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The genesis of the Enkafela Mn deposit and associated processes were investigated using field mapping, mineralogical and geochemical analyses by XRD, ICP-MS/AES and XRF. The geology is constituted by limestone, evaporites/gypsum, conglomerates and basalt. The orebody is hosted in the limestone and has two distinctive manganese layers: a massive bottom and powdery top. Pyrolusite, romanechite and birnessite are the major ore minerals. The geochemical results indicate elevated MnO (av. 70.25 wt-%), Ba (>10, 000 ppm), Sr (>10, 000 ppm) and depleted Fe2O3(av. 0.37 wt-%) and other metals. The massive orebody has higher (172.9 ppm) REE content than the powdery ore (7.84 ppm). Chondrite normalised REE plot shows LREE enrichment for both orebodies. The massive manganese layer shows enrichment in Ce and no Eu anomaly. The powdery manganese is depleted in Ce and Eu. The geochemical and mineralogical studies indicate that the manganese mineralisation has dual sources: hydrogenous and hydrothermal sources (for the massive orebody), and hydrothermal (for the powdery). The data suggest that there was active submarine hydrothermal activity in Dallol associated with the regional geodynamic events while the area was inundated by the Red Sea during the Pleistocene.

ABSTRACTThe genesis of the Enkafela Mn deposit and associated processes were investigated using field mapping, mineralogical and geochemical analyses by XRD, ICP-MS/AES and XRF. The geology is constituted by limestone, evaporites/gypsum, conglomerates and basalt. The orebody is hosted in the limestone and has two distinctive manganese layers: a massive bottom and powdery top. Pyrolusite, romanechite and birnessite are the major ore minerals. The geochemical results indicate elevated MnO (av. 70.25 wt-%), Ba (>10,000 ppm), Sr (>10,000 ppm) and depleted Fe2O3(av. 0.37 wt-%) and other metals. The massive orebody has higher (172.9 ppm) REE content than the powdery ore (7.84 ppm). Chondrite normalised REE plot shows LREE enrichment for both orebodies. The massive manganese layer shows enrichment in Ce and no Eu anomaly. The powdery manganese is depleted in Ce and Eu. The geochemical and mineralogical studies indicate that the manganese mineralisation has dual sources: hydrogenous and hydrothermal sources (for the massive orebody), and hydrothermal (for the powdery). The data suggest that there was active submarine hydrothermal activity in Dallol associated with the regional geodynamic events while the area was inundated by the Red Sea during the Pleistocene.

The Alemtena kaolin deposit is located within the main Ethiopian rift. New geological, mineralogical, geochemical and physical test data provide evidence of the genesis and potential use of the kaolin. These data indicate that the deposit formed as a result of the intensive weathering of felsic volcanic rocks including rhyolitic tuffs, pumice, and rhyolite. The deposit contains elevated concentrations of Cr?+?Nb and Ce?+?Y+La and low concentration of Ba?+?Sr suggesting the deposit has a supergene origin. The presence of only kaolinite and quartz, and absence of high temperature minerals like pyrophyllite, dickite and pyrite, low bulk density (<2 g/cm3) and high crystallinity (HI?>?0.9) strengthen the supergene origin. The presence of comparable grain size distribution, mainly white colour, high Al2O3and kaolinite, relatively low concentrations of Fe2O3, TiO2and alkali elements make the kaolin favourable for various industrial applications including paper, filler, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural industries. Reserve estimation from section logging and pitting gave nearly 85 million tons of reserve.

ABSTRACTThe Alemtena kaolin deposit is located within the main Ethiopian rift. New geological, mineralogical, geochemical and physical test data provide evidence of the genesis and potential use of the kaolin. These data indicate that the deposit formed as a result of the intensive weathering of felsic volcanic rocks including rhyolitic tuffs, pumice, and rhyolite. The deposit contains elevated concentrations of Cr + Nb and Ce + Y+La and low concentration of Ba + Sr suggesting the deposit has a supergene origin. The presence of only kaolinite and quartz, and absence of high temperature minerals like pyrophyllite, dickite and pyrite, low bulk density (<2 g/cm3) and high crystallinity (HI > 0.9) strengthen the supergene origin. The presence of comparable grain size distribution, mainly white colour, high Al2O3and kaolinite, relatively low concentrations of Fe2O3, TiO2and alkali elements make the kaolin favourable for various industrial applications including paper, filler, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural industries. Reserve estimation from section logging and pitting gave nearly 85 million tons of reserve.