Preliminary Investigationof Preciousand Base Metals
Preliminary Investigationof Preciousand Base Metals
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Arba Minch University
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Abstract- The present study has been conducted to access mineral exploration activities by the Ethiopia Institute of
precious and base metals mineralization in Gamo district, Geological Survey since 1970 and 1972 [1 and 3].
southern Ethiopia. Lithological and structural map of the Basement rocks of low grade metamorphic rocks are
study area is generated at the scale of 1:50,000. Forty-nine considered to be the host rocks for placer gold and heavy
stream sediment samples were collected from sets of first and metals in Ethiopia. Most of the known metallic
second order of streams and analysis of precious and base
metals mineralization (Cu, Pb, Zn, etc) conducted using
mineralizations are hosted in low grade metamorphic rocks
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The lithologies exposed in exhibiting geochemical anomalies for gold and base
the area are Pegmatite, Granitic gneiss, Amphibole gneiss, metals. Ethiopia is subpart of East African Orogeny
Amphibolite, Schist and rhyolite. The study area is containing two major metamorphic belts; including
characterized by ductile and brittle geological structures such Mozambique belt extending Northward through Kenya to
as foliation, folds, joints, dikes, veins and vein lets. Except Ethiopia and Arabian Nubian shield propagating southward
copper, all precious and base metals contents are below the from Jerusalem to Northern Ethiopia. The study conducted
threshold value and they are insignificantly mineralized in the by [2] indicated the occurrences of heavy minerals around,
study area. Copper has high mineralization on the study area Konso, Kayle area, southern Ethiopia. The study area is
with a threshold value of 656.9 ppm which further indicates
copper mineralization in the study area.
dominantly covered by high grade metamorphic rocks and
it is dominantly the northern extension of Mozambique
Key words: Mineralization, sediment, base metals, rock belt. The main aim of this study is to carry out potential
assessment on precious and base metals mineralization
INTRODUCTION around, Geresse district, Southern Ethiopia.
Mineral resources play a vital role in the economic
development of a country. Ethiopia is endowed with a DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA
variety of mineral resources which can raise economy of Location of the Study Area
the country. This country is enriched with Precambrian to The study area is located at southern Ethiopia, Gamo zone,
Cenozoic rocks which fall under three major categories, Gerese district, at a distance of about 556 km from Addis
including sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. A Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. It is found at a distance
quarter of the country is underlain by Precambrian of about 98 km in south east direction from Arba Minch
metamorphic terrains. The Precambrian rocks of Ethiopia town. Geographically, the study area is bounded between
contain a wide variety of sedimentary, volcanic and latitudes of 643000 m to 653000 m North and longitudes of
intrusive rocks which have been subjected to varying 294000m to 303000m East (Fig.1). The total areal
degrees of metamorphism and deformation. The highest coverage of the study area is 73.5 square kilometers.
metamorphic grade of the granulite facies has been
recorded in gneisses of the southern and south-western part
of the country [5].
The crystalline basement rocks of Ethiopia is a particular
interest because of the fact that it contains almost all
known mineral commodities of the country including both
metallic and industrial minerals and rocks. Geological
mapping and mineral explorations done by the Ethiopian
institute of Geological Survey show that metallic resources
are mostly genetically linked to the tectono-thermal
evolution of the various low grade metamorphic volcano-
sedimentary belts belonging to the upper Proterozoic 900-
500Ma Arabian Nubian shield terranes.
The low metamorphic grade of Precambrian basement
rocks and structural features favorability has encouraged
Fig.1. Location of the study area. Fig.3. Drainage pattern of the study area
METHODOLOGY
Various techniques of methods are used to achieve the
mentioned general and specific objectives of this study.
Before the field work proceeds, various activities were
performed at office level. Satellite images of the study
area were digitally processed using ERDAS 9.2 software.
ARCGIS 10.5 software was used to delineate the
boundary and drainage pattern of the study area. Global
mapper is used to prepare DEM (digital elevation model)
of the study area.
Different traverse lines were selected based on the
possibility of geological exposures on the study area. In
each traverse, many stations are taken along the traverse Fig.5. Stream sediment samples air dried for analysis.
line at different places that helped for identifying and
describing lithological units and geological structures. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Geological map of the study area is produced at scale of 1: Geology of the study area
50,000. The study area is characterized by high grade metamorphic
Stream sediments were collected during the second phase rocks and numerous pegmatitic intrusions with small and
field work. Before departure to field, stream orders have unmappable quartz and pegmatite veins. The study area has
been identified by using digital elevation model data of the different types of lithological units which are exposed
study area. Based on the predetermined sample locations, along river cut, hill side and road cut. The lithologies
enough sizes of stream sediments were collected from the exposed in the study area are Pegmatite, Granitic gneiss,
first and second order streams. The point of sampling was Amphibole gneiss, Amphibolite, Schist and Rhyolite
designed to be immediately on the upstream of all (Fig.17). All lithologies are mappable in a given scale
confluences. Samples were collected from both the wet and except schist which covers small part from the study area.
dry streams. Rhyolite
A total of forty-nine stream sediment samples were This rock unit has peculiar feature of flow banding. It
collected to conduct gold and base metal analysis. Stream appears pink in color and fine-grained in texture.
sediment samples are scooped up by hand at most sample Development of yellow color from the outcrop due to
sites but in areas with steep banks and very dry and intact effects of wethering shows limonitization (Fig.6).
places, shovel is used to pick samples to the plastic
packet. All sample packets are filled and coded properly
at each sample site. The stream sediment samples were
then air dried for one week before submitted for analysis
(Fig.5). The dried sediments were crushed by mortar and
sieved by ample -80 mesh material for analysis. The
prepared stream sediment samples were sent to Ezana
Mining Development Plc (Analytical Laboratory) for
precious and base metals analysis. Base metals content is
analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (annex.1).
Fig.6. Rhyolite rock unit
Pegmatite
The rock unit is very coarse-grained and granitic in
composition. This unit is characterized as post-tectonic
intrusion where it shows clear cross-cutting of the earlier
formed surrounding metamorphic rocks and itself has no
deformation history at all. Typically formed during the
final stage of magma chamber crystallization when high
water content solution allows rapid crystal growth.
Pegmatite of the study area is rich in alkali feldspar,
muscovite and quartz with minor amounts of biotite,
aquamarine, magnetite and garnet minerals (Fig.7).
Amphibolite
It is one of a non-foliated metamorphic rock exposed along
road cut and covers small part of the study area. It is found
associated with amphibole gneiss and granitic gneiss. It is
massive and dark color due to its abundant darker
amphibole minerals (Fig.10). This rock unit shows effects
of wethering where it developed chlorite minerals
(chloritization) due to hydration reaction and it is indicators
for retrograde metamorphism (Fig.11).
Granitic gneiss
This rock unit shows gneissosity due to subsequent
segregation of lighter (felsic) and darker (mafic) minerals.
The outcrop is exposed mainly at lowest elevation levels
along major river flow directions. It associated with
lineated/boudinage rocks and small-scale Ptygmatic folds.
Fig.10.Amphibolite unit
Amphibole Gneiss
It displays distinct foliation, representing alternating layers
Fig.11. Chloritization alterations on amphibolite unit
composed of amphibole minerals, with felsic minerals
(quartz, muscovite and k-feldspar). It is exposed along the
Geological Structures
river cut and around hill side. From its coarse grain size, it
There are both brittle and ductile geological structures
can be considered as high grade metamorphic rock. The
observed in the study area. Tectonic processes are
foliation trend of this rock unit is NNE to NNW which is
responsible for the many discontinuity planes and they
almost the same with the trend of the East African
resulted in different geologic macrostructures. Foliation,
Orogeny. First and second generations of quartz veins are
fold, joint, dike, veins and veinlets are the major
clearly visible cross-cutting each other which further
deformational structures observed in study area. There are
confirms histories of multiple deformation phases in the
ductile shear sense indicators in the study area which are
study area (F ig.9).
characterized by showing different vergence directions.
These vergence directions are indications for different
deformation phases which show east and west vergence
direction in the area and this is resulted from sinistral (left-
lateral) and dextral (right lateral) shearing effects.
Brittle geological structures
Joints
Joints are fractures formed without any significant
displacement and observed in amphibole gneiss rock and
pegmatite dykes of the study area and resulted during
brittle deformation phase. There are different generations
of joints in different parts of the study area which are
Fig.9. Amphibole gneiss with augen structure and cross cut by quartz parallel or oblique to foliation.
veins
Dikes
These geological structures found in the study area are
tabular in shape and discordant in orientation with the
country rock. Some are mafic in composition (basalt dike)
and others are felsic (pegmatite dikes) formed when
magma intrudes to the country rock. Their average
thickness ranges from 50 cm to 8 m and have variable
length.
TABLE. II. THRESH HOLD VALUES OF SOME PRECIOUS AND BASE METAL ELEMENTS.
Au Ag Cu
Mean SD thresh hold Mean SD thresh hold Mean SD thresh hold
0.02 0.29 0.6 0.35 0.6 1.55 16.9 320 656.9
Zn Pb
Mean SD thresh hold Mean SD thresh hold
28.2 11 50.2 7.12 12 31.12
Gold Copper
Based on the analytical result, gold is below detection limit Copper concentration ranges from 1-52ppm and an average
(<0.02ppm) for all of the analyzed samples except one grade of copper values is 16.86ppm. All of the analyzed
sample which has 0.02ppm of Au. Stream sediment stream sediment samples have a threshold value of 656.9
samples can have normal gold concentration ranges from which further indicates copper mineralization in the study
0.01-0.05ppm values [4]. Concentration value greater than area.
0.1ppm indicates gold mineralization but all analytical
results are below detection limit that is less than 0.02ppm
except one sample KSS-46 which has 0.02ppm that is still
below the threshold value. Therefore, based on the
analytical results, the area has insignificant gold
mineralization.
Lead
Fig.20. A map showing concentration of silver in stream sediment
samples.
Lead concentration ranges from 2-16ppm and an average
concentration for the analyzed samples is 7.12ppm. Sample
KSS-41 has maximum zinc concentration of 16ppm. The
normal standard of lead concentration to be found in stream Generally, copper shows relatively good concentration in
sediment samples is 5-50 ppm [4]. Lead values greater amphibole gneiss outcrops that is exposed at the North-
than 100 ppm may indicate Pb mineralization. Based on the Eastern part of the study area implying that this lithology is
above explained concentration ranges, all of the analyzed the possible host rock for copper mineralization.
have below the threshold value and they are non-
mineralized. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First of all, would like to give our sincere gratitude to
southern nations, nationalities and people’s regional state
mines and energy agency for providing an opportunity to
conduct the study. Secondly, our deepest gratitude goes to
Arba Minch University, University-Industrial linkage and
Technology transfer directorate office for their follow up,
providing transportation and tireless support during the
project work. Lastly, we would like to thank Arba Minch
University, Department of Geology for giving different
laboratory materials for the field work.
REFERENCE
Fig.23. A map showing concentration of lead in stream sediment samples. [1] Abraham, A., Hassen, N., Yemane, T., Genzebu, W., Seyid,
G.,Mehari, K., Alemu, T., The geological evolution of the
CONCLUSION Proterozoic of southern Ethiopia, Abstract. In: 29th International
Geological Congress 2, Kyoto, Japan, 1992, 13p.
The present study was conducted in Geresse area, southern [2] Bekele Ayele, 2017. Geological Investigation and the Occurrence
Ethiopia, which is part of the East African Orogeny (EAO) of Heavy Minerals around Kayle Area, Konso Regional State,
and an extension of Mozambique belt. The rock units of the Southern Ethiopia.
study area are Pegmatite, Granitic gneiss, Amphibole [3] Jelene, A. Mineral occurrences of Ethiopia. Ministry of Mines,
Addis Ababa, 1966. 720p.
gneiss, Amphibolite, Schist and Rhyolite. [4] Reedman.J.H. 1979. Techniques in Mineral Exploration, Noranda
The study area is affected by different episodes of events Exploration Company Ltd, Winnipeg, Canada.
like: granitic intrusion, metamorphism, folding, fracture [5] Solomon Tadesse, Jean-Pierre Milesi, Yves Deschamps, 2003.
filling (veins and veinlet’s formation) and distortion of Geology and mineral potential of Ethiopia: a note on geology and
mineral map of Ethiopia.
veins by shearing. Three deformation phases are
recognized from the study area which include development
of gneissosity (D1), folding of gneissosity (D2), east and
west shearing (D3).
For most of the samples, precious and base metals contents
are below the threshold value and they are insignificantly
mineralized in the study area.
Copper has high mineralization on the study area with a
threshold value of 656.9 ppm which is much more than the
expected standard of copper concentration on stream
sediments (Table.II).