Assessing structural challenges in potash mining: Perspectives from Yara solution mining, Dallol Depression, Northern Afar, Ethiopia | ||
| Journal of Mining and Environment | ||
| مقاله 7، دوره 16، شماره 4، مهر و آبان 2025، صفحه 1253-1268 اصل مقاله (12.62 M) | ||
| نوع مقاله: Original Research Paper | ||
| شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22044/jme.2025.15254.2921 | ||
| نویسندگان | ||
| Gebremariam Mesele1؛ Miruts Hagos2؛ Bheemalingeswara Konka3، 2؛ Tsegabrhan Gebreset1؛ Misgan Molla1؛ N Rao Cheepurupalli* 4؛ Girmay Hailu5؛ Negassi Debeb1؛ Assefa Hailesilasie6 | ||
| 1Department of Geology., Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia | ||
| 2School of Earth Sciences., Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia | ||
| 3School of Earth Sciences and Engineering., Botswana International University of Sciences and Technology, Private Bag16, Palapye, Botswana | ||
| 4Faculty of Mines, Aksum Institute of Technology., Aksum University, Ethiopia | ||
| 5School of Earth Sciences, Department of Geology., Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia | ||
| 6Department of Geology, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia | ||
| چکیده | ||
| The Dallol Depression, located in the northern Danakil Depression, has a complex geological history shaped by Afar rifting, containing approximately 1.7 km of evaporite deposits. These deposits, heavily influenced by volcanic activity and extensional tectonic faulting, exhibit significant structural variability. This research focuses on the potash-bearing section of the salt sequence, which consists of several distinct layers including the marker bed, sylvinite member, upper carnallitite member, bischofitite member, lower carnallitite member, and kainitite member. Employing satellite imagery (Landsat Thematic Mapper), geological and structural mapping, borehole data, and seismic analysis, this study characterizes the sub-surface features of the evaporites and estimates their reserves. The RockWorks software facilitated the development of a subsurface stratigraphic map and a three-dimensional fence diagram for enhanced interpretation. Seismic data indicate that while the upper layers of the evaporite deposits are largely horizontal and undeformed, deeper layers exhibit considerable tectonic disturbance. Thickness variations were observed, with evaporite and alluvial deposits being thinner at the southeastern rim and thicker in the eastern concession center. The total potash reserve is estimated at approximately 2.96 billion tons, of which 877.76 million tons (29.60%) remain unexploited. Current borehole designs restrict the company's extraction capacity to 24.64%. This study recommends revising mining strategies, incorporating updated borehole designs and advanced geophysical methods to improve potash recovery and promote sustainable practices in the Dallol region. | ||
| کلیدواژهها | ||
| Dallol؛ Potash Deposits؛ Structural Challenges؛ Solution Mining؛ Sustainable Mining | ||
| مراجع | ||
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