CHAPTER TWO
THE GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
2.1. Introduction
Geology is an Earth science that studies the processes
and evolution of events of the earth and its materials
which it is made of.
a single huge continent called Pangaea.
Pangaea was split into Gondwanaland (Africa is a part)
and Laurasia. Later fragments into smaller continents
over the last million years.
Continental drift Theory: Alfred Wegener proposed the
hypothesis that the continents were once assembled
together as a super continent. 1
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Wegener’s principal observations were:
Fit of the continents/ coastal lines: The opposing coastlines of
continents often fit together.
Match of mountain belts and rock types: mountains in West
Africa, North America, Greenland, and Western Europe match
up.
Distribution of fossils: The distribution of plants and ani-
mal fossils on separate continents forms definite linked pat-
terns if the continents are reassembled.
Paleo-climates: rocks formed 200 million years ago in India,
Australia, South America and southern Africa all exhibited evi-
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2.2. Geologic Processes: Endogenic and Exogenic Forces
Geology studies how Earth's materials, structures, pro-
cesses and organisms have changed over time. These
processes are divided into two major groups: internal and
external processes.
1.The internal processes (endogenic):
a) volcanic activity
b) tectonic processes (faulting)
c) orogenesis processes (folding or mountain building)
d) epeirogenesis (slow rising and sinking of the landmass).
internal processes result in building of structural and vol-
canic features like plateaus, rift valleys, Block Moun-
tains, volcanic mountains, etc.
2.The external (exogenesis) or geomorphic processes:
– They include weathering, mass transfer, erosion and
deposition.
– They act modifying, roughening and lowering them
down. 5
2.3. The Geological Time Scale and Age Dating Techniques
geological time scale: geology and history of life on
Earth.
The Earth is believed to have been formed approximately
4.5 billion years ago
geological time divisions basically based on occurrence of
significant geological events. likes:
1. the relative position of land and sea
2. the kind of climate
3. the kind of animal and plant life
do not usually consist of a uniform length of time.
geological time scale involving four main units:
1. Epoch: the smallest unit of time
2. Period: epochs are clumped together into larger units.
3. Era: Periods are combined together and make it.
4. Eon: the largest period of geological time. 6
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Age Dating Techniques
There are two major techniques in age dating:
a)Relative dating: uses geological evidence and compare the
ages of fossils and rocks by use two ways.
a) Look contain unique fossils or rock: then the rock was
formed during that particular time period.
b) See layers of rocks: which one is younger and which is older
b)Absolute Dating: radioactivity discovered in 1896.
unstable (radioactive elements) such as uranium (U) and
thorium (Th) found within the rocks that naturally and
regular decay to form different elements or isotopes.
half-life: the time that takes radio active elements loss half
of their original quantity of atoms. Due to a constant de-
cayed process.
Doubter element (product): the radio active element fi-
naly change to stable and non radio active element.
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The two major radiometric techniques include:
1. Carbon-14 Technique: organism death then carbon-
14 begin to disintegrate at a known rate (half-life of
5730) without no further replacement of carbon from
atmospheric carbon dioxide . used for dating of fossils.
2. Potassium-Argon Technique: widely used for dating
of sample rocks. Because, potassium-40 is abundant in
micas, feldspars and hornblendes.
Leakage of argon and the exposer of heat (above 125° C
(257° F) create a problem for the age of the rock.it fail to
reflect the time of original rock formation.
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2.4. Geological Processes & Landforms of Ethiopia and the Horn
2.4.1. The Precambrian Era & Geologic Processes
– 4.5 billion - 600 million years ago.
– covers 5/6th of the Earth’s history.
The major geologic event of the Precambrian Era was:
Crystalline/basement rocks: were formed
Orogenesis: intense folding (gigantic mountains)
intrusive igneous activity: formation of huge
mountain ranges
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2.4.2. The Paleozoic Era & Geologic events
600-225m years ago.
Denudation: gigantic mountains were subjected to intense
and prolonged erosion.
Peneplained: sediments of gigantic mountain were trans-
ported southward to form continental deposits (in Africa)
and eastward (marine deposits in Indian Ocean) .
In Ethiopia, rocks belonging to this Era are rare due to de-
nudation.
2.4.3. The Mesozoic Era Geologic Processes
225-70 million years ago.
Alternatively & slows sinking and rising (epeirogenesis)
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There are 3 periods in Mesozoic era
a.Triassic Period
Land sank South East to North West led to sea transgression to
land then form Adigrat Sand Stones (1st Deposition)
a. Jurassic Period
-The sea depth increase; formed Hintalo lime stones.
b. Cretaceous period
-The land up lift to South East direction the sea was regression
formed upper sand stone.
-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks cover 25% of the land mass of
the country. That have the greatest potential for oil and gas de-
posits.
2.4.4. The Cenozoic Era Geologic Processes
70 million years ago – Present
The Cenozoic Era is the most recent geologic Eras.
The tectonic and volcanic activities that took place in this Era
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There are two periods in Cenozoic Era
a.Tertiary Period
a) Lava Flow (Volcano) and Mountain: uplifting of the
Arabo-Ethiopian landmass and outpouring of lava flood
b) Rift Valley was formed: theory of plate tectonics
- The movement of the crust in opposite directions producing
tensional forces that caused parallel fractures or faults known as
Rift Valley
a) Afar Triangle: widest part of the Rift Valley (200-300 km).
The Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the East African System
meet at the triangular depression of the Afar.
b) Kobar Sink: lies about 125 meters below sea level.
The Spatial Extent of the Rift Valley
The Ethiopian Rift Valley is part of the Great East African Rift
system and the most unstable part of the country (numerous hot
springs, fumorales, active volcanoes, geysers, and frequent
earthquakes)
from Palestine-Jordan up to Malawi-Mozambique 7,200 kms.
5,600 kms in Africa and 1,700 kms in Eritrea and Ethiopia. 13
b. Quaternary Period
i. Quaternary Volcanic Eruptions /Aden series include:
- recent volcanic activities after the formation of the Rift
Valley. limited to the floor of the Rift Valley.
Dubi, Erta Ale, Afrera etc.Of these, Erta Ale
Volcanic hills and mountains, some of which are semi-dor-
mant (Fantale, Boseti-Gouda near Adama, Aletu north of
Lake Ziway, Chebbi north of Lake Hawassa etc.).
Extensive lava fields and lava sheets: some of which are
very recent Lava ridges and Thermal springs, fumaroles etc.
ii. Climate change and Quaternary deposition
Climate change brought pluvial rain with cooler and wet peri-
ods in Africa.
Most parts of Africa covered by Ice Age. 14
The heavy Pluvial Rains eroded the Ethiopian plateau and the
eroded materials were deposited in the Rift Valley lakes.
Lastly, the Pluvial Rains replaced by dry climate and evapora-
tion that led to extinct of great lakes and life from Rift Valley.
2.5. Rock and Mineral Resources of Ethiopia
• metallic minerals in Ethiopia is associated with the Precam-
brian
2.5.1. Brief Facts and Current State of Main Minerals in Ethiopia
• Geological surveys proved that Ethiopia has abundant mineral
resources of metals and precious metals, coal, and industrial
minerals.
Gold: Metekel, Adola, Sakoro, Lega-dembi, Shakiso, Akobo,
Wondo, Borena, Sherkole, Didessa
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Platinum: Yubdo and Delatti in Wellega, Tullu Mountain area in
Sidama etc
Tantalum: Adola , Kenticha, Nedjo (Wellega), Chilga (Gonder),
Ankober, Sululta, Muger, Aletu , Debrelibanos, Didessa,
Wuchalle, Chuliga, Borkena etc.
Gemstones: (including amethyst, aquamarine, emerald, garnet,
opal, peridot, sapphire, and tourmaline). Wadla and Dalanta,
woredas in Oromia and North Wello in Amhara
Potash: Danakil (Dallol Depression)
Gypsum and Anhydrite: Ogaden, Shewa, Gojjam, Tigray, and
Hararghe
Clay: Adola, Abay, Hawassa
Marble: Mekelle, Adwa, Soka, Gonder, Benishangul-Gumuz
and Gojjam
Construction stones: Dire Dawa , Muger, Abay, Messebo
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