Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

112 Mineral Resources Potmtial of Ethiopia
manganese demand, p~sently in the range of 85% to Wh of the
total demand. Among a variety of other uses, manganese is a key
component of low-oost stainless steel formulations and certain
widely d aluminium alloys. It is also added to gasoline in order
to reduce engine knocking. Manganese (IV) oxide (manganese
dioxide) is used in the original type of dry cell Wry, and is also
used as a catalyst. This element is used to decolorize glass
(removing the greenish tinge that premce of iron pduces) and, in
higher concentration, mala violet-coloured glass. Manganese
dioxide is a brown pigment that can be used to make paint and is a
wmpnent of natural umber. Potassium permangmwte is used in
chemistry as a potent oxidizer and in medicine as a disinfectant.
Manganese phosphate is used for rust and corrosion preventation
on steel,
Mangam deposits in Ethiopia
' The Enkafala area in Tigray (Danakil depression) is responsible for
the small former Ethiopian ,manganese ore production (about
40,000 tons of ore from 1958 to 1963). mrves of the Enkafala
sedimentary Mn deposit are believed to be 75,000 metric tons
(Getaneh, 1985). The thin manganese layer is interstratified in
cldc plio-Pleistocene marine sediments, Ore consists of hard
oxides (psilomelane, pyrolusite) d hollandite. Barium is 1 041 y
present in tbe ore. Other areas in Tigray where manganese mineral
occurrences are hown .are Mussley, Beliga, Handeda, Adi
Berbere, and Adi Chigono. The origin of these occurrences is
poorly known, some of them being at least partly of secondary
origin (gossan-type e.g. Mussley, Adi Berbere), The Melka Sedi
occurrence (Kaffa) is associated with laterites.