Geology, Geochemistry, and Economic Evaluation of Feldspar Quartz Pegmatites in the Kenticha Serpentinite Massif, Southern Ethiopia

The Kenticha pegmatite deposits, which are known as world-class rare element deposits of the Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) type, occur in the Adola Belt, specifically within Ethiopia. This report presents a comprehensive geological, geochemical assessment of pegmatite deposits of feldspar-quartz composition, which occur in the Gara Kenticha serpentinite massif. The study has been done by analyzing five principal pegmatite veins, whose orientation, geochemical differentiation, and estimates of mineral composition have been determined. The chemical analysis of 12 representative pegmatite samples indicates that the region has high-quality feldspar of 17.2% Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, 13.5% total alkalis, and very low Fe<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup> oxide of less than 0.3%. The massif has been estimated to contain 7.2 million tons of high-quality pure quartz, while that of the major pegmatite deposits is over 2.7 million tons of feldspar deposits. Geochemically, the pegmatite deposits were formed as a consequence of post-collisional extension of the East African Orogeny at 530 Ma, which was due to extreme fractionation of peraluminous granitic magma. Although of high geological feasibility, development of this project is currently impeded by socio-economic conditions of development of the Guji zone as well as by its centralized regulation. This report combines mineralogical information available with industrial standards to promote the development of local processing plants, which could be a boost for the industrial mineral industry in Ethiopia.