REGIONAL TRAINING ON RADIATION PROTECTION AND

MONITORING IN UPC, RAF3007 PROJECT, Swakopmund,

Namibia, 17-21 August 2009

URANIUM MINING-RELATED ACTIVITIES IN

ETHIOPIA
By
Masresha Gebreselassie, Chief Geologist, Geological Survey of Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION
Location:
Coverage:
Population:
Economy:

3o-15oN and 33o-48oE

1.13x106 km2
~80x106
ALID policy, GDP growing at the rate of 10%, major
contribution

Comes from Agricultural sector

Other industry based economic sectors are significantly growing. Major and
significant efforts are being made in the mining sector as well.
In the mining sector, Private sectors are currently taking part an important role.

History of Mineral resource exploration

Systematic exploration began is 1968

Since then, mineral resources developed, identified or indicated include several
industrial minerals, precious metals, rare metals, base metals and indications of
radioactive minerals and fossil fuels-oil and gas, and geothermal energy resources.

RADIOACTIVE MINERALS

Reconnaissance airborne (carborne) survey in 1954 1964 by Towle

(USAEC)
Although many localities were indicated as U-bearing, their locations were not
specifically recorded
Systemic Rad Survey
Wollega & Sidamo UNDP 1970
Megado & Adola (Sidamo) UNDP 1993/94
Metekel (NW Ethiopia) 2000
Recent U focused ground survey by GSE in selected areas of southern
and northwestern Ethiopia.

Findings
Targets explored or recommended or reported so far can be categorized

Uranium-bearing minerals (samarskite, niobates and euxenite) in

pigmatites e.g. Errer Valley, Zembaba and Didiga.

Accessory minerals, mainly xenotime in pegmatites and metasediments.

Ore-bearing minerals as carnotite in silicified wood, Harar

Topographic anomalies over granites, Awata N3-anomaly, kibremengest

N5-anomaly

Formational anomalies related to lithological contrasts

Anomalies related to over burden, Arero (Sidamo)

Alteration zones (?) in gneissic rock Gecha area, Ilubabor

Table 1 Radioactive anomalies or occurrences. Refer to their location in

Target name

Location
coordinate

Detection Method

Not specific, at
scattered places

Scintillometer

Not specific, at spots

Scintillometer

Harar

Not specific,
near the town

Scintillometer &
XRF analysis

Harar district

Unknown

Gecha, village
Ilubabor

7048N & 35021E

Scintillometer

Harar

903112N &
410 5812E

Airborne (Carborne)
radiometric survey

Errer valley, Harar

Gobeli river, Harar

Akobo, Kaffa
(former name)

Scintillometer

Wadera (N1) Sidamo

Around placer gold

operation

504541N &
3804511E

Zembaba (N2),
Sidamo

504958N &
3804315E

Same as above

Radiometry
Instrument not
mentioned

Radio Active
source

Identified
Minerals

Black sand 8-10

times background

Smarskite

Pegmatite vein

Yttrium and
uranium niobates,
magnetite and rutile

Bleached granite 30
times background

Unknown
Altered gneissic rock
with values 10003000 cpm
Gneissic and granite
terrane

Needle-shaped
minerals (?)

High grade carnotite

in silicified wood
-

Granite showing 10
ppm uranium

Trace of thorium and

uranium minerals (?)

1.0-1.5m thick
pegmatite vein in
sandstone with 600700cps, and lensoid
sandstone with unto
1500cps

Yellow stain
(carnotite?) in
sandstone with
0.04% uranium on
analysis

Gray-yellowish gray
arkosic sandstone, up
to 1300 cps

Target name

Location
coordinate

Detection Method

Awata river,
(N3&N4)

a. 504220N &
3804321E
b. 504111N &
3804617E

Same as above

Anomaly N5

504602N &
384126E

Same as above

Anomaly N6

504432N &
3804253E

Same as above

Anomaly N7

2.5km SE of Arero

Same as above

Genale

4km S of the bridge

Mole Belcore,
Wellega

Near to the
confluence of Dabus
and Abay reveres

Radio Active
source
Combined effects of
topography (granite
hill) and higher
background of
quartzite

Higher background
and topographic
effect of biotite
granite

Several spot
anomalies (500-600
cps) related to small
bodies of granite

Identified
Minerals
-

Accessory minerals
(?)

High spot anomaly

up to 1500cps related
to thick overburden

Same as above

High background
values related to
pegmatoid granite

Same as above

12-18 times the

background in
phonolitic plugs

Accessory minerals
such as xenotime

Target name

Location
coordinate

Detection
Method

Didiga hills,
Sidamo

5045N &
3804124E

Scintillometer

Surupa, Sidamo

502436N &
3800412E

Same as above

Arero, Sidamo

501948N &
3900712E

Same as above

a.Werri, b.
Kalido,
c.Guetti, Bale

a.505906N&
3903130E
b.6038N &
393045E
a.600229N&
3903229E

Radiometry
(GAD-b)
geological
mapping, soil
geochemistry
and testtrenching

Radio Active
source

Accessory
minerals in
pegmatite hosted
by quartzofeldspathic
gneiss, with
8.32% U3O5 as
analyzed abroad
4-5 times (125
cps) in
metaarkose
interbeded with
biotitic gneiss

Readings up to
110 cps in
pegmatite hosted
in pegmatite
hosted in
quartzofeldspathic rock
Accessory
minerals in
pegmatite

Identified Minerals
Euxenite and polycrase

Xenotime, anatase, ilmenite

OPTIONS TO ENHANCE U - RESOURCE EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT IN

ETHIOPIA

Previous and current exploration detected insignificant radiometric anomalies due to variation
in background values or accessory minerals in localized targets. This is an exploration based
on scares and limited information, as well as little knowledge.

Capacity building to solve challenges of uranium metallogenicprovince.

Ethiopia strongly urges uranium mineral exploration to diversify the energy mix.

1.

Air borne radiometry current coverage is very limited, capital intensive, requires companies
involvement.

2.

Identification of uranium province, mainly U-enriched granitoids, through research-oriented

activities to characterize granitoids. This is also capital demanding activity.

3.

RS Technology to outline lithostructural domains favorable for U mineralization and other

resources, specific targets to be complemented by air borne geophysics, ground geological
and geochemical surveys.

4.

Radiometric scanning of drill cores so far generated during petroleum and coal exploration for
sediment hosted uranium, including lacustrine sediments within the rift system.

Options

Initiations of the Ethiopian Government

The RS Technology (third option) for accelerated mapping in general and mineral resource
assessment in particular has been initiated with the Chinese Gov., and MOU has been signed.

For scanning of favorable geological terrane, a proposal is ready for interested parties.

330'0"E

Regional and Airborne Geophysics

3430'0"E

360'0"E

3730'0"E

390'0"E

150'0"N

!!!

ShiraroND
Humera

140'0"N

ND 37-9

37-6

ND 37-7
Adigrat

! !

Wukro
Mekele

ND 37-11
-&

ND 37-10

&

ND 37-13

Gonder

Sekota

ND 37-14

ND 37-12

ND 37-15

Su
da
n

Debre Tabo

NC 36-7

NC 36-4

!!

Kumruk

&

! !!
!

Gizen

!!

100'0"N
NC 36-11

NC 37-1

Guba

NC 36-8

NC 37-2

NC 37-3

&

Injibara

NC 37-5

Debre MarkNC 37-6

&

80'0"N

&

NC 36-16

&

NC 37-9
Gimbi

Metu

&

NC 37-10

Nekemt

&

BedeleNC 37-13

Ambo

NC 37-14

NB 36-4

&

Chira
Bonga

60'0"N

Jima

&

NB 37-9

50'0"N

Mojo

- NC 37-15
&

3 km for Hydrocarbon Exploration

Djibouti

4.8 For Hydrocarbon Exploration

5 km for Hydrocarbon Exploration

&

&

&

Dire Dawa
NC 38-9
Harar
Jijiga
Babile

&

&

NC 37-16

NB 37-3

Kokosa

Yirga Alem
Wondo

NB 37-13

Robe

Togochale

NC 38-13

NB 37-4

!!!!!!

NB 38-1

NB 37-10

-&&

NB 37-8

Lmi

NB 37-12

NB 37-15

NB 38-5

NB 38-13

!&-

Moyale

NA 37-3

NA 37-4

90'0"N

70'0"N

Welwel

NB 38-6

NB 38-7

60'0"N
NB 38-10

NB 38-9

Dolo Odo

100'0"N

NB 38-4

NB 38-11

Filtu

NB 37-16

110'0"N

80'0"N

Gode

Negele

120'0"N

Serer Woln

NB 38-3

Kebri Daha

NB 37-11

NB 37-14

Misrak Gas

NB 38-2

Kibre Ming
Shakiso

NA 37-2

10 km for Geothermal Exploration

130'0"N

NC 38-14

Goba

NB 37-7

Yirgachefe

Mega

8 km for Hydrocarbon Exploration

Goba1

Brkoji

NB 37-6

Gidole

7 km for Hydrocarbon Exploration

Asela

-&
&

Arba Minch

NC 38-5

Yabelo

Kenya

1 km for Mineral Exploration

Degeh Bur

Alaba Kuli Shashemene

Awasa
Dodola
Sodo

NB 37-5

Awash

Nazret

NB 37-2

Konso

NB 36-16

200 m for Mineral Exploration

Debre Zeit

Hosaina

Jinka

NB 36-12

&

Ziway

NB 37-1

70'0"N
NB 36-8

ADDIS ABAB

NC 37-12

140'0"N

Ground Geophysics

Debre Birh

NC 37-11

Wolkite

Gore
Agaro

NB 36-3

Molale

&

480'0"E

Legend

ND 38-13

NC 37-8

Mehal Meda

4630'0"E

150'0"N

NC 38-1

NC 37-7

Dejen

Dembidolo
Gambela

NC 37-4

Dessie

450'0"E

Bure

NC 36-12

90'0"N
NC 36-15

Woldeya

Asossa

Begi

ND 37-16

Kobo

Addis Zeme

120'0"N

40'0"N

4330'0"E

Metema

ND 36-16

110'0"N

420'0"E

Eritrea

Inda Selas

Abderafi

130'0"N

4030'0"E

So

50'0"N

l ia
a
m

11
0

40

80

160

240

320

Kilometers

40'0"N

The Type and Distribution of the Main Minerals

in Regional States of Ethiopia
Type of Mineral

Regional Distribution

Status

Gold (primary and TRS, BEN, ORS, SNPRS, Legedembi primary gold
and the surrounding placer
placer)
GRS, SRS
gold is under mining
Platinum

ORS

Yubdo locality, under

mining

Iron

ORS

Nickel

ORS

Tantalum

ORS

Copper

ORS , TRS

10 Mt at Keta area

Manganese

AFRS

Over 5,000 ton

Marble

TRS, BEN, ORS

Several billion ton

58 Mt at Bikilal 10 Mt at
Melka arba
17 Mt at Adola
Under mining

Cont.
Granite

TNRS, BEN, GRS, ORS

Phosphate

ORS

Kaolin

ORS

Gypsum

TRS, ORS, AFRS, SRS

Several billion ton

180 Mt at Bikilal 87 Mt at
Melka Arba
Bumbwa Wuha under
mining 0.3 Mt at
Kombolcha
Several million ton

Limestone

TRS, AMRS, ORS, SRS

Several billion ton

Silica sand

ORS, AMRS

Under mining at Mugher

Sand stone
Dolomite
Potash

TRS, AMRS, ORS, SRS

ORS

AFRS

Several billion ton

1.4 Mt, at Galleti

160 Mt at Dallol

Salt

AFRS, ORS

Several Million ton at Afdera,

under mining

Diatomite

ORS

Over 40 Mt

Bentonite

AFRS, SNPRS,

Over 100 Mt

Coal

ORS, AMRS

40 Mt at Delbimoye 250 Mt
at Yayu20 Mt at Chilga0.3
Mt at Mush valley

Gemstone

AMRS, ORS, SRS

Mining for opal at N.Showa,

other exploration

Geothermal Energy

AFRS, ORS, SNPRS

At Aluto 7.5 MW under

development At Dubti 5 MW
under development

Petroleum
Uranium

SRS and other regions

?

Exploration