SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICAN MINERAL CENTRE - SEAMIC

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SEAMIC Newsletter Volume 9 No. 1 December 2006 SEAMIC Newsletter is a biannual publication of the Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC) publishing scientific, policy, information and reports about the mineral resources development related activities in the eastern and southern African sub-region. Though maximum possible check is done on the contents of articles published in SEAMIC Newsletter, any of the publications published in this Newsletter reflects only the opinion of the Author, and SEAMIC shall take no responsibility about the contents of the articles. Editor: Mesfin W. Gebremichael Editorial committee: Godfrey R. L. Nkini Elibariki C. Kimaro Lilian Moshi Design: Geo-information Department SEAMIC Printer: DeskTop Publications Limited PO Box 20936 Dar es Salaam Tanzania Dear Readers, the Vol. 9 No. 1 issue of SEAMIC EDITORIAL NOTE Newsletter is dedicated to publishing the mineral resources potential of SEAMIC member States constituting Ethiopia, Kenya and Mozambique in an effort to introduce and promote their mineral wealth. In subsequent Newsletters the mineral potentials for the remaining Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC) member States will be addressed. In light of the above the mineral potentials of the three member States may be summarized as follows. Mozambique has a huge mineral potential that is largely untapped. Gold has been produced from the Greenstone belt and the alluvial deposits. Tantalum-niobium, other rare metals and semi-precious stones are abundant. Deposits of heavy mineral sands and a wide range of industrial minerals comprise a few of the mineral wealth in Mozambique that are under development. The government’s effort to increase the geological knowledge base through exploration for a wide range of minerals that was curtailed for a number of years in the 1980s due to the civil war in the country is now being aggressively carried out and is assisting speedy geological data collection and dissemination. This effort has significantly enabled the mineral sector development in the country and as a result many mining projects have been initiated. The earth resources of Kenya include a wide range of minerals, both metallic and industrial, as well as varieties of gemstones. The mineralisation of gold copper, silver, kyanite, corundum, graphite, wollastonite, marble, asbestos, flourspar, magnesite, kaoline, variety of gemstones, gypsum, clay, diatomite, and rare-earth elements are the few to mention. There are several exploration and mining activities underway in the country including exploration for gold and heavy mineral sand. Ethiopia is endowed with abundant mineral resources associated with the Precambrian, Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, the Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Currently metallic minerals such as gold, columbo-tantalite and alluvial platinum and a variety of industrial minerals such as kaolin, opal, dolomite, quartz, feldspar, soda ash, dimension stones and cement mineral raw materials are produced. Rich deposits of potash, manganese and rock salt are abundant in the Tertiary/Quaternary sediments. Natural gas, geothermal energy and coal deposits have been explored at feasibility levels and are awaiting development. For more details the reader is invited to the articles presented in this Newsletter on the geology and mineral potential of Ethiopia, Kenya and Mozambique.
GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF ETHIOPIA BY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ETHIOPIA INTRODUCTION Systematic mineral exploration in the country started in the 1970’s leading to the discovery of many metallic mineral deposits (example, gold and tantalum) and industrial raw materials for manufacturing of cement, ceramics, glass, fertilizer, etc. Exploration for fuel (natural gas and oil) and energy (coal and geothermal energy) occurrences has been conducted back in the late 1940s and are still under investigation. Little is known to date about the occurrences of gem minerals, but prospecting is underway by the private sector. Systematic exploration and mining development so far undertaken in the country indicate the low-grade volcano-sedimentary assemblages as the main host rocks for precious, base, rare and ferrous and ferroalloy metals. The distribution of industrial minerals and rocks is mainly related to Precambrian metamorphic rocks, Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, and Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Currently, mining companies are engaged in the exploration for further gold and base metal occurrences in different regions of the country. There are also several local and foreign private companies mining marble, granite, amphibolite, opal and limestone in various parts of the country. Efforts are also being made to develop the geothermal and gas energy resources. GEOLOGY The Geology of Ethiopia can be grouped into three major stratigraphic units, namely: the Precambrian basement rocks, Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks, and Tertiary/Quaternary volcanics and sediments. The Precambrian basement rocks are poly-deformed and metamorphosed high grade gneisses and schists associated with low-grade meta-volcano-sedimentary rocks. They are mainly exposed in the northern, western and southern parts of the country. Late Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are widely distributed in the northern, central, eastern and southeastern parts of the country. The sedimentary rocks are unconformly overlying the basement rocks and mainly composed of sandstone and limestone and are exposed mainly in the Ogaden, Abbay and Mekele Basins. Phanerozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks cover much of the country’s central highlands, rift valley and eastern lowlands. The Tertiary to Quaternary volcanics are associated with the evolution of the East African Rift System. The main rock types are basalts, trachytes and associated dyke swarms, andesites, rhyolites, ignimbrites and pumiceous ash. Tertiary sedimentary rocks are known in the Ogaden, in the Danakil Depression, and in the lower Omo River Valley. These rocks consist of sandstone, limestone, conglomerate, mudstone and shale. Rich deposits of potash, manganese, rock salt and other types of evaporites are abundant in the Tertiary/Quaternary sediments. Quaternary sediments occur throughout the country and were formed as lacustrine as well as marine formations. They comprise limestones, clay, siltstone, sand, volcanoclastic, and others. 1
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SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICAN MINERAL CENTRE - SEAMIC

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