Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia

Received: 8 June 2026     Accepted: 18 June 2026     Published: 11 August 2026
Views:       Downloads:
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 (Fe2O3) 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.

Published in Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17
Page(s) 113-120
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mineralogy, Vein Type Iron, Geological Formations

References
[1] Berhe, S. M. (1978). Geological map of Dire Dawa (Compilation 1:250,000). Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Resources, Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey, Addis Ababa.
[2] Census (2007). Climate – data. Org. (n.d) weather and climate condition of Dire Dwa in January 2025 temperature & climate
[3] Climate - data. Org. (n.d) weather Dire Dwa in January 2025 temperature & cimate. Reterived October 3, 2024 from
[4] Garland, C. R., (1972). Geological map of Adigrat area 1:250,000 (ND-37-7), EIGS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[5] Gebreyohannes, H. (1989). Facies, depositional environment, diagenesis and hydrocarbon potential of the Jurassic Hamanlei Formation (carbonate-evaporite rocks) in Ogaden Basin Southeast Ethiopia (M. Phil Thesis). University of Reading, U.K.
[6] Getaneh Asefa. (1984). The mineral industry of Ethiopia: Present condition and future prospects. Journal of African Earth Science, 3(3), 331-345.
[7] Greitzer, Y., (1970). Stratigraphy, Hydrogeology and Jurassic Ammonites of the Harar and Diredawa area, Ethiopia. Thesis submitted for the Degree-Doctor of Philosophy, Heberew University, Israel.
[8] Hirko, A., Mergia, G., Nigussie, A., & Dandesa, T. (2021). Seasonal and Annual Meteorological Drought Frequency: Case Study East Hararge Province (Zone).
[9] Jelenc, D. (1966). Mineral occurrences of Ethiopia. Ministry of Mines and Energy, Addis Ababa.
[10] Kazmin, V., (1972). The geology of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[11] Kazmin, V., (1975). Explanatory Note to the geology of Ethiopia, E. I. G. S. bulletin no. 2 Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
[12] Kebede Hailu Belete. (2000). The petrology of the mafic-ultramafic rocks and the surrounding basement, Western Ethiopia and genesis of platinum group minerals related to an Alaskan-type ultramafic intrusion of Yubdo area (Doctoral Thesis). Institute of Mineralogy and Petrology, Karl-Franzens University of Graz.
[13] Mehdl Shumburo, (1968). The Amba Aradom formation, formly upper sandstone, in Behcip. 1985.
[14] Mengesha Tefera, T., Chernet, T., & Haro, W. (1996). Explanation to the geological map of Ethiopia. Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey.
[15] Merla, G., E. Abbate, P. Canuti, M. Sagri, and P. Taconi, 1973, Geological map of Ethiopia and Somalia; Consiglio Nazionale delle Richercheltaly, 1:2,000,000.
[16] Mohr, P. A., (1963). Geological Map of the Horn of Africa, 1:2,000,000, Philip and Jacey, London.
[17] Solomon Tadese (2009). Mineral Resources Potential of Ethiopia. Published book Addis Ababa University.
[18] Workineh H, Tadese. Y., Tadese. A., Weke N., Fikadu H.,., Matebe M., Yonas H., Hailemariam K., Kifelemariam G., Temesgen A. and Mulugeta H. (2008-2009). Geological mapping of Eastern Ethiopia. Unpublished report MoM.
[19] Tessema, Y. A.; Aweke, C. S.; Endris, G. S. Understanding the Process of Adaptation to Climate Change by Smallholder Farmers: The case of east Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. Agric. Food Econ. 2013, 1, 13.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Tulu, B. D., Belachew, G., Teku, M. (2026). Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia. Advances in Applied Sciences, 11(3), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Tulu, B. D.; Belachew, G.; Teku, M. Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2026, 11(3), 113-120. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Tulu BD, Belachew G, Teku M. Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia. Adv Appl Sci. 2026;11(3):113-120. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17,
      author = {Belayneh Digafe Tulu and Getnet Belachew and Megersa Teku},
      title = {Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia},
      journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {113-120},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20261103.17},
      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 (Fe2O3) 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.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Geology and Mineralogy of Soka Iron Mineralization, Eastern Ethiopia
    AU  - Belayneh Digafe Tulu
    AU  - Getnet Belachew
    AU  - Megersa Teku
    Y1  - 2026/08/11
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17
    T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    SP  - 113
    EP  - 120
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1514
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20261103.17
    AB  - 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 (Fe2O3) 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.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections