Mineralium Deposita (1997) 32: 491±504
ARTICLE
A.Y. Billay á A.F.M. Kisters á F.M. Meyer á J. Schneider
The geology of the Lega Dembi gold deposit, southern Ethiopia:
implications for Pan-African gold exploration
Received: 26 July 1996 / Accepted: 8 January 1997
Abstract The Lega Dembi deposit is the largest gold
producer in Ethiopia. It is situated in late-Precambrian
metamorphosed sediments of the N-S trending, volcano-
sedimentary Megado belt, which forms part of the late-
Proterozoic Adola granite-greenstone terrane in south-
ern Ethiopia. The lode-gold mineralization occurs in a
N-S trending, steep westerly dipping quartz-vein system
that follows the structural contact between underlying
feldspathic gneisses and the volcanosedimentary se-
quence of the Megado belt. This contact also marks the
northernmost extension of the regional-scale, sinistral
strike-slip Lega Dembi-A¯ata shear zone. Mineraliza-
tion and intense quartz-veining is best developed in
graphite-rich sediments within an area not more than
80 m away from this tectonic contact. Hydrothermal
wall-rock alteration includes actinolite/tremolite-biotite-
calcite-sericite and chlorite-calcite-epidote assemblages.
Gold occurs preferentially in the sericite alteration zone,
where it is closely associated and intergrown with gale-
na. The variable deformation of the gold-quartz veins
suggests a syn-kinematic timing for the gold mineral-
ization during transcurrent shearing in a dilational seg-
ment of the shear zone. In addition to the structural
control, lithological control on gold deposition is indi-
cated by the almost exclusive occurrence of the gold
mineralization in graphite-rich metasediments. This
close relationship suggests that gold precipitation was
the result of chemical reduction of regional ore-bearing
¯uids. Temperature conditions of mineralization are
constrained by the actinolite-biotite alteration assem-
blage and by arsenopyrite chemistry, which indicate that
Editorial handling: P.G. Eriksson
A.Y. Billay (&) á A.F.M. Kisters á F.M. Meyer
Institut fuÈr Mineralogie und LagerstaÈttenlehre,
RWTH Aachen, WuÈllnerstr. 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany
(e-mail: kisters@rwth-aachen.de)
J. Schneider
Institut fuÈr Geowissenschaften und LithosphaÈrenforschung,
Justus-Liebig UniversitaÈt Giessen, Senckenbergstr.
3, 35390 Giessen, Germany
Ó Springer-Verlag 1997
ore deposition occurred at or close to peak metamorphic
conditions at upper-greenschist to lower-amphibolite
metamorphic grades. Rb-Sr dating of sericite indicates
an age of about 545 Ma. for hydrothermal alteration
and, thus, for gold mineralization. The style of gold
mineralization, structural pattern and lithological as-
semblages at Lega Dembi are very similar to lode-gold
deposits most commonly reported from Archaean
granite-greenstone terranes. These similarities may open
new perspectives for the exploration of lode-gold
deposits, which has previously primarily focused on
Archaean greenstone belts rather than Proterozoic or
even Phanerozoic meta-volcanosedimentary belts.
Introduction
Shear-zone hosted, mesothermal lode-gold deposits are
a major source of world gold production (Woodall
1988). The vast majority of these gold-bearing vein
systems is spatially closely associated with the tectono-
metamorphic evolution of predominantly late-Archaean
greenstone belts, that are an intricate feature of many
Archaean cratons (e.g. Anhaeusser 1976; Colvine et al.
1984, 1988; Robert and Brown 1986; Kerrich 1986;
Foster 1989; Groves et al. 1989; de Ronde et al. 1992). In
addition to their commonly late-Archaean age, these
deposits bear numerous similarities worldwide, which
led to the term `Archaean lode-gold deposits', that was
coined to describe the styles of gold mineralization, as-
sociated alteration patterns and structural controls of
gold deposits in late-Archaean granite-greenstone ter-
ranes (comprehensive reviews are given by, inter alia,
Groves and Foster 1991, Colvine 1989, Groves 1993,
and Kerrich and Cassidy 1994)
In recent years, however, an increasing number of
workers have questioned the restrictive use of the term
`greenstone belt' for linear to irregularly shaped meta-
volcanosedimentary rocks of predominantly Archaean
age, since similar lithological associations and tectonic
492
styles are also observed in Proterozoic and Phanerozoic
supracrustal belts (De Wit and Ashwal 1995, and ref-
erences therein). The recognition of greenstone-belt type
sequences and similar tectonic styles in Proterozoic and
Phanerozoic orogens implies that younger Archaean-
type mesothermal lode-gold deposits could be far more
common than has previously been documented (Nesbitt
1991). This, in turn, opens new perspectives for gold
exploration, that has traditionally focused on Archaean
granite-greenstone terranes, and which has possibly
underestimated the potential for large-scale gold
deposits in younger supracrustal belts.
The Lega Dembi gold mine in the Sidamo region of
southern Ethiopia is the largest gold producer in the
country (Sutton-Pratt 1996). The deposit is situated
some 500 km south of Addis Ababa, within the late-
Proterozoic meta-volcanosedimentary Megado belt of
the Adola granite-greenstone terrane, which forms the
southernmost extension of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-
Nubian Shield (Kazmin et al. 1978; Worku and Schan-
delmeier 1996) (Fig. 1).
Placer gold in the Megado belt was ®rst discovered in
1936 and, since then, more than 55 tons of placer gold
has been produced. Primary gold occurrences, including
the Lega Dembi deposit, were identi®ed during an ex-
ploration campaign in the late 1970s by the Adola Gold
Exploration Project (AGEP) of the Ethiopian Mineral
Resources Development Corporation (EMRDC). The
Lega Dembi deposit is currently being mined by the
EMRDC in an open cast operation. The gold produc-
tion averages 3 t/a (Sutton-Pratt 1996) and reserves of
some 60 tons of gold at an average grade of 6 g/t have
been identi®ed up to 200 m below surface (Moudrov
et al. 1991).
Fig. 1 Location map and regional geological setting of the Adola
granite-greenstone terrane in southern Ethiopia (modi®ed after Beraki
1995)
Various models pertaining to the lithostratigraphic
and structural evolution of the region have been pro-
posed. However, because of the relatively recent dis-
covery of the Lega Dembi gold deposit, little work on
the geological setting, on the style, timing, and controls
of the mineralization and on wall-rock alteration is
currently available in the literature. The petrochemistry
of the igneous rocks of the Adola region has been de-
scribed by Bisrat (1993), Gichile and Fyson (1993), Be-
raki (1995), and Worku and Schandelmeier (1996). Ore
paragenetic, wall-rock alteration and trace-element
geochemical studies are found in Fiori et al. (1987),
Tadesse (1990), and Getaneh (1994), and in reports
which accompanied the exploration campaign by the
AGEP (Morin and Oliver 1986; V/O Tecnoexport 1986;
Emelyanov et al. 1987; Moudrov et al. 1991). Fluid in-
clusion studies related to the gold mineralization at Lega
Dembi were carried out by Tadesse (1990). Genetic
models for the gold mineralization at Lega Dembi in-
clude syngenetic gold mineralization in the metasedi-
ments and metavolcanics of the Megado belt, followed
by a redistribution and concentration of the gold min-
eralization during subsequent metamorphic events (Fiori
et al. 1987), and a model of a structurally controlled,
epigenetic mineralization in a strike-slip shear zone
system (Emelyanov et al. 1987; Ghebreab et al. 1992;
Worku 1993).
This study presents a brief description of the regional
geology of the Adola granite-greenstone terrane and the
geological setting of the Lega Dembi deposit in partic-
ular. The main aim is to focus on the multi-stage quartz-
veining and associated gold mineralization and wall-
rock alteration at Lega Dembi. Finally, the formation of
the gold-quartz mineralization is assessed in relation to
regional deformational and metamorphic events.
Regional geology
The Adola granite-greenstone terrane covers an area of approxi-
mately 5000 km2 in southern Ethiopia. It is characterized by two
linear, closely spaced, N-S trending belts of metamorphosed su-
pracrustal rocks, namely the Megado volcanosedimentary belt in
the west and the Kenticha ultrama®c belt in the east (Fig. 1). The
former consists of ultrama®c and tholeiitic basic volcanics and
intrusives which are intercalated with sediments made up pre-
dominantly of arkoses, feldspathic quartzites, quartzites, and pe-
lites, together with subordinate polymictic conglomerates and
graywackes (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971; Bisrat 1993; Ghenzebu
et al. 1994; Worku and Schandelmeier 1996) (Fig. 2). Small pod- or
lens-like bodies of mainly tonalitic composition are intrusive into
the basic rocks of the Megado belt. In contrast, the Kenticha belt is
dominated by ultrama®c rocks, with subordinate amphibolites and
sedimentary rocks, the latter comprising biotite schists and minor
graphitic schists and marbles (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971).
The two volcanosedimentary belts are surrounded and sepa-
rated by a gneissic terrane which comprises para- and or-
thogneisses, including monotonous quartzo-feldspathic biotite
gneisses with subordinate muscovite-quartz schists, staurolite-gar-
net-biotite schists, impure marbles, and amphibolites (Gilboy 1970;
Chater 1971; Kozyrev et al. 1985; Ghebreab 1989; Worku and Yifa
1989). Large tonalite bodies also intrude the gneissic terrane.
Gneissose granites are con®ned to the gneissic terrain and post-

Fig. 2 Simpli®ed geological map of the Lega Dembi area illustrating
the location of the gold deposit along the contact between the
greenstone sequence of the Megado belt (in the west) and the gneissic
basement (in the east) (modi®ed after Ayalew 1990)
tectonic granites occur marginally to the greenstone belts and in the
gneissic terrane (Fig. 1).
The eastern contact between the Megado belt and the gneissic
terrane is tectonic and is regionally referred to as the Lega Dembi-
A¯ata shear zone (Worku and Yifa 1989; Worku and Schandel-
meier 1996). The western margin of the Megado belt is, however,
marked by the development of gneissose tonalite which shows
primary intrusive contacts with the supracrustal assemblages.
493
Metamorphism
Two main metamorphic events (M1-M2) have been recognized for
the Adola granite- greenstone terrane (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971).
Evidence of an early M1 event is only represented by relict mineral
parageneses containing cordierite, that have been largely over-
printed by the subsequent M2 event which has pervasively a€ected
the rocks of the region (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971). In the sedi-
mentary rocks of the Megado belt, mineral assemblages typically
comprise quartz, plagioclase, biotite, muscovite, and accessory ru-
tile, chlorite and epidote. In the basic rocks, actinolite/hornblende,
plagioclase (albite-oligoclase), epidote and chlorite are common
(Gilboy 1970, Chater 1971). In places, however, kyanite-bearing
rocks that occur within the greenschist-facies sequence point to
locally higher-grade metamorphic conditions. This juxtaposition of
units of di€erent metamorphic grades has been interpreted by
Worku (1993) to be the result of an imbrication of thrust slices.
The rocks of the gneissic terrane and the Kenticha belt have
been a€ected by amphibolite±facies metamorphism of the stauro-
lite-almandine and kyanite-almandine-muscovite subfacies during
the M2 metamorphism (Gilboy 1970, Chater 1971). The meta-
morphic grade increases from lower- and mid-amphibolite facies in
the NW to upper-amphibolite and lower-granulite facies in the SE
of the gneissic terrane (Gilboy 1970). However, no determinations
of P-T conditions of the metamorphism exist for the region.
Structural geology
Five main phases of deformation have been distinguished for the
Megado belt and its surrounding gneissic terrane. These include: (1)
an early gneissosity-forming D1 event in the gneissic terrane, which
is expressed by early folds in the Megado belt (Gilboy 1970); the D1
event was related by Beraki et al. (1989) and Worku and Schan-
delmeier (1996) to an early subduction-related thrust event. (2) N-S
trending regional-scale, upright D2 folds that dominate the struc-
tural pattern of the region (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971; Gebreab
1989; Worku and Yifa 1989; Beraki 1995) were associated with an
E-W directed collisional event (Worku and Schandelmeier 1996).
(3) Strike-slip shearing (D3) along the contacts between the
greenstones and the gneissic terrane, due to a NW-SE directed
transpressional event (e.g. Beraki 1995; Worku and Schandelmeier
1996). (4) E-W trending, upright, moderate-to-steep easterly and/or
westerly plunging folds, referred to by Gilboy (1970), Chater (1971)
and Ghebreab (1989) as D3 folds; Worku and Schandelmeier
(1996) interpret this folding to be the result of D3 transpressional
shearing, but Beraki (1995) refers to these folds as D4 folds. (5)
Late, brittle NW-SE and NE-SW to E-W trending faults which
disrupt the N-S trending granite-greenstone terrane.
The tectonic evolution of the Adola granite-greenstone terrane
and the origin of the supracrustal sequences has been a matter of
controversy among di€erent workers. Three di€erent models are
proposed for the disposition of the N-S trending linear greenstone
belts which overlie the gneissic terrane. The ®rst model proposes an
origin of the greenstone sequences as ophiolites, that were thrust
onto the gneissic terrane. The ophiolites were later refolded by
major N-S trending folds and subsequently modi®ed by strike-slip
shearing (Kazmin 1976; De Wit and Chewata 1981; Beraki et al.
1989; Beraki 1995; Worku and Schandelmeier 1996). The second
model suggests intra-continental rifting, followed by thick-skinned
tectonics, whereby both the greenstones and the gneisses were
thrusted in an eastward direction (Worku and Yifa 1989; Ghebreab
1989). The third genetic model proposes intra-continental rifting
and multiphase strike-slip shearing (Amenti et al. 1992).
Geochronology
Age determinations on the rocks in the Adola region are scarce.
The Megado belt supracrustal series has been correlated with
494
similar assemblages of the Upper Proterozoic Arabian-Nubian
Shield (Beraki 1995; Teklay et al. 1996; Worku and Schandelmeier
1996). A tonalite body west of the Megado belt yielded an U-Pb
age of 765 Ma (EIGS, quoted by Gichile and Fyson 1993), pro-
viding a minimum age constraint for the volcano-sedimentary se-
quence. Upper Proterzoic ages are also inferred for the gneissic
basement which is correlated with gneisses of the Mozambique belt
(Kazmin et al. 1978; Gass 1977, and references therein; Vail 1976,
1983). Rb-Sr whole rock ages of 630±680 Ma for the gneisses and
syntectonic granites are interpreted to represent the age of the M2
metamorphism (Gilboy 1970; Chater 1971). Post-tectonic granites
yielded whole-rock Rb-Sr ages of 500±550 Ma (Gilboy 1970;
Chater 1971).
The geology of the Lega Dembi gold deposit
The Lega Dembi deposit has been divided into four in-
terconnected open pit operations that are locally re-
ferred to (from south to north) as Southern, Central,
Northern and Upper Lega Dembi (SLD, CLD, NLD
and ULD, respectively) (Fig. 2). Outcrop is largely re-
stricted to the mine area and some resistant lithologies
that form N-S trending ridges which dominate the geo-
morphology of the deeply weathered and densely for-
ested area.
The steep westerly-dipping lithostratigraphic se-
quence at Lega Dembi can be subdivided into (1) a series
of quartzo-feldspathic and biotite gneisses and am-
phibolites belonging to the gneissic terrane in the east,
and (2) the volcanosedimentary sequence of the Megado
belt in the west. In detail, the lithological succession at
Lega Dembi comprises ultrama®c schists and various
meta-sedimentary lithologies (Fig 2).
The ultrama®c talc schists are commonly developed
along the contact between the gneissic terrain and the
supracrustal sequence. The moderate-to-steep (40±70°)
westerly dipping contact is marked by the development
of mylonitic fabrics (see below) and, as such, is clearly
tectonic and generally sharp, although intercalations of
bands of talc schists within the gneisses are observed
locally. The width of the talc schists at NLD is less than
5 m, locally pinching out, but it progressively increases
towards the south and attains a maximum thickness of
about 180 m south of Reji (Fig. 2).
The succession of meta-sedimentary rocks can be
subdivided into a lower leucocratic muscovite-quartz-
plagioclase schist, which is overlain by laminated, dark-
greyish, graphite-rich, locally graded feldspathic arenites
and quartz wackes. The mineral assemblage of the sed-
iments consists of quartz, biotite, muscovite and pla-
gioclase, together with accessory rutile, epidote,
graphite, tourmaline and chlorite. The latter overgrows
the main foliation. Kyanite is present locally in prox-
imity to quartz veins. The sedimentary succession attains
a maximum thickness of about 280 m at CLD, pro-
gressively decreasing to less than 20 m at ULD, where it
is buttressed between a massive meta-gabbro in the west
and quartzo-feldspathic gneisses in the east (Figs. 2, 3).
The massive meta-gabbro, together with minor am-
phibolites, forms the western margin of the Lega Dembi
deposit. The ma®c units form a N-S trending ridge,
parallel to the structural grain of the Megado belt. The
ma®c units are locally intruded by stringer- and pod-like
tonalite bodies which display penetrative planar and
linear fabrics, and which are folded together with the
amphibolites on a metre scale.
Structural geology of the Lega Dembi mine
The polyphase tectonism of the Adola granite-green-
stone terrain is, on the scale of the Lega Dembi deposit,
expressed by several generations of folds and faults,
together with the development of composite planar and
linear fabrics. Tight to isoclinal, cm-to-dm scale intra-
folial folds of the bedding (S0) provide evidence of an
early deformation event (D1). The present attitude of
the folds, which show moderate-to-steep westerly
plunges, is the result of the subsequent D2 and D3 de-
formations.
The Lega Dembi mine is situated in a large, N-S
trending fold structure which is part of the regional
pattern of large-scale F2 folds in the Megado belt. The
fold closure is located south of the Lega Dembi deposit
where the ultrama®c talc schists attain their maximum
thickness (Fig. 2). The lack of unambiguous indicators
of the younging direction and parasitic folds hampers
the determination of the synformal or antiformal nature
of the fold structure. Although F2 folds show, on a re-
gional scale, predominantly shallow northerly and
southerly plunges, a steep westerly plunge of the main
F2 fold at Lega Dembi is suggested by the westerly
plunge of mineral and mineral stretching lineations (see
below), together with mesoscale fold axes. A regionally
developed, upright, N-S trending S2 fabric is axial pla-
nar to the F2 folds (Fig. 3a).
The S2 fabric is intensi®ed to pervasively developed
mylonitic foliations towards the eastern margin of the
Megado belt, where the greenstone succession is juxta-
posed against the gneissic terrane. The development of
mylonitic fabrics underscores the tectonic nature of this
contact. Field and microstructural evidence (e.g. intra-
folial folds of S2 in microlithons) suggest, that this fabric
is composite and the result of a transposition of the
coplanar S2 foliation into the mylonitic shear foliation
(S3), so that this fabric is henceforth referred to as
S2/S3. Macroscopically, the S2/S3 fabric is further ac-
centuated by foliation-parallel quartz veins (see below).
Shear sense indicators in the meta-sediments at Lega
Dembi yield ambiguous results (i.e. both a normal and a
reverse dip-slip component), but with a consistent si-
nistral strike-slip component. The orientation of an
oblique shear foliation de®ned by biotite, together with
the ubiquitous occurrence of asymmetric, S-shaped,
steep westerly plunging folds along the contact between
the gneissic basement and the volcano-sedimentary se-
quence, also suggest a prominent sinistral strike-slip
component. The cm- to dm-scale folds refold the S2/S3
fabric, together with the foliation-parallel quartz veins,

but can locally be seen to be transected by the N-S
trending S2/S3 fabric, indicating the progressive nature
of the fabric-forming event. The component of sinistral
strike-slip shearing could possibly also explain the un-
usually steep westerly plunge of the large-scale F2 fold at
Lega Dembi, as a result of the re-orientation and drag of
the fold along the shear zone. The development of the
ductile shear fabrics along the contact between the
gneissic basement and the greenstone succession, show-
495
Fig. 3 Simpli®ed geological map of the North Lega Dembi (NLD)
open pit. Fabric diagrams of a poles to the S2 and S2/S3 foliation
from the meta-sediments and meta-volcanics of the Megado belt at
Lega Dembi; the great circle distribution of the poles is a result of the
D4 open folding about moderate-to-steep easterly plunging axes; b
orientation of prominent quartz-sul®de veins at Lega Dembi,
subparallel to the S2/S3 foliation; c summary plot of mineral
stretching, intersection and mineral lineations (undi€erentiated) at
Lega Dembi (all plots are lower-hemisphere, equal-area projections)
496
ing evidence of predominantly sinistral strike-slip kine-
matics, indicates that the shear zone forms the northern
extension of the Lega Dembi-A¯ata shear zone (e.g.
Worku and Yifa 1989).
All rock units have been a€ected by open, upright,
E-W trending folds which show moderate westerly
plunges (Fig. 3a). Wavelengths range from <10 m to
>100 m. These F4 folds refold the composite S2/S3
fabric and the large N-S trending folds, as well as the
asymmetric S-shaped folds, resulting in an open type
three interference pattern. Steep-to-moderate westerly
plunging, E-W trending folds are also observed on a
mm- to cm-scale, crenulating the composite S2/S3
transposition fabric. An axial-planar foliation (S4) is
expressed by the growth of biotite, which is at a high
angle to the N-S trending S2/S3 transposition fabric.
A set of NW-SE and E-W trending brittle and brittle-
ductile faults (D5) a€ects the Lega Dembi deposit in its
northern and southern parts, disrupting the continuous
extent of the mineralization (Fig. 2). Both the footwall
gneisses and the volcano-sedimentary assemblages of the
greenstone belt contain a variety of linear fabrics that
invariably show moderate to steep westerly plunges, so
that their timing with respect to the deformation events
described already remains somewhat speculative
(Fig. 3c). The various types of lineation include (1) a
mineral stretching lineation, formed by stretched quartz-
feldspar aggregates in the footwall gneisses, (2) a mineral
lineation de®ned by the preferred growth of, for exam-
ple, amphiboles and tourmaline in the supracrustals,
together with kyanite in proximity to quartz veins, and
(3) an intersection lineation between the bedding (S0),
and the S2 and S3 foliations in the greenstones, respec-
tively. In addition, the mylonitic foliations close to the
contact between the basement gneisses and the green-
stones are characterized by a steep westerly plunging
mineral stretching lineation and by quartz-rodding.
Worku and Yifa (1989) and Ghebreab et al. (1992) have
described a set of subhorizontal lineations which they
related to the D3 strike-slip shearing along the contact
between the Megado belt and the gneissic terrain. The
presence of this lineation could not be con®rmed in this
study.
Gold mineralization at Lega Dembi
The gold mineralization at Lega Dembi is situated along
the sheared contact between the quartzo-feldspathic
gneisses of the gneissic terrain and the volcano-sedi-
mentary sequence of the Megado belt, in strongly foli-
ated meta-sediments (Fig. 3). The N-S strike extent of
the mineralization is approximately 2 km, parallel to the
S2/S3 fabric and lithological layering. The maximum
width of the mineralized zone is approximately 140 m in
the central parts of the deposit (i.e. at NLD), but
gradually decreases to <20 m in the north, which cor-
responds to the northward pinching of the meta-sedi-
ments. Except for NLD and ULD, which are connected
by a continuous development of mineralized quartz
veins, the various parts of the deposit are separated from
each other by barren ground as a result of o€sets along
E-W trending D5 faults.
The main mineralization is con®ned to within 80 m of
the contact between the basement gneisses and the vol-
cano-sedimentary succession. The mineralized zone is
characterized by three main, up to 10 m wide, composite
quartz vein systems, which are referred to as the eastern,
central and western veins. Thin foliation-parallel quartz
veinlets, however, can be observed throughout the meta-
sedimentary succession. The main vein system at NLD
shows a strike extent of about 250 m and exploration
drilling has delineated a semicontinuous down-dip ex-
tent of >350 m (Zemene 1995, personal communica-
tion). The eastern vein is hosted in a muscovite-quartz-
plagioclase schist and the central and the western veins
are situated in laminated, graphite-bearing arkoses and
quartz wackes (Fig. 3). The graphite content of the
meta-sediments increases from £ 0.1±0.4 wt.% in prox-
imity to the main vein system, up to 1.5 wt.% in some of
the less altered wall rocks outside the mineralized zone.
Based on the orientation and morphology of the
quartz veins, together with their relation to the
dominant host-rock fabric, four sets of quartz veins
are identi®ed, including S2/S3-parallel, intensely de-
formed, massive to laminated quartz veins which are
the main hosts of the gold mineralization (type 1),
veins that are discordant to S2/S3 and which are
variably folded (type 2), breccia quartz veins (type 3),
and largely undeformed veins which cut the S2/S3
fabric (type 4).
Type 1 veins are the most abundant. They occur
parallel to the S2/S3 foliation, or form tight-to-isoclinal
folds with the S2/S3 foliation being axial planar
(Figs. 3b and 4). Boudinage and pinch-and-swell of the
Fig. 4 Polished hand specimen of a typical laminated (type 1),
foliation- (S2/S3) parallel quartz-veining (light grey), surrounded by
sericite and biotite-actinolite ‹ kyanite alteration (dark) (Northern
Lega Dembi, central vein system)

quartz veins, both down-dip and along strike is com-
mon. The quartz veins may occur as isolated veins, but
they are typically closely spaced, showing gradual tran-
sitions from laminated or ribbon-textured veins to
massive quartz veins of up to 5 m width. The three main
vein systems show gradual transitions to a more string-
er-type mineralization along their lateral terminations,
but massive quartzveining may re-occur along strike.
Type 2 veins are subordinate. The thin, commonly
<1 cm thick veinlets cross-cut the S2/S3 foliation, and
are folded at variable degrees and/or sheared parallel to
the S2/S3 foliation.
Type 3 quartz veins show an extensive brecciation of
wall rocks and are only locally developed. Wall-rock
fragments are angular and consist of intensely foliated
wall rocks that contain sul®de mineralization (Fig. 5).
The size of the fragments may range from minute in-
clusions to rafts of 0.5 m diameter. The internal foliation
of the wall-rock fragments has been intensely folded
prior to the brecciation and the subsequent gold-sul®de-
quartz mineralization. Type 3 veins are best described as
disaggregation breccias, showing a progressive textural
development from their margins, where the wall rocks
are largely intact, to their centers, where wall-rock
fragments occur as isolated and rotated rafts cemented
by a massive, milky quartz matrix (Fig. 5).
Type 4 veins are represented by distinct cross-cutting
veinlets. Although the veins appear to be undeformed,
on a microscopic scale, deformation is indicated by the
undulose extinction of quartz and the formation of
quartz subgrains. Type 4 veins are subordinate in im-
portance and their width is commonly <5 cm (majority
<0.5 cm). Some of these veins strike parallel to the
S2/S3 foliation, but dip at shallower angles (35°±40°) to
the west than the main fabric and type 1 veins, whereas
others dip at steep-to-moderate angles in an easterly
direction.
Fig. 5 Type 3 (breccia) vein containing angular, variably-sized, wall-
rock fragments cemented by massive, milky quartz (Northern Lega
Dembi, western vein system)
497
Wall-rock alteration
Wall-rock alteration at Lega Dembi displays a broad
zonation pattern on the deposit scale (Fig. 6). The extent
of the various alteration zones is not clearly de®ned due
to the intense and multiple quartz- veining and associated
alteration overprint, as well as due to variations in host-
rock lithologies. The following mineral assemblages are
recognized, with increasing proximity to the main quartz
veining: (1) chlorite-carbonate-epidote, (2) actinolite/
tremolite-biotite‹calcite, and (3) sericite (Fig. 6a, b).
Sericite represents the innermost alteration mineral in
close proximity to the massive quartz veins. Within the
quartz veins, the locally fuchsitic sericite occurs as thin,
commonly less than 3 mm wide, foliation-parallel bands
and laminae. Complete or partial replacement of feld-
spars by sericite is common. Minor calcite may be
present locally in the quartz veins. In places, quartz veins
are bordered by a sericite-biotite assemblage.
The most characteristic alteration at Lega Dembi is a
pervasive actinolite/tremolite-biotite‹calcite paragene-
sis that is developed within 15±20 m of the main quartz-
veining (Fig. 6a, b). Based on textural evidence and on
cross-cutting relationships, at least two main stages of
this alteration can be distinguished. Stage 1 is commonly
characterized by a S2/S3 foliation-parallel actinolite-
tremolite-biotite‹calcite assemblage. It may also occur
as strongly folded discrete veins and veinlets that are
marked by their light greenish color. This type of al-
teration is locally developed as massive, up to 5 m wide
zones around the main quartz vein systems. Locally,
tourmaline de®nes a steep westerly-plunging mineral
lineation. A stage 2 actinolite-tremolite overgrows the
stage 1 alteration assemblage, as well as the S2/S3 foli-
ation, in the form of rosettes or discordant pockets and
veinlets. This type of alteration is also developed along
the margins of type 4 veins.
Mesoscopic propylitic alteration, characterized by the
presence of chlorite, carbonate, and epidote, occurs be-
tween the western and the central veins (Fig. 6a,b), and
distal to the veins in the wall rocks, giving the rocks their
distinct greenish coloration. It may also occur in the
form of foliation-parallel anastomosing bands. How-
ever, minor chlorite is also developed after muscovite in
the quartz veins.
Sul®de mineralization
Sul®de mineralization occurs mainly as ®ne dissemina-
tions in the quartz veins and wall rocks, or parallel to the
S2/S3 foliation, in boudin necks or cross-cutting frac-
tures. The main gold- and sul®de mineralization is as-
sociated with type 1 veins. The sul®de assemblage in the
quartz veins consists of (in decreasing order of abun-
dance): chalcopyrite, galena, pyrrhotite, and pyrite.
Sphalerite, gersdorte, arsenopyrite, bournonite, mo-
lybdenite, tellurides, silver-tetrahedrite, and gold are
minor-to-rare constituents. Microscopic gold is sited
498
along the sericite alteration lamellae and wall-rock sce-
ptas within the quartz veins (Fig. 7). Gold grains are
commonly <0.25 mm (mainly <0.05 mm) and are
elongated parallel to the S2/S3 foliation (Fig. 7). Gold is
typically intergrown or spatially associated with galena,
commonly associated with chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and
the tellurides hessite and stuetzite (Fig. 8). Inclusions of
gold in pyrrhotite, galena, tellurides, and chalcopyrite
Fig. 7 Free gold (Au) closely associated with the innermost sericite
alteration (Ser) in a quartz vein (Qtz). Note the elongation of the gold
grains parallel to the foliation (subhorizontal) de®ned by the sericite
(North Lega Dembi, central vein)
Fig. 6 Schematic map and cross section (line A-B) of the distribution
of alteration zones at Lega Dembi North, consisting of (a) an
innermost silici®cation and sericite alteration, (b) predominant
actinolite/tremolite-biotite alteration, and (c) locally intercalated and
distal chlorite alteration
are rare. Gold ®neness ranges from 783 to 904, averag-
ing 820.
The biotite-actinolite alteration bordering type 1
quartz veins is dominated by a pyrrhotite-gersdorte
assemblage, with minor pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopy-
rite, pentlandite, and niccolite. No microscopically visi-
ble gold was observed in the alteration assemblage
adjacent to the veins. Less-altered wall rocks between
the quartz-vein systems and outside the main mineral-
ization contain up to 5 vol.% sul®des, mainly pyrrhotite
and minor chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. Rare sphale-
rite, gersdorte and molybdenite occur adjacent to fo-
liation-parallel quartz veinlets.
Type 2 and 3 veins are characterized by a pyrite-
pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite assemblage, with minor galena
and rare microscopic gold. Occasional globular textures
of pyrite possibly indicate open-space ®lling. Feathery
textures of pyrite result from the ®lling of foliation
planes in the intensely foliated wall rocks adjacent to the
quartz veins. Type 4 veins are commonly devoid of any
gold- and sul®de mineralization. However, pyrite,
chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite occur in the biotite-actino-
lite alteration haloes enveloping type 4 veins.

Fig. 8 Gold (Au) closely associated with galena (Gn), chalcopyrite
(Cpy), stuetzite (Stz) and hessite (Hes) from a quartz vein from the
central vein system (Lega Dembi North)
Fluid inclusions
Fluid inclusion studies were conducted on the various
quartz-vein generations, in order to constrain the com-
position of the mineralizing ¯uids and the temperature
of the quartz-vein emplacement and, hence, of the gold-
sul®de mineralization. Quartz studied in all samples
exhibits predominantly straight grain boundaries and
120° triple junctions, resulting in polygonal, foam-like
textures which, together with the commonly strain-free
nature of the quartz, indicates that the textures under-
went extensive static recovery after quartz-vein em-
placement. As a consequence, no primary ¯uid
inclusions were identi®ed that could unambiguously be
related to the mineralizing event. Fluid inclusions are
mainly of a secondary nature, and occur predominantly
along trails that may both cross-cut grain boundaries or
terminate at grain boundaries. A total of 177 ¯uid in-
clusions was measured. The following types of ¯uid in-
clusions can be distinguished and are presented in
decreasing order of abundance (all descriptions are given
for a temperature of 20 °C).
Type 1, mixed CO2-H2O inclusions are 2- and/or 3-
phase inclusions, containing either liquid and gaseous
CO2 and liquid H2O, or gaseous CO2 nucleates on
cooling. CO2: H2O ratios are variable, but CO2 is by far
the dominant component and, in many inclusions, H2O
may only be visible as a thin ®lm along the inclusion
walls. The size of most of the type 1 inclusions that were
studied ranged from 5±10 lm, but they may be as large
as 30 lm. They show predominantly negative-crystal-to-
rounded shapes and occur along trails and irregularly-
shaped clusters. Melting temperatures of solid CO2 of
)57 and )59.5 °C indicate the presence of other com-
ponents in the ¯uid such as N2 or CH4. Homogenization
temperatures (ThCO2 ,V!L) vary between +18 and
+25 °C. Type 1 inclusions occur in all quartz-vein
generations.
499
Type 2, CO2-rich inclusions, containing no visible
H2O, occur as dark and isolated inclusions in type 1
veins only. These single-phase inclusions are irregularly
shaped and range in size from 10 lm up to 70 lm. Final
melting temperatures range between )57.1 and
)59.2 °C, suggesting the presence of other components.
Total homogenization into the liquid phase occurs be-
tween +13 and +15 °C.
Type 3, two-phase H2O-rich inclusions were identi-
®ed in all quartz-vein generations. They occur along
trails which may cross grain boundaries, but in many
cases trails terminate at grain boundaries suggesting that
they are of pseudo-secondary origin. The average size of
the inclusions is 5±10 lm, but they may be as large as
30 lm. Their shape varies from subrounded to irregular.
First melting temperatures (Teice) of approximately
)21 °C indicate that the ¯uids in type 3 inclusions are
relatively pure H2O-NaCl solutions. Final melting tem-
peratures (Tmice) show two distinct maxima between
)12 and )9 °C (12.8±16 wt.% NaCl eq.) and between )6
and )2 °C (3.3±9.2 wt.% NaCl eq.). Homogenization
temperatures show a very broad range from 190±370 °C.
However, individual trails are characterized by relatively
constant phase ratios and give distinct maxima of 190±
225 °C, 245±280 °C, and 370±380 °C. Figure 9 repre-
sents a Th-salinity diagram for type 3 inclusions, illus-
trating that the more saline inclusions occur only in
type 1 veins, while the low-to-moderate salinity inclu-
sions are found both in the syntectonic type 1 veins, as
well as in the post-tectonic type 4 veins. The broad range
of homogenization temperatures of the more saline type
3 inclusions may be due to post-entrapment stretching of
the inclusions (Fig. 9).
Fig. 9 Th-salinity diagram for type 3 (H2O-rich) inclusions from
quartz veins at Lega Dembi; squares: ¯uid inclusions from type 1 veins
only; circles: ¯uid inclusions from both type 1 and 4 veins; note the
broad range of homogenization temperatures of ¯uid inclusions from
type 1 veins showing only very small variation in the salinities,
possibly indicating post-entrapment stretching of the inclusions
500

Type 4, CH4-rich inclusions are characterized by the

nucleation of a gas bubble at temperatures of about
)82 °C to )84 °C. They are commonly large (10±
70 lm), dark in appearance, irregularly shaped, and
occur along secondary trails and along grain boundaries.
Type 4 inclusion are rare and were identi®ed in type 1
veins only.
Despite the extensive post-kinematic recovery of the
quartz, some indication of the nature of the mineralizing
¯uids can be obtained from the ¯uid inclusion data.
Although gold mineralization cannot directly be asso-
ciated with a particular type of ¯uid inclusion, the ob-
servation that type 2 and type 4 inclusions are restricted
to the auriferous type 1 veins may provide an indication
of the composition of the mineralizing ¯uids. The pres-
ence of CH4-rich and CO2-rich inclusions only in type 1
veins possibly indicates the interaction between a re-
gional ¯uid phase and carbonaceous matter in the sur-
rounding wall rocks, following the reactions (1) C +
2H2O , CH4 + 2(O), where (O) represents oxygen
Fig. 11 Activity of S2±T projection of the stability ®eld of arsenopy-
bound in carbon dioxide or carbonate, and (2) C + rite (from Sharp et al. 1985). The composition of arsenopyrite from
2H2O , CO2 + 4 (H), where (H) represents hydrogen Lega Dembi is also shown
bound in methane and/or phyllosilicates (Naden and
Shepherd 1989). pyrrhotite, while at Panasqueira arsenopyrite occurs with
pyrrhotite only. The arsenopyrite compositions from
Lega Dembi fall within the overlapping ®eld of the ar-
Arsenopyrite thermometry senopyrite-pyrite-pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite
assemblages. The As content of the arsenopyrites with
The composition of 17 arsenopyrite grains (from eight <1% Co + Ni varies from 31.9 to 33.7 at.%. This
polished sections) coexisting with pyrrhotite (‹ pyrite) corresponds to a temperature range of 320±520 °C,
in quartz veins and wall-rocks, was obtained with an when the modi®ed arsenopyrite geothermometer of
electron microprobe. Most of the grains contain Sharp et al. (1985) for arsenopyrite intergrown with
>1 wt.% Co + Ni and have been rejected for reasons pyrrhotite only is used, and to a range from 430±520 °C
given by Kretschmar and Scott (1976). The composi- assuming a ¯uid system bu€ered by pyrite and pyrrho-
tions of arsenopyrite with less than 1 wt.% Co + Ni are tite (Fig. 11).
displayed in a triangular Fe-S-As diagram (Fig. 10),
together with the compositions of arsenopyrite from
Panasqueira (Portugal), Oriental mine (California) and Rb-Sr isotopes
Homestake mine (South Dakota), taken from the com-
pilation of Sharp et al. (1985). At Oriental and Home- Rb/Sr analyses were performed on six sericite concen-
stake, arsenopyrite is associated with pyrite and trates obtained from gold-quartz veins. Analytical re-
sults are presented in Table 1. 87Sr/86Sr ratios range
from 0.7410 to 1.0915 and 87Rb/86Sr ratios vary between
4.7 and 65.2.
The data are portrayed in a Rb-Sr diagram in Fig. 12.
The slope of the regression line (York 1969) corresponds
to an age of 484 ‹ 67Ma, with a value for the mean
square of weighted deviates (MSWD) of 32. The poor
regression cannot be the result of analytical errors, but
rather most likely re¯ects non-ideal linear behavior. The
best explanation is that the samples did not experience
isotopic homogenization even though they are geneti-
cally related, or else, that the system was disturbed after
formation of the sericite. Therefore, the regression line is
interpreted to re¯ect mixing between two end-member
isotope compositions and, hence, does not satisfy the
Fig. 10 Ternary Fe-As-S diagram illustrating the composition of
arsenopyrite from Lega Dembi. Arsenopyrite data from Oriental,
criteria for an isochron.
Homestake and Panasqueira are plotted for comparison. Further However, additional information about the timing of
information is provided in the text sericite formation can be obtained by model-age calcu-

Table 1 Rb-Sr data from six sericite concentrates from hydrothermally altered wall rocks adjacent to gold-quartz veins at Lega Dembi.
Sample Rb (ppm) Sr (ppm)
AT 46 174.58 ‹ 1.03 62.111
50 132.24 ‹ 1.19 81.915
AY 56 106.16 ‹ 0.92 13.278
231 117.63 ‹ 3.60 66.417
232 127.45 ‹ 1.08 12.616
236 182.37 ‹ 1.48 8.399
Fig. 12 Rb-Sr isotope plot of sericite concentrates from hydrother-
mally altered wall-rock at Lega Dembi. Data are also presented in
Table 1. Further information is given in the text
lations based on assumed initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (R0). In
the present case, a value of 0.711 is obtained for R0 (cal-
culated from the regression of the data), which appears to
be reasonable geologically, as it represents a typical value
for crustal Sr. It should be borne in mind, however, that
the regression line is not considered an isochron and,
thus, the calculated initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio can at best be
viewed as a rough indication of the actual R0.
Model ages can be estimated, based on the assump-
tion that variations in the third decimal point of R0 have
negligible in¯uence on the model age of samples with
high 87Sr/86Sr and 87Rb/86Sr ratios. This is the case for
samples 232 and 236 at Lega Dembi, which display the
maximum and minimum deviations from the regression
line. Using the two data points for two-point calcula-
tions and varying R0 within given error limits, results in
age values between 410 ‹ 20 and 545 ‹ 40 Ma. This
time span is considered to represent the interval during
which wall-rock alteration as well as gold mineralization
might have taken place at Lega Dembi. Rb-Sr whole
rock ages of 550±500 Ma for post tectonic granites in the
Adola granite greenstone terrain mark the end of the
Pan-African tectonism (Chater 1971; Gilboy 1970), so
that an age of 545 ‹ 40 Ma appears to be the more
likely age for the D3 syn-kinematic mineralization. This
mineralization age is also in accordance with single zir-
con Pb-Pb evaporation ages of 650±550 Ma for the last
501
87
Rb/86Sr 87
Sr/86Sr
‹ 0.36 8.182 ‹ 0.025 0.76984 ‹ 0.00005
‹ 0.74 4.688 ‹ 0.014 0.74458 ‹ 0.00005
‹ 0.12 23.488 ‹ 0.0072 0.86462 ‹ 0.00005
‹ 2.03 5.141 ‹ 0.022 0.74105 ‹ 0.00005
‹ 0.11 29.902 ‹ 0.126 0.94307 ‹ 0.00005
‹ 0.07 65.181 ‹ 0.299 1.09150 ‹ 0.00005
tectono-magmatic activities during the Pan-African
event in southern Ethiopia (Teklay et al. 1996).
Discussion and conclusions
From the structural, lithological and paragenetic data
presented earlier it can be surmised that the localization
of the Lega Dembi gold deposit appears to be the result
of a combination of structural and lithological controls.
The structural control is evidenced by the localization
of the mineralization in the intensely sheared meta-sed-
iments, con®ned to within about 150 m of the tectonic
contact between the greenstone terrane of the Megado
belt and the underlying gneissic terrane. This shearing
forms the northernmost extension of the regional-scale
Lega-Dembi-A¯ata shear zone (Worku and Yifa 1989).
The change of strike of the contact between the green-
stone succession and the basement gneisses to more
northwesterly trends to the immediate north of Lega
Dembi (Fig. 2), indicates that Lega Dembi is located in a
dilational segment of the shear zone (see also Worku
1993). The presence of the quartz-veining, and thus the
locus of ¯uid ¯ow, is largely restricted to the meta-sed-
iments, which most likely re¯ects strain partitioning into
the incompetent meta-sediments. The latter are sand-
wiched between competent, largely impermeable base-
ment gneisses in the footwall and massive meta-gabbros
in the hanging wall to the immediate west (Fig. 6). Pe-
riodic supralithostatic pressures during quartz-vein for-
mation are indicated by multiple fracture events
recorded by the quartz veins, and by the presence of
hydraulic quartz breccias that are associated with the
main mineralization (i.e. type 3 veins, Fig. 5). Fluid fo-
cusing in the meta-sediments is also indicated by the
systematic increase of gold values from, on average, 3±
5 ppm Au at Southern and Central Lega Dembi, where
the meta-sediments attain their maximum thickness, to
gold values ³10 ppm at Upper Lega Dembi, where the
thickness of the metasediments is reduced to about 20m.
This suggests a more pervasive ¯uid ¯ow in the central
parts of the deposit and a more channelized ¯uid ¯ow in
the north.
The presence of both deformed and undeformed
gold-quartz veins that occur parallel to the S2/S3
transposition fabric, is consistent with a predominantly
syn- and, to a lesser extent, late-D3 timing of the min-
eralization. Isoclinally folded and intensely sheared
502
quartz veins (type 1) and S2/S3 foliation-parallel, de-
formed sul®des indicate a relatively early timing of the
quartz-sul®de mineralization during the D3 transpress-
ional deformation. A syn-D3 timing of the gold miner-
alization is also supported by the alteration mineral
assemblage (i.e. biotite-muscovite-amphibole-actinolite,
locally tourmaline) which accompanies the gold-sul®de
mineralization, also de®ning the S2/S3 foliation and
mineral lineation. The undeformed geometries of the
oblique extensional (type 4) veins imply that this type of
quartz-veining occurred during the waning stages of the
D3 deformation or even thereafter. Some tremolite-ac-
tinolite (+biotite) alteration that overgrows the S2/S3
foliation supports a late-to-post D3 timing for the type 4
quartz vein mineralization. The absence of gold in type 4
veins and the folding of sul®des in crenulations of S2/S3
provide an upper time constraint for the gold mineral-
ization at Lega Dembi. Rb-Sr data of 545 ‹ 40 Ma,
although poorly constrained, appear to con®rm the syn-
to-late Pan-African timing of the mineralization and
hence the timing for the waning stages of the regional
tectonism in the Adola granite-greenstone terrain.
The lithologic control of gold mineralization at Lega
Dembi is manifested by the almost exclusive siting of the
mineralization in the graphitic meta-sediments. Al-
though the ultrama®c talc schists that envelope the
meta-sediments contain quartz veins, gold mineraliza-
tion in these veins is rare or absent. The signi®cance of
the graphite-bearing meta-sediments for the localization
of the gold mineralization is also expressed on a regional
scale, by the occurrence of other primary gold deposits
in the area, such as the Sakaro prospect, some 4 km to
the southwest of Lega Dembi (Fig. 2). Here, gold min-
eralization is hosted in an en-echelon quartz-vein system
that is developed in graphitic metapelites parallel to the
contact between massive amphibolites and the meta-
sediments, the latter being correlated stratigraphically
with the meta-sediments of the Lega Dembi area.
Both experimental and ®eld studies have indicated that
the reduction of a ¯uid from an initial redox state down to
the stability of graphite, decreases gold stabilities in terms
of both gold-sul®de and gold-chloride complexes over a
wide range of temperatures (e.g. Naden and Shepherd
1989; Ohmoto and Kerrick; 1977, Poulsen and Ohmoto
1989), which explains the close relationship between gold-
rich quartz veins and the graphitic rocks.
The volcanosedimentary rocks of the Megado belt
are characterized by upper-greenschist to lower-am-
phibolite facies metamorphism (Gilboy 1970; Chater
1971; Beraki et al. 1989; Ghebreab 1989). The temper-
atures determined from arsenopyrite analyses indicate
similar temperatures for the mineralization. The pre-
dominance of biotite-muscovite-actinolite alteration and
the paucity of chlorite also suggest that alteration took
place at temperatures indicative of upper-greenschist to
lower-amphibolite facies conditions (Mikucki et al.
1990). This is also supported by the presence of kyanite
along the margins of laminated quartz veins parallel to
the mineral-stretching lineation. These observations
imply that gold mineralization occurred synchronously
with M2 metamorphism (i.e. at upper-greenschist to
lower-amphibolite facies), during D3 sinistral strike-slip
shearing (see also Worku 1993).
The geologic setting, structural controls and pro-
gressive development of the gold mineralization at Lega
Dembi share numerous regional and deposit-scale char-
acteristics of Archaean lode-gold deposits (e.g. Colvine
1989; Groves et al. 1989; Groves 1993; McCuaig et al.
1993; Kerrich and Cassidy 1994), most notably the
structural control of the gold mineralization at Lega
Dembi in a second-order structure of a regional-scale
transcurrent shear zone (i.e. in a dilational jog of the
Lega Dembi-A¯ata shear zone), in an overall trans-
pressional geodynamic environment. Aditionally, the
location of the gold mineralization along a terrane
boundary, i.e. along the contact between the supracrustal
terrane of the Megado belt and the basement gneisses,
and the siting of the gold mineralization in both rheo-
logically and chemically favorable lithologies (i.e. ®nely
laminated, well-foliated, graphite-rich meta-sediments)
are analogous to Archaean gold-lode deposits. Further-
more, the siting of the gold mineralization in syn- to late
kinematic quartz veins in a brittle-ductile environment
during transiently supralithostatic ¯uid pressure cycling,
and the syn- to late peak metamorphic timing of the gold
mineralization, as well as the predominant quartz-, car-
bonate-, mica-, actinolite/tremolite-, chlorite-, and tour-
maline alteration mineral assemblages (which indicate
upper-greenschist to lower-amphibolite facies metamor-
phic conditions of the mineralization), are all comparable
to Archaean gold-lode deposits.
Hence, the Lega Dembi deposit illustrates that the
styles of mineralization and regional-scale tectonics that
are commonly discussed for Archaean-type lode gold
mineralizations may well be found in younger orogenic
belts. This suggestion is of major importance for gold
exploration within the widespread Pan-African terranes.
Acknowledgements This work derives in part from a Ph.D project
by A.Y. Billay funded by the German Academic Exchange Service
(Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). The authors thank the
Ethiopian Mineral Resources Development Corporation (EM-
RDC) for providing access to the mine and documents. Appreci-
ation is extended to the geologists in the Adola Mineral Evaluation
and Development Project and Lega Dembi and Sakaro Primary
Gold Study and Development, Lega Dembi Gold Mine and Sha-
kisso Central Laboratory of the EMRDC, including Dr. Z. Desta,
T. Tadesse, Z. Asres, A. Getahun, M. Yimenu and A. Zewdu, for
interesting discussions and for access to their properties and vehicle
support. A. Legesse is thanked for his cooperation and material
support in the ®eld. Constructive reviews by L. Robb, W.U. Rei-
mold and an anonymous reviewer are greatly appreciated.
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