Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

Induslrid M i d 127
concentration of alkali elements in solution. Lake Abiyata alone
has revealed the presence of 400 Mt ofMnes of soda ash (EGS,
1989). In this locality, 25,000 tons of brines are produced annually
by a small scale pilot plant. Abiyata Soda Ash Enterprise produced
6,444 tons of soda ash in 2004 compared with 4,377 tons in 2003.-
The company was conducting a feasibility study on the
construction of a new processing plant with a capacity of 1.2
Mtlyear. Subject to favorable results of the study; a first-stage
plant with a capacity of 220,000'1/year would be built (Hariman,
2004).
4.2 Diatomite
Diatomaceous earth, also known as diatomite, kieselguhr,
kieselgur, and celite, is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like,
sedimentary rock mineral that is easily crumbled into a fine white
to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feeling similar to
puhice powder and is very light-weight due to its high porosity. It
is made primarily of silica and. consists of fossilized remains of
diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid,
as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for
liquids, as cat litter, and as a component of dynamite (McVey,
1 989). The most common use (68%) of diatomaceous earth is as a
filter medium, especially for swimming pools. It has a high
porosity, because it is composed of microscopicall y-small? coffin-
like, hollow particles. It is used in chemistry, as a filtration aid, to
filter very fine particles that would otherwise pass or clog filter
paper. It is also used to filter watek and other liquids, such as beer.
It can also filter syrups and sugar. Other industries such as paper,
pints, ceramics, soap and detergents use it as a filling material.