIGS internal report, 1986.

Amanuel, Kassahun, Tesfaye and Tewolde. Geologicaland GeochemicalExplorationin

MoyaleArea, Borena (Southern Ethiopia). 1991.

Amenti Abraham. Ondonok Gold Prospect- Veins18 and 19/3. EIGS internal report,
1979.

Arkin, Y. Potash in Ethiopia. 1969.

Augustithis, S. On Sulfur Occurrences in the Danakil Depression Helicopter Reconnaissance.

1969.

Ayele et al. ProspectingReport of HaramsamArea. Internal report, 1989.

Berhane Negussie et al. Report on Geochemical Soil Survey in Oda-Godere and Tso/iAreas.
EIGS internal report, 1990.

Comina. Reporto Sui Lavori Eseguit Nel Permesso Fiume Anseba. 1939.

Davidson, A., compiler. The Omo RiverProject:Reconnaissance,Geologyand Geochemistry

of Parts of Illubabor,Kefa, Gemu, Gofa and Sidamo, Ethiopia. EIGS Bulletin No.2,
1983.

EIGS. Progress Report on the Geology and Geochemistry of Akobo River Basin. NB36-8/H
Unpublished report.

EIGS. Progress Report on the Geology and Geochemistry of Gessena Area. NB36-8/p.
Unpublished report.

EIGS. Progress Report on the Geology and Geochemistry of Guraferda Area. NB36-8/J.
Unpublished report.

1
REFERENCES AND BmLIOGRAPHY
REFERENCES

EIGS. ProgressReport on the Exploration of Gold Bearing Placers in the Akobo River Basin
of Southwest Ethiopia. Unpublished report.

-
Ethiopian Mineral Resources Development Corporation A Milestone. (Undated).

EMRDC. Report on the Exploration for Gold in the Kurmuk-Geizen-Asosa Areas,

Wollega, Dodoma. April 1984.

Getinet Mewa et al. Report on Detailed Geophysical Survey in Central and Eastern Oda-
Godere Area. EI GS internal report, 1989.

GeologicalReport prepared for R. M. Parsons Potash Exploration Company, 1965.

Getenehe Assefa, "Mineral Industry of Ethiopia: Present Conditions and Future Prospects,"
Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 3, No.3, pp 331-345, 1985.

Grechanik et al. Report on Detailed Exploration of the Bedakessa, Kajimiti and Dermi- Dama
Placers, with Reserve Calculations. EMRDC, 1984.

Holwerda, J. G., and R. W. Hutchinson. "Potash-Bearing Evaporites in the Danakil Area,

Ethiopia." Economic Geology,Vol. 63, No.2, pp 124-150, 1968.

Japan Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency. Report on the Geological Survey of Wollega
Area, Western Ethiopia. (Plate I & II). October 1974.

Jelence, D. Mineral Occu"encesof Ethiopia. 1966.

Kazmin, V. (summarized by A. J. Warden). Explanationof the GeologicalMap of Ethiopia.

EIGS Bulletin No.1, October 1975.

Kemmer, H. Preliminary Report on the Possibilitiesfor the Development of Gold Placer

Mining Operation in the Akobo River. Ministry of Mines, 1951.

Masresha G. Selassie et al. Geochemical Preliminary Follow-up and Geological Survey of

Daletti Area. EIGS internal report, 1990.

Matthews, J. Report on Potash Exploration Dallol Area. 1968.

Nigussie Kitila. Kurmuk Integrated Mineral Exploration Project. EIGS internal report, 1988.

Sabov, Y. V. et al. Bombawoha Kaolin and Kenticha Feldspar-Quartz Deposits. EIGS,

1985.

Senbeto Chewaka and M. J. de Wit (editors). Plate Tectonicsand Metallogenesis:Some

Guidelinesto Ethiopian MineralDeposits, Chapters 8-18. EIGS Bulletin No.2, July 1981.

2
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Serguienko, V. N., and Aklilu Assefa. Reconnaissance Survey to Assess Apatite Ore
Potential of an Anorthosite-Gabbroic Intrusive and Alkaline-ultrabasic Ring Complexes in
Ethiopia. EIGS internal report, 1988.

Shelekhov et al. Regional Geological and Exploration Work for Gold and Other Minerals in
the Adola Goldfield. EMRDC, 1986.

Shiferaw Demissie, Yu, Marchuk, V. Evdokimov. Summaryof the Geologyand Mineral

Potentialof the Adola Area. EMRDC, 1987.

Solomon et al. The Geology and Structure of MoyaleArea. 1991.

Taye Habtewold et al. Report on Alluvial Gold Prospectsof Chamo Creek, Karl, Kandibaba
and Middle Akobo River. EIGS,1993.

Teferi Birru and E. P. Zhbanov (compilers). Geological Prospecting and Exploration for
Primary Gold and other Minerals in Ageremariam, Arero and BulBul Areas (Southern
Ethiopia), Volumes 2 and 3. EIGS, 1991.

Tolessa Shagi and Tefera Eshete. The Geologyand Structureof Haramsamand Hassamte,
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UNDP. Report on the Mineral Survey of Two SelectedAreas of Ethiopw. 1971.

Wollie Sheka. Geology and Mineralization of Dul and Azale-Akendeyu. EIGS internal
report, 1991.

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published in Addis Ababa unless otherwise noted.

3
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

From Database of the U.S. GeologicalSurvey Library

Reston, Virginia, United States
SilverPlatter 3.00 and 3.1
GEOREF Disc 3

1. TITLE Serpentinites as a Possible Source of the Adola Placer Gold, Sidamo, Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Clark, A. M. S.
ORG. SOURCE Can. Lake Explor., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
SOURCE Miner. Deposita. 14. (1). p. 119-122. 20 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1979.

2. TITLE Conventional Method and Digitally Enhanced Landsat Imagery for GroWldwater
Exploration in the Main Rift Valley of Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Aberra- Tilahun; Wihuri-Heikki
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Helsinki, Dep. Geol., Helsinki, Finland; Univ. Tex. at Austin, United States;
Finn. Int Dev. Agency, Finland
SOURCE Simpson, Eugene S., Sharp, John M., Jr. Selected papers on Hydrogeology from the
28th International Geological Co~gress. Univ. Ariz., Dep. Hydrol. and Water
Resour., Tucson, AZ, United States.
Hydrogeology, Selected Papers. 1. p. 473-487. 6 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1990
CONFERENCE 28th Intemational Geological Congress, Washington, DC, July 9-19, 1989

3. TITLE Ethiopian Red Sea Petroleum Geology and Regional Geophysical Evaluation.
AUTHOR Assefa, A.; Tadesse, K.; Worku, T.; Tsadik, E.G.
ORG. SOURCE Ethiopian Inst. Geol. Surv., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Anonymous. AAPG International Conference; abstracts. AAPG Bulletin. 75. (8).
p. 1402-1403
PUB. YEAR 1991
CONFERENCE AAPG International Conference, London, Sept 29-0ct. 2, 1991

4. TITLE AC Effects in Resistivity Data from Geothermal Prospects.

AUTHOR Caldwell, Grant; Hochstein, M. P.; Olurna, Befedaku
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Auckland, Geotherm. Inst, Auckland, New Zealand; University of Auckland
Geothermal Institute, Auckland, New Zealand; Minist Mines, Energy & Water
Resour., Ethiopia
SOURCE Proceedings of the Pacific Geothermal Conference 1982; incorporating the 4th New
Zealand Geothermal Workshop; Parts 1 and 2. University of Auckland Geothermal
Institute, Auckland, New Zealand. Proceedings of Pacific Geothermal Conference.
4. p. 151-155. 10 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1982
CONFERENCE Pacific Geothermal Conference 1982; incorporating the 4th New Zealand
Geothermal Workshop, Auckland, 1982

SOURCE: The publications from GeoRef listed in this bibliography are from the GeoRef database of the
American Geological Institute, and are used with AGI's permission.

1
BIBLIOGRAPHY

5. TITLE Chemical Grouping of Tephra from the Turkana Basin, Northern Kenya and
Southwestern Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Haileab, Bereket; Brown, Francis H.
ORG. SOURCE University of Utah, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Salt Lake City, UT,
United States.
SOURCE Anonymous. Society of America, 1993 annual meeting. Abstracts with programs.
25. (6). p. 327-328
PUB. YEAR 1993

6. TITLE Well Testing Results in Aluto-Langano Geothermal Field.

AUTHOR Wale, Abatnen; Melaku, Markos; Birhan, Yihezis A.
ORG. SOURCE Geotherm. Explor. Proj., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geotherm. Resour. counc., Davis,
CA, United States
SOURCE Combs, Jim. Transactions, 1990 International Symposiwn on Geothermal Energy.
Geotherm. Resour. Counc., Davis, CA, United States.
Transactions, Geothermal Resources Council. 14. (1-2). p. 993-997. 7 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1990
CONFERENCE Geothermal Resources Council 1990 Annual Meeting, Kailua, Kona, HI, Aug. 20-
24, 1990

7. TITLE Status of Geothermal Energy in Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Endeshaw, Abebaw; Belaineh, Molla
ORG. SOURCE Ethiop. Inst. Geol. Surv., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geotherm. Reseur. Counc., Davis,
CA, United States
SOURCE Combs, Jim. Transactions, 1990 International Symposium on Geothermal Energy.
Geotherm. Resour. Counc., Davis, CA, United States.
Transactions, Geothermal Resources Council. 14. (1-2). p. 47-53
PUB. YEAR 1990
CONFERENCE Geothermal Resources Council 1990 Annual Meeting, Kailua, Kona, HI, Aug. 20-
24, 1990

8. TITLE Late Eocene-Recent Volcanism and Faulting in the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift
AUTHOR Ebinger, C. 1.; Yemane, T.; Woldegabriel, G.; Aronson, J. L.; Walter, R. C.
ORG. SOURCE University of Leeds, Department of Earth Sciences, Leeds, United Kingdom;
Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys, Ethiopia; Los Alamos National
Laboratory, United States; Case Western Reserve University, United States; Institute
of Human Origins, United States.
SOURCE Journal of the Geological Society of London. 150 (Part I). p. 99-108
PUB. YEAR 1993

9. TITLE Stratigraphic and Structural Relationship of Ethiopian and Gregory (Chew-Bahir)

Rifts, Southern Ethiopia, East Africa
AUTHOR Yemane, Tesfaye; Vondra, Carl F.
ORG. SOURCE Iowa State University, Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Ames,
IA, United States.
SOURCE Anonymous. Geological Society of America, North-Central Section, 27th Annual
Meeting. Abstracts with programs. 25. (3). p. 91-92
PUB. YEAR 1993

2
BIBLIOGRAPHY

10. TITLE Neoproterozoic Structures in the Mozambique Orogenic Belt of Southern Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Bonavia, F. F.; Chorowicz, 1.
ORG.SOURCE Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Departement de Geotectonique, Paris, France
SOURCE Precambrian Research. 62. (3). p. 307-322. 34 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1993

11. TITLE Possibility of Geophysical Research in East African Metallogenic Zone in Respect
of Detecting Non-ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits
AUTHOR Zboril, L.; Filo, M.; Hovorka, D.
ORG.SOURCE Geofyz., Brno. Czechoslovakia; Comm. Recent Crustal Movements Afr., Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia; Comenius Univ., Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
SOURCE Wassef, A.M. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Crustal
Movements in Africa. Comm. Recent Crustal Movements Afr., Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. P. 458-483. 56 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First International Symposium on Crustal Movements in Africa, Addis Ababa, May
5-16, 1981
AVAILABILITY United Nations Beon. Commission Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

12. TITLE The Geophysics and the Structural Behavior of the Earth's Crust.
AUTHOR Thomas, Jr.
ORG.SOURCE Comm. Recent Crustal Movements Afr., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Wassef, A. M. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Crustal
Movements in Africa. Comm. Recent Cmstal Movements Afr., Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. p. 430-440. 4 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First International Symposium on Crustal Movements in Africa, Addis Ababa, May
5-16, 1981
A V AI LABILITY United Nations Beon. Commission Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

13. TITLE Precambrian Crustal Evolution and Its Significance in Mineral Exploration in
Eastern and Southern Africa Subregion.
AUTHOR Banerjee, A. K.
ORG. SOURCE Comm. Recent Crustal Movements Afr., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Wassef, A. M. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Crustal
Movements in Africa. Camm. Recent Crustal Movements Afr., Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. p. 104-126. 24 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First International Symposium on Crustal Movements in Africa, Addis Ababa, May
5-16, 1981
AVAILABILITY United Nations Beon. Commission Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

14. TITLE An Outline of the Metallogenic History of Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Getaneh, A.; Pretti, S.; Valera, R.
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Addis Ababa, Dep. Geo!.,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Univ. Cagliari, Italy
SOURCE Anonymous. GeoSom 87; International Meeting; Geology of Somalia and
Surrounding Regions; abstracts. p. 72
PUBLISHER Somali Nat!. Univ., Magadishu
PUB. YEAR 1987

3
BIBLIOGRAPHY

CONFERENCE GeoSom 87; Geology of Somalia and Surrounding Regions, Mogadishu,

Nov. 23-30, 1987

15. TITLE Distribution of Precious Metals in the Tulu Dimptu Ultramafic Body (Welega,
Ethiopia).
AUTHOR Sighinolfi, G. P.; Abena, G.; Gorgoni, C.; Valera, R.
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Modena, Inst. Mineral. and Petrol., Modena, Italy; Univ. Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia; Univ. Cagliari, Italy
SOURCE Anonymous. GeoSom 87; Geology of Somalia and Surrounding Regions; late
abstracts. p. 17
PUBLISHER Somali Nat!. Univ., Dept Geol., Mogadishu
PUB. YEAR 1987
CONFERENCE GeoSom 87; Geology of Somalia and Surrounding Regions, Mogadishu, Nov. 24-
Dec. 1, 1987

16. TITLE Tectonometamorphic Evolution of the Moyale Region, Southern Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Alene, Mulugeta; Barker, Andrew, 1.
ORG. SOURCE University of Southampton, Department of Geology, Southampton, United Kingdom
SOURCE Precambrian Research. 62. (3). p. 271-283
PUB. YEAR 1993

17. TITLE Magma Genesis in An Ongoing Rifting Zone; the Tadjoura Gulf (Afar Area).
AUTHOR Barrat, 1. A.; Jaben, B. M.; Fourcade, S.; Joron, 1. L.
ORG. SOURCE Universite de RelUles I, Geosciences Rennes, Rennes, France; CEN Saclay, France
SOURCE Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 57. (10). p. 2291-2302
PUB. YEAR 1993

18. TITLE Mineral Paragenesis in the Au-Ag-Cu-Zn-Pb-Te Deposit of Lega Dembi (Ethiopia).
AUTHOR Fiori, M.; Garbarino, C.; Grillo, S.; Solomon, T.; Valera, R. G.
ORG. SOURCE 1st Giacimenti Miner. Univ., Cagliari, Italy
SOURCE Goode, A. D. T., Smyth, E. L., Birch, W. D., Bosma, L. I.
BicentelUlialGold 88; extended abstracts; poster programme.
Abstracts, Geological Society of Australia. 23. (1-2). P. 184-186
PUB. YEAR 1988
CONFERENCE BicentelUlialGold 88, Melbourne, Victoria, May 16-20, 1988

19. TITLE Potential Hydrocarbon-generating Rock Units Within the Phanerozoic Sequence of
the Ogaden Basin, Ethiopia; a Preliminary Assessment Using the Lopatin Model.
AUTHOR Assefa, Getaneh
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Dep. Geol., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Journal of Petroleum Geology. 11. (4) p. 461-472. 19 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1988

20. TITLE Current Status (1987) of Geothermal Exploration in Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Endeshaw, Abebaw
ORG. SOURCE Ethiop. Inst. Geol. Surv. Geotherm. Project, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Int. Inst.
Geotherm. Res., Pisa, Italy
SOURCE Barbier, E., Dickson, M. H., Fanelli, M. Small geothermal resources; Part 2,
Geothermal Projects in Developing Countries. Int. Inst. Geotherm. Res., Pisa, Italy.
Geothermics. 17. (2/3). p.477-488.

4
BIBLIOGRAPHY

PUB. YEAR 1988

CONFERENCE 1st UNITAR/UNDP Workshop on Small Geothennal Resources, Pisa, May 11-22,
1987

21. TITLE Assessment of Undiscovered Conventionally Recoverable Petroleum Resources of

Northwestern, Central, and Northeastern Africa Oncluding Morocco, Northern and
Western Algeria, Northwestern Tunisia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Eastern Nigeria,
Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Southeastern
Egypt).
AUTHOR Peterson, 1. A.
ORG. SOURCE U.S. Geol. Surv., Missoula, MT, United States
SOURCE Open File Report U.S. Geological Survey. 28 p.
PUBLISHER U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA
PUB. YEAR 1983
REPORT NO. OF 83-0598
AVAILABILITY U.S. Geol. Surv., Open File ServoSect, West. Distrib. Branch, Denver Fed. Cent,
Lakewood, CO, United States

22. TITLE Sedimentological and Palynological Implications of a Tertiary Lignite Occurrence

in an Ancient Rift Lake (Chilga, Ethiopia).
AUTHOR Yemane, Kedamawit; Bonnefille, R.; Taieb, Maurice; Faure, H.
ORG. SOURCE C.R.S.S., Lab. Geol. Quaternaire, Marseilles, France
SOURCE Bogdanov, N. A. Tezisy; 27 y Mezhdunarodnyy Geologicheskiy Kongress,
Abstracts; 27th International Geological Congress.
International Geological Congress. 27. (2). p. 232
PUB. YEAR 1984
CONFERENCE Mezhdunarodnyy Geologicheskiy Kongress; 27, Moscow, Aug. 4-14, 1984

23. TITLE Precambrian Geology of the Gore-Gambela Geotraverse, Western Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Moore, 1. M.; Morgan, 1.; Teferra, M.; Teklay, M.
ORG. SOURCE Ottawa Carleton Cent Geosci. Stud., Ottawa, ON, Canada; Ethiop. Inst. Geol.
Surv., Ethiopia; Addis Ababa Univ., Ethiopia
SOURCE Newsletters bulletin UNESCO. 5. p. 101-113. 12 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1986

24. TITLE Application of Remove Sensing to Tectonic and Metallogenic Studies in NE Africa.
AUTHOR Berne, Seife M.
ORG. SOURCE Open Univ., Dep. Earth Sci., Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
SOURCE Cook, Jerald 1., Rogers, Robert H. Proceedings of the Fifth Thematic conference
on remote Sensing for Exploration Geology; Mineral and Energy Exploration;
Technology for a Competitive World; Volume 1. p. 383-391. 25 Refs.
PUBLISHER Environ. Res. Inst. Mich~,Ann Arbor, MI
PUB. YEAR 1987
CONFERENCE Fifth Thematic Conference on Remote Sensing for Exploration Geology; Mineral
and Energy Exploration; Technology for a Competitive World, Reno, NV, Sept 29-
Oct. 2, 1986

25. TITLE Applied Visual Landsat Inventories for Water Resources Development; an
Ethiopian Case Study.
AUTHOR Larsson, R. A.; Hanson, G.

5
BIBLIOGRAPHY

SOURCE UNGI Rapport. 61. IV-48 p. 11 Refs.

PUB. YEAR 1985

26. TITLE Precambrian Podifonn Chromitites from Kenticha Hill, Southern Ethiopia
AUTHOR Bonavia, F. F.; Diella, V.; Ferrario, A.
ORG. SOURCE Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Departement de Geotectonique, Paris, France;
C.N.R., Italy; Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy
SOURCE Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists. 88.
(1). p. 198-202.
PUB. YEAR 1993

GEOREF Disc 2

27. TITLE Preliminary Investigation Results on the Pozzolanic Properties of Local Scoria
AUTHOR Berhane, z.
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Fac. Technol., Ethiopia
SOURCE Sinet 4. (2). p. 83-93. 10 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1981

28. TITLE The Mineral Industry of Ethiopia; Present Conditions and Future Prospects.
AUTHOR Assefa, G.
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Dep. Geol., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Journal of African Earth Sciences. 3. (3). p. 331-345. 23 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1985

29. TITLE Seismic Exploration in the Ethiopia Red Sea.

AUTHOR Sengbush, R. L.
ORG. SOURCE Colo. Sch. Mines, Golden, CO, United States
SOURCE Williams, L. M. Proceedings Offshore Technology Conference. 17 (Vol. 2). p.
309-315
PUB. YEAR 1985
CONFERENCE 1985 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, May 6-9, 1985

30. TITLE Geothermal Exploration Drilling at Lake Langano (Ethiopia).

AUTHOR Demissie, G.
SOURCE SINET Newsletter. 5. (1). p. 1-4
PUB. YEAR 1982

31. TITLE Plate Tectonics and Metallogenic Processes in Ethiopia (preliminary Report)
AUTHOR Assefa, G.; Di Paola, G. M.; Valera, R.
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Geol. Dep., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SOURCE Rendiconti della Societa ltaliana di Mineralogia e Petrologia. 37. (2). p. 861-867.
3 p. Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE Convegno di Salice Terme, Pavia, June 2-4, 1981

32. TITLE The Mineral Industry of Ethiopia; Present Conditions and Future Prospects.
AUTHOR Assefa, G.
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Dep. Geol., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

6
BIBLIOGRAPHY

SOURCE Kogbe, C. A. Geology for Development; Mineral Resources and Exploration

Potential of Africa. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 1. (3-4). p. 356
PUB. YEAR 1983
CONFERENCE Sixth General Conference on African Geology; Geology for Development; Mineral
Resources and Exploration Potential of Africa, Nairobi, Dec. 11-19, 1982

33. TITLE Analogy Between Natural Gas Found in Lakes of Rift Valley System of East Africa
and Its Allied Gas in Japan.
AUTHOR Fukuta, O.
ORG. SOURCE Geol. Surv. Jap., Ibaraki, Japan
SOURCE Anonymous. Wallace E. Pratt Memorial conference on Future Petroleum Provinces
of the world; abstracts. AAPG Bulletin. 68. (9). p. 1202
PUB. YEAR 1984 .

CONFERENCE Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Conference on future Petroleum Provinces of the World,
Phoenix, AZ, Dec. 2-5, 1984

34. TITLE Drilling of Temperatures Gradient Roles With Aerated Auids, and Temperature
Survey of the Aluto Geothermal Prospect (S. Lakes District, Ethiopia).
AUTHOR Hochstein, M. P.; Jepsen, P. L.; Collis, S. K.
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Auckland, Geotherm. Inst, Auckland, New Zealand
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the 5th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, 1983. p.
133-137. 11 Refs.
PUBLISHER Univ. Auckland, Auckland
PUB. YEAR 1983
CONFERENCE Fifth New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, Auckland, Nov. 9-11, 1983

35. TITLE Role of Borehold Geophysics in Mineral Resources Exploration in Africa.

AUTHOR Mdala, C.
ORG. SOURCE Univ. Zambia, Sch. Mines, Zambia
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 163-166. 14 Refs.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Rertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

36. TITLE Cobalt

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 291-298. 75 p. Refs.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Rertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

37. TITLE Bauxite and Development of the Aluminium Industry

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 283-290
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa

7
BIBLIOGRAPHY

PUB. YEAR 1981

CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

38. TITLE TWlgsten, Columbium and Tantalum.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 271-282.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

39. TITLE Titanium

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 264-270. 28 Refs.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

40. TITLE Nickel

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 255-263. 46 Refs.
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

41. TITLE Manganese.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 240-254. 88 Refs.
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

42. TITLE Copper.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 226-239
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Econ. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

8
BIBLIOGRAPHY

43. TITLE Tin.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 220-225
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

44. TITLE Lead and Zinc.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 207-219.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

45. TITLE Chromium.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 195-206. 64 Refs.
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

46. TITLE Iron Ore.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 175-193.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

47. TITLE Petroleum Potential of Africa and Prospects for its Development
ORG. SOURCE USSR, Ministry of Geology, USSR
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 155-160. 26 Refs.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

48. TITLE Processing and Utilization of Mineral Raw Materials in African Countries
ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 43-51. 2 Refs.
PUBLISHER lost. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa

9
BIBLIOGRAPHY

PUB. YEAR 1981

CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

49. TITLE Exploitation of Mineral Resources and Development Trends in the Mining Industry
in Africa.
ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commissionfor Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p. 26-42.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFE~NCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

50. TITLE Major Mineral Resources of Africa.

ORG. SOURCE United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa, Secretariat
SOURCE Anonymous. Proceedings of the First Regional Conference on the Development
and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa. p.7-25. 19 Refs.
PUBLISHER Inst. Min. Metall., Hertford. U.N. Beon. Comm. Africa, Addis Ababa
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE First Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral
Resources in Africa, Arusha, Feb. 2-6, 1981

51. TITLE The Red Sea Rift and Its Role in the Distribution of Ferromanganese Mineralization
AUTHOR Ishutin, V. V.
ORG. SOURCE Cent lost Geo!. Explor., Moscow, USSR
SOURCE Geotectonics. 16. (3) p. 190-196. 20 Refs.
PUB. YEAR 1982 [1983]

52. TITLE Petrographic and Chemical Studies of Carbonaceous Rocks Around Mush Valley
near Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Babu, S. K.; Assefa, Getaneh; Retta, Nequssie
ORG. SOURCE Addis Ababa Univ., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geo!. Surv. Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
SOURCE Issawi, Bahay. Proceedings of the International Meetings Held on the Occasion of
the fifth Conference on African Geology. Geo!. Surv. Egypt, Cairo, Egypt Egypt
Geo!. Surv., Ann. 10. p.687-695.
PUB. YEAR 1980
CONFERENCE Fifth Conference on African Geology, Cairo, Oct 6-11, 1979.

53. TITLE Petrographic and Chemical Studies of Carbonaceous Rocks Around Marsh Valley
Near Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Babu, S. K.; Aseefa, G.; Rena, N.
SOURCE Geophytology. 10. (1-2). p. 45-50. 6 Refs. Dedicated to the memory of
Sitholey, R. V.
PUB. YEAR 1980

54. TITLE Comments on the Development of the Awash Valley, Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Winid, B.
ORG. SOURCE Warsaw Univ., Fac. Georgr. and Reg. Stud., Warsaw, Poland; Univ. ColI. Swansea,
Cent. Dev. Stud., Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

10
BIBLIOGRAPHY

SOURCE Saba, Suranjit K., Barrow, Christopher 1. River Basin Planning; Theory and
Practice. Univ. Coil. Swansea, Cent Dev. Stud., Swansea, Wales, United
Kingdom. p. 147-165. 11 Refs. A. Wiley Interscience Publ.
PUBLISHER Jolm Wiley & Sons, Chichester
PUB. YEAR 1981
CONFERENCE International Colloquium on River Basin Planning, Swansea, Wales, 1980

55. TITLE The Geology, Geochemistry and Origin of Sulphide Mineralization in Katta,
Wollega Administrative Region.
AUTHOR Mammo, Telahmt
SOURCE Sinet; Ethiop. 1. Sci. 3. (1). p. 77
PUB. YEAR 1980

56. TITLE The Geology of Sacaro Goldfield (Adola, Sidamo, S. Ethiopiai).

AUTHOR Gabriel, Giday Wolde
SOURCE Sinet; Ethiop. 1. Sci. 3. (1). p. 76-77
PUB. YEAR 1980

57. TITLE Geothermal Study in Northwest Lake Abaya Area (southern Ethiopian Rift)
AUTHOR Yirgu, Gezahegn
SOURCE Sinet; Ethiop. 1. Sci. 3. (1). p. 75-76
PUB. YEAR 1980

58. TITLE On the Textures and Treatment of the Sylvinite Ore from the Danakil Depression,
Salt Plane (Piano del Sale), Tigre, Ethiopia
AUTHOR Augustithis, S. S.
SOURCE Chern. Erde. 39. (1). p.91-95. 4 Refs.
PUB. YEAR '1980

59. TITLE Seismic Investigation of the Ogaden Basin, Onshore Ethiopia.

AUTHOR Alazar-Tesfalul
ORG. SOURCE Colorado School of Mines, United States; Master's
SOURCE 95 p.
PUB. YEAR 1987

60. TITLE Regional Hydrocarbon Source Rock and Thermal Maturity Evaluation of Ogaden
Basin, Ethiopia.
AUTHOR Cayce, P. W.; Carey, B. D., Jr.
ORG. SOURCE Tenneco Oil Co., Houston, Tex., United States
SOURCE Am. Assoc. Pet Geol., Bull. 63. (3) p. 431
PUB. YEAR 1979
CONFERENCE AAPG-SEPM Annual Meeting, Houston, Tex., April 1-4, 1979

11
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Database: USGSLIB (USGSLibrary, December1991)

-- Record #6 ---
RECORD NO 18886412 PUB DATE: 1988
USGS CALL NO. 508(772)fN213 1988 PUB TYPE: Monograph
AUTHOR Ethiopian Mapping Authority.
TITLE National Atlas of Ethiopia
MAP DATA Scales vary.
EDITION 1st ed.
PUBLISHED Addis Abeba : Ethiopian Mapping authority [1988]
DESC. 1 atlas (76 [i.e. 156] p.) : ill., col. maps; 40 em.
NOTES "January 1988"-T.p. verso. Includes index.
LANGUAGE English
SUBJECTS Ethiopia -- Maps.
LC CLASS NO'S G2505.E8

--- Record #28 --

RECORD NO 4428525 PUB DATE: 1978
USGS CALL NO. 403(772) M846f PUB TYPE: Monograph
AUTHOR Morton, Bill.
TITLE A Field Guide to Ethiopian Minerals, Rocks and Fossils I Bill Morton.
PUBLISHED [Addis Ababa] : Addis Ababa University Press, 1978.
DESC. vii, 170 p. : ill. ; 24 em.
NOTES Includes index. Bibliography: p. 152-154.
LANGUAGE English
SUBJECTS Ethiopia -- Mineral resources; Ethiopia -- Paleontology.
LC CLASS NO'S TN119.E8

-- Record #60 -
RECORD NO 663635 PUB DATE: 1966
USGS CALL NO. 403(772) J392m PUB TYPE: Monograph
AUTHOR Jelenc, Danilo A.
TITLE Mineral Occurrences of Ethiopia I Prepared by Danilo A. Jelenc. PUB-
LISHED Addis Ababa: Ministry of Mines, 1966.
DESC. 720 p. : ill. (some folded), maps ; 22 em.
NOTES Bibliography: p. 605-653
LANGUAGE English
SUBJECTS Ethiopia -- Mineral resources.
LC CLASS NO'S TN119.E8

..
..
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12