Geochemistry of the Pegmatitic Rocks and Minerals in the Kenticha Belt, Southern Ethiopia: Implication to Geological Setting

Trace element distribution patterns are reported for whole rocks (granites, aplites, greisens, pegmatites, alaskites) and minerals from the Kenticha pegmatite field. The data shed light on the evolution, regional and local zonal pattern of the granitepegmatites and associated mineralization in the Kenticha belt. The complex mineralization of commercial concentrations of Ta, Nb, Hf, Zr, REE, U and Th is related to Be, Li, Cs, Rbbearing zones of pegmatites and is structurally controlled. Whole rock chemical signatures of the suite of felsic rocks of the Kenticha belt are predominantly similar to those generated by subduction in modern magmatic arcs and indicate a mantle derivation. Columbotantalite concentrates extracted from the pegmatitic ores represent the basic raw materials from which a number of possible byproducts can be recovered.