Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

134 Mineral Resources Potwial of Ethiopia
Applications
Whik most people are familiar with the many uses of salt 'in
cooking, they might be unaware that salt is used in a plethora of
applications, from manufactwing pulp and paper a d dyeing
textiIes and fabric to producing soaps and detergents. In most of
Cam& and the northem USA, large quantities of rack sdt are used
to help clear highways of ice during winter, although "Road Wtn
loses its melting ability at temperatures blow -1 5°C to -20°C
(5OF to 4OF). Salt is a h the raw material used to prodchlorine
which itself is required for the production of many
modern materids including PVC and pesticides used in human and
animd diet, food seasoning and food presewations, to prepare
sodium hydroxide, soda ash, cawtic soda, hydrochloric acid,
chlorine; metallic sodium in ceramic glazes; metallurgy, cuijng of
hides, mhmd wafers, soap mufwcture, home water softeners,
highway de-icing, photography qnd in scientific equipment for
optical parts. Single crystals are used for spectroscopy, ~Itraviolet
and inhd transmission.
Rock salt is produced hm the Danakil depression, which covers w
dace of many thousands of square kilometres with reserves
estimated at 3 Mt of salt (Getaneh, 1985). Common salt occurs
both as brine and rock salt. Rock salt commonly occurs as thin
stratified layers; gmerally less than one meter thick assaciated
with marl and gypsum beds.
Many salt water sources are exploited far salt in saIines
which are located in Bale (e.g. Kalamis, Otrada, Creen, Dol,
Hocdu, Eldere), Gojjam (50 km south-east of Debre Markm) and
Sidamo, near Mega (e.g. El Sod). Ogaden, Afar and Sidamo me the
most potential source areas. The potential salt resources of Afar
are Bu&,Gekim, Afdm and Assale arm. The resources are