Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The high grade and low-grade metamorphic rocks with volcano sedimentary varieties and associated intrusions are the main characteristic geological formations of Eastern and south Eastern Ethiopia. The Mozambique and higher-grade metamorphic rock that dominated in the four parts of Ethiopia have limited exposure in the eastern Ethiopia. The Soka iron mineralization area was located in the Harerghe, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Generally, the current study area is situated in the south west of Harer town. The primary objective of this study was to delineate the geology and mineralogy of iron ore occurred in Soka locality. The objective of this research work is achieved using geological mapping with selective representative ore samples assisted by trenches and pits as working methodologies. The genetic type of iron formation and the host rock of the study area was understood from the field work investigation conducted in the area. The Soka locality iron mineralization is characterized as a vein-related iron formation that hosted within the basement rock of the area. Primarily low to medium grade of biotite, amphibolite schist, and quartzite are the main geological formation of Soka and surrounding areas. The average iron oxides like (Fe2 O3 ) contents in Soka were 53.42%, with a wide range of variation from different samples. The Soka iron mineralization mineralogical compositions are studied from the ore microscope analysis and the dominant ore constituents of analyzed iron ore body are hematite, magnetite and altered goethite assembeledge.

Keywords: Mineralogy; Vein Type Iron; Geological Formations

Citation

Digafe Tulu B, Belachew G, Teku M. Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia. WebLog J Earth Sci. wjes.2026.i0401. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22646184