Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

2 Mineral kurces Potential of Ethiopia
establishment of mdern methods for the mining of the primary
gold deposits of Legadembi and Sakaro, mining for gold was
mainly carried out by primitive panning methods, employing
significant number of labourers. The introduction of semi-
mechanized mining methods, such as hydraulic 'monitors and
dredging in the last 2 to 3 decades, has significantly inproved the
production of gold in the Adola area
Current mining activities include the production of tantalite
and soda ash, on a pilot scale; primary gold from Legadembi;
placer gold mining mainly from Adola; and mining of industrial
minerals such as kaolin, dolomite, magnesite, and dimension
stones (limestone, marble, granite, basalt, and sand) as well as
sdl-scale artisanal mining of precious metals, gemstones and
salt. Other undeveloped resources include copper, semiprecious
gemstones (agate, aquamarine, chalcedony, chrysoprase, emerald,
garnet, jasper, obsidian, ruby, sapphire, and spinel), manganese,
molyt&num, mercury, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhdhn,
tungsten, zinc, apatite, bentonite, dolomite, potash, and quartz.
In the mineral industry these activities are dominated by the
private sector. Some of the privately owned mining activities
include the Dalleti Meteke1 marble which was purchased by the
National Mining Corporation (NMC) from the previous Ethio-
Libyan Joint Mining Company; Metekel marble by Tis Abay Plc;
and Legadembi primary goId mine which was also purchased by
Midroc Gold Mine (a subsidiary of Midroc Ethiopia Group).
Mined prospecting and exploration in Ethiopia began
around the end of the 18th century. However, modern minerals
exploration started in 1968 with4fhe establishment of the EGS as a
department within the Ministry of Mines and Energy to undertake
surveys of the geology and potential mineral reserves of the
country. Over the past 25 years, the EGS has carried out
exploration for metallic, industrial and energy resources; the
results of which are made available to investors.