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Heavy Minerals in somaliland.pdf

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YusufMusse3

The document analyzes heavy mineral sands ore deposits along the coast of Somaliland. Analysis using XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDS techniques revealed high concentrations of titanium and iron bearing minerals like ilmenite, rutile, and titaniferous magnetite. The mineral assemblages varied between east and west Somaliland, depending on the underlying geology. The east is dominated by quartz and titanium minerals from Proterozoic basement rocks, while the west contains more ilmenite, rutile, and mica from high-grade metamorphic and Miocene volcanic rocks. The heavy mineral deposits have potential to provide commercially important minerals like ilmenite.

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Keywords: Heavy mineral sands ore deposits in Somaliland (Southern Gulf of Aden) coastal areas *Awul Mohamud Ibrahm 1 , Mohammed Ali 2 1. Burao University, 2. Khalifa University of Science and Technology Heavy mineral enriched samples along the Somaliland coast were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction and SEM-EDS techniques. This study reveals that a considerable amount of heavy minerals is present along the Somaliland coast and confirms the presence of high concentration titanium and iron bearing minerals. The titanium detected in geochemical analysis occurs in the form of ilmenite, rutile, titanite and taniferous magnetite. Also, present in minor or trace amounts, are garnet, zircon and monazite. Heavy mineral accumulations in the east and west of Somaliland have different mineralogical assemblages. The east of Somaliland is dominated by quartz with moderate concentration of plagioclase, K-feldspar, magnetite, hematite and titanium bearing minerals, whereas in the west of Somaliland, the dominant minerals are quartz, K-feldspar and plagioclase with variable proportions of ilmenite, rutile, mica, amphibole and pyroxene. These variations in mineral assemblages suggest different composition of the catchment areas that supply sediment to these deposits. The catchment area in the east of Somaliland consists mainly of Proterozoic crystalline basement of the Qabri Bahar complex, Gabbro-Synenite belt and granitic intrusions that outcrop in Hudiso, Tulo Dibijo and surrounding areas. The primary sources of heavy minerals in the west of Somaliland comprise of high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Mora and Qabri Bahar complexes as well as the Miocene volcanics that outcrop in Laferug and Hagabo areas. The heavy mineral sand deposits observed along the Somaliland coast have the potential to provide commercially important heavy minerals, in particular ilmenite. Heavy mineral sands deposits, Ilmenite, Rutile, Titanium Oxide SRD35-P01 JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020 ©2020. Japan Geoscience Union. All Right Reserved. - SRD35-P01 -

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Heavy Minerals in somaliland.pdf

  • 1. Keywords: Heavy mineral sands ore deposits in Somaliland (Southern Gulf of Aden) coastal areas *Awul Mohamud Ibrahm 1 , Mohammed Ali 2 1. Burao University, 2. Khalifa University of Science and Technology Heavy mineral enriched samples along the Somaliland coast were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction and SEM-EDS techniques. This study reveals that a considerable amount of heavy minerals is present along the Somaliland coast and confirms the presence of high concentration titanium and iron bearing minerals. The titanium detected in geochemical analysis occurs in the form of ilmenite, rutile, titanite and taniferous magnetite. Also, present in minor or trace amounts, are garnet, zircon and monazite. Heavy mineral accumulations in the east and west of Somaliland have different mineralogical assemblages. The east of Somaliland is dominated by quartz with moderate concentration of plagioclase, K-feldspar, magnetite, hematite and titanium bearing minerals, whereas in the west of Somaliland, the dominant minerals are quartz, K-feldspar and plagioclase with variable proportions of ilmenite, rutile, mica, amphibole and pyroxene. These variations in mineral assemblages suggest different composition of the catchment areas that supply sediment to these deposits. The catchment area in the east of Somaliland consists mainly of Proterozoic crystalline basement of the Qabri Bahar complex, Gabbro-Synenite belt and granitic intrusions that outcrop in Hudiso, Tulo Dibijo and surrounding areas. The primary sources of heavy minerals in the west of Somaliland comprise of high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Mora and Qabri Bahar complexes as well as the Miocene volcanics that outcrop in Laferug and Hagabo areas. The heavy mineral sand deposits observed along the Somaliland coast have the potential to provide commercially important heavy minerals, in particular ilmenite. Heavy mineral sands deposits, Ilmenite, Rutile, Titanium Oxide SRD35-P01 JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020 ©2020. Japan Geoscience Union. All Right Reserved. - SRD35-P01 -