Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

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Industrial Mjnorah '1 59
(barium sulfate). Hydrogen sulfide is the gas respomible for the
odor of rotten eggs. It accurs naturally in volcanic emissions, such
as from hydrothemat vents, and from bacterial action ofl decaying
sulfur-containing orgauic matter.
Applications
Sulfur has rnany industrial uses. Through its major derivative,
sulfuric and (&SO4), sulfur mpks as one of the more important
elements used as an industrial raw material. It is of prime
impo&ce to every sector of the world's economies, Sulfuric acid
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production is the major end use for sulfur, and consumption of
sulfuric acid has been regarded as olie of the best indices of a
nation's industrial development. More sulfuric acid is produced in
the United States every year than any other industrid chemical.
Sulfur is dso used in batteries, detergents, the vulcanimtion of
rubber, fungicides, and in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers.
Sulfiks are used to bleach paper and as a preservative in wine and
dried hit. Because of its flammable nature, sulfur dm finds use in
matches, gunpowder, and fireworks. Sodium or ammonium
thiosulhte is used as photographic fixing agents (Noetstaller,
I 1988).
There are small and scattered occurrences of native sulfur in the
sediments and associated volcanic activities of the Rift Valley and
in Danakil Depression. All are solfhtara-type associated with
fmambs and crater deposits. The Danakil Depression resource at
Zariga, north of Dallol, and on-mlol hill are estimated at 0.36 Mt
at a grade of 5&55% sulfur. Anothk resource west of Dallol, on
the road to Musley and Chebret Ale-crater, was reported to contain
0.2 and 7 million tons at a &e of I&20% and 900? sulphw
' respectively (EGS, 1989). There are various sulfur deposits in the wfl
D-l Depression and mud Dofan deposit in the central rift