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 p egmatite field. The data shed light on the evolution, regional and local zo nal pattern of the granite-pegmatites and associated mineralization in the Kenticha belt. The complex mineralization of commercial concentrations of T a, Nb, Hf, Zr, REE, U and Th is related to Be, Li, Cs, Rb-bearing zones of pegmatites and is structurally controlled. Whole rock chemical signatures o f the suite of felsic rocks of the Kenticha belt are predominantly similar to those generated by subduction in modern magmatic arcs and indicate a man tle derivation. Columbo-tantalite concentrates extracted from the pegmatiti c ores represent the basic raw materials from which a number of possible by -products can be recovered.