Geothermal Study in Northwest Lake Abaya Area (Southern Ethiopian Rift)
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Date
1980-07
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Geothermal energy, the cheapest amorlY ttl~ differeDt soutced
of power, is thought to provide a solution for the rising demand
of electricity in Ethiopia, because the Ethiopian Rift Valley and
Afar area have been identified to have one of the greatest geothermal
potential in the world. The Nvl Lake Abaya geothermal
province, situated in the southern part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley
near to its western man'in, is one of the target areas singlE'd out
for detailed exploration purposes. The area:i.s characterized by
high heat flo", indicated by the presence of a number of hot-"l'rings.
fumaroles and a geysE'r.
'-.-
The volcano-tectonic evolution \ยท'hich started in early 1110cene,
has been in progress throughout Plio-Pleistocene and Quaternary
activity has been evidenced 'in the most active part of the Rift.
1'he volcanic products, represented by basal ts and rhyolitic products,
vary from alkaline to mildly alkaline and the recent fissural b'lsaltic
volcanism sho\'ls a transitional nature. The final silicic products', are
represented by peralkaline rhyolites, probably commendites.
The hydrogeological evidence suggests that quite abundant amount
of \~ater is recharged from the surrounding highland areas in the north
and N\'I into the reservoir system and that the hot springs are all of
meteoric origin. Important circulation of \~ater at depth is evidenced
from isotopic data.
The chemical characteristics of the the,rmal manifestations suggest
the presence of two groups of thermal waters \'lith different geochemical
histories. A high temperature reservoir is represented by the first
group while different degrees of mixing and dilution of the original
Description
Keywords
Abaya Area