Gemstone In Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA GEMSTONES occur in into two main rock assemblages: (1) the Precambrian
and (2) Phanerozoic derived rocks type. Precambrian rocks of the country hosted few gem
minerals such as, ruby, sapphire, garnet, beryl (aquamarine, emerald), Tourmaline, of sub
economic deposit type and many semi precious gemstones. These are well documented in
western, southern and eastern Ethiopia closely related to pegiematic-granite rocks and
associated metavolcano-sedimentry rocks. From all areas, the Moyle-Aroro-Yavello belt in
Oromia National Regional State are known to be sub economical and currently mined by many
Artisanal miners and cooperatives. This belt is showing different precious minerals includes
Beryl chrysobrey, aquamarine, garnet, corundum (ruby, sapphire), and quartz, and many
others, similar deposit to the Kenya. This belt is also have various gemstones, including the
Prediot/ olivine (in Mega area), fluorite, Amazonite, probably, increase the economical
significant of gemstone of southern Ethiopia, but it needs detailed work to verify those. Other
areas also have different gem quality associated with Precambrian rocks of Ethiopia, such as
northern, eastern and western Ethiopia but with little known their type, mode of occurrence,
gems quality so far
The Phanerozoic related gemstones documented in different parts of the Ethiopian closely
associated with sedimentary, volcanic shield and rift related rock. Huge and numerous type of
opal, agate, putrefied wood, amber, chalcedony, Amethyst, obsidian, citrine, fluorite, jasper, and
many others. The distribution of those gemstone erratic but it show huge nature associated with
different gemstones types.
The few gemstone like jasper, quartz and agate, chalcedony gem types are located in the thick
Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary (Abay, Mekele and Ogaden sedimentary basin) and many
others such Prediot/ olivine, , opal, besides, jasper, quartz and many others in the volcanic
terrain in the central (Ethiopia high land and rift zone) areas. Out of those, gemstone areas, the
Mega-Yavello belts in Oromia and Mezezo-Wollo-Gonder in Amhara Regional State are
currently mined/under licence by local people, cooperatives and private companies?.
GEMSTONE BELTS OF ETHIOPIA
Gemstone the of country can be grouped into two main belts; (1) the southern and Central
north Ethiopia main belts (2) and western and Eastern Ethiopia minor belts.
The southern and Central Ethiopia main beltswhich are further classified into (1)Moyle-Mega-
Yavello/MMY/ gemstone belts and II) Mozozo-Wollo-Gonder gemstone belts
MMY Gemstone belt is underling by high grade gneissic rocks and unique pyroclastic and
dunite assemblage covering wide area extending from Ethio-Kenya boarder to the Arasi-Bale
highlands. This belt shows variable gemstone varies from Beryl, corundum, garnet,), and quartz
groups to tourmaline, fluorite, with minor opal, and quartz family gemstone. Besides, it has
unique Olivine and peridot/olivine show close relationship accessories minerals of
garnet, illeminite, pyroxenes and carbonatitic bodies associated with basaltic-tracahyte-
basalatic with inclusion of predotite and dunite, having an alkaline affinity.
Others such as Amazonite and different gemstones are believe to be exist in different parts of
the belts, Mozozo-Wollo-Gonder gemstone belts/MWG belts/.
occurs in central north Ethiopia covering parts of the rift margin extending from North Showa
the Debere Berhan to north Wollo and parts of Gonder, within the Amahara National Regional
State. The belts have huge gemstone varieties varies from opal-amber to agate, petrified wood
and others semiprecious gemstones, with minor variation in type and nature.
Unique Opal-amber gemstone variety (highly prized iridescence play of colour or the fire opal
type), is found at Mezezo in Amhara Regional State (Debre Berhan-Mehal Meda) within the
Menz &Gishe, Tegulet and Bulga zones, within the locality of Yita, Kosta Amaba, Gift, Bahir,
Gift Gaymeda, Lay Beret, Wenze Midire, Gorat and Wedera Kables/ Wereda. Similar but most
precious, black and colored opal) with play of color is found in WagenTana, Tasih Moucha,
Geshin Mariam (South Wollo and Faeta (south Gonder) in many others and Afar areas (not
mapped). Most Opal bearing belts are related to in welded lapilla rhyolite-ignimbrite rocks and
tuff rocks
OTHER GEMSTONE SHOWING AREAS
Few areas, in Tigray, Southern Nation Nationality People (SNNP) and, eastern Oromia, also
show some opal, Jasper, Chalcedony, agate, amber, quartz,, near the contact of the volcanic and
Mesozoic sediments in Hierna area and in the Abay canyon. Similar gem varieties of
Chalcedony, Amethyst, Agate, petrified Wood, documented and associated volcanic rocks in
Tigary (Adwa and Axum), northern Showa and Wollol (Mehale Meda Ankober, Sela
Dinga,Jehur, Debre libanose Yita Mechael), Kutaber. Occurrences of precious opal are reported
in Gonder (Nefase Moucha?), Warder, Ogaden, and Dire Dawa.
TYPE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIAS GEMSTONES
The gemstones of the country classify in to 9 main group; starting from most precious
and dominant sequence of ;
Opal,
Corndium,
Beryl,
garnet,
Peridot,
Quartz species
Tourmaline,
Amber and others;(a)Petrified wood, ( (b) Obsidia, (c)feldspar, d) apatite, (e)Flourite,
(f)Kaynite, (g) Zircon and (h) Topaz, Phenakite, Scapolite, , Sphene, , lolite, Sacapolite of less
precious gemstones types.
Addressing the characteristic, type, mode of occurrence, geological setting, nature of gemstone
deposit of the country will improve both the understanding and increase the awareness of the
resource usage and promote growth of mineral sub sector of the country

Type and Distribution of Gemstones in Ethiopia

Regional
No. Gemstone Host Rock LOCALITIES
state
Web- degogo, Baya- correli (Borena
1 Aqua marine pegmatite zone)Dermidama, Kenticha (Guji ONRS, SNRS
zone),Bombas
Dilo, Megado, Gorai, Didi- Jerso
2 Peridot(Olivine) serpentinite caldera, Bulegendo, Alabora, (Borena ONRS
Zone)
Lai, Coreeli, Cheri-chebi Arbboro
Pegmatites and
3 Garnet, Sapphire (Borena Zone), Bitata ONRS
quartz
Harakole,Gidole(Guji Zone),
Baya- correli, Bisuduga(Borena Zone),
4 Tourmaline Pegmatites ONRS
Gidole, Bitata- Harakole (Guji Zone)

No. Gemstone Host Rock LOCALITIES Regional state

5 Apatite Ultramaffic rocks Anno-fulanota (Guji Zone) ONRS

6 Petrified Wood Basaltic rocks Chebi Arboro,(Borena Zone) ONRS, ANRS

Gorat, Yita and Kosta-Amba,Molale,

Sedimentary and
Mezazo, Laymeda, Zeno Amba and
7 Opal volcanic ANRS
Ayat- meda , North Shewa
environment
Zone,Wegel-Tena

Chembi (Guji Zone), Konso

8 Amazonite Pegmatite ONRS, SNNPRS
Sp.Wereda
Sedimentary and
Agate, Jasper
9 volcanic In Many parts of Ethiopia
Amethyst
envirnment
 Current Gemstones discoverd and analyzed in Ethiopia

These stones we have discoverd and analysed and know their depostits Identified Gemstones in samples from Ethiopia
Andesine; (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8, Crystal system: Triclinic, Group: Feldspar

Opal; SiO2 n(H2O), Crystal system: Non-crystaline, Group: Opal

Garnet Almandine; Fe3Al2Si3O12, Crystal system: Isometric (cubic), Group: Garnet

Peridot; Mg2SiO4-Fe2SiO4, Crystal system: Orthorombic, Group: Olivine

Tourmaline (red, green, blue and yellow); Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 Crystal system: Trigonal, Group: Tourmaline

Moonstone; KAlSi3O8, Crystal system: Monoclinic, Group: Feldspar

Sapphire(green, blue and yellow); Al2O3, Crystal system: Trigonal, Group: Corundum

Ruby; Al2O3, Crystal system: Trigonal, Group: Corundum

Tektite(natural glass); Mostly Silica, Crystal system: Non-crystalline, Group: Glass-Natural

Amethyst; SiO2, Crystal system: Trigonal, Group: Quartz

Topaz (white and pink); Al2(F,OH)2SiO4, Crystal system: Orthorhombic, Group:Topaz

Smoky quartz; SiO2, Crystal system: Trigonal, Group: Quartz

Sunstone; (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8, Crystal system: Triclinic, Group: Feldspar

Epidot; Ca2(Al,Fe)3Si3O12(OH), Crystal system: Monoclinic, Group: Epidot

Sinhalite; MgAlBO4, Crystal system: Orthorhombic, Group: Sinhalite

Emerald; Be3Al2Si6O18, Crystal system: Hexagonal, Group: Beryl

Golden Beryl; Be3Al2Si6O18, Crystal system: Hexagonal, Group: Beryl

Garnet Hessonite; Ca3Al2(SiO4)3, Crystal system: Isometric (cubic), Group: Garnet

Zircon; ZrSiO4 + Fe, U,Th, Hf, Crystal system: Tetragonal, Group: Zircon

Citrine; SiO2, Crystal system: Trigonal, Group Quartz