I. Introduction

This is the third issue that the Ethiopian Geological Survey presents rock and minerals samples in stamp form. In this series Marble will be presented with a brief highlights.

Marble is one of the important building stones and found by metamorphism of limestone. It is a crystalline rock composed of grain of calcite (CaCO3) or rarely Dolomite (MgCa(CO)₃)₂.

Because of its constituents marble is characterized by its softness and effervescence with dilute hydrochloric acid, Pure marble is white in color, but various impurities like phlogopite diopside, tremolite, garnet, olivine, serpentine and many others may create attractive and wide range of color.

Commercially marble is used as a decorative building stone and widely appreciated for its beautiful colors and texture

II. Marbles in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia marbles occur widely in the Precambrian basement rocks. In low-grade meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanic sequences of the northern, western, southwestern and southern parts of the country. Marble is highly metamorphosed sedimentary rock.

In these third series of stamps collection from minerals and rocks family, Selected types of marbles are only four and they are from Dalleti and Dichinama area.

The Dalleti marble is fine to coarse grained and shows various colors including white, dark gray, gray sky blue, pink, reddish & greenish. It is produced and market by National Mining Corporation PLC.

The Dichinanta marble is fine to medium grained and appears in several colors such as gray purple, multicolor, rose and green. It is produced and market by Saba stones Share Company.

Marbles Presented in this issue are: –

1. Eshet Blue Marble (Marble from Dalleti)
2. Sabian multicolor Marble (Marble from Dichinama)
3. Sabian rose green Marble (Marble from Dichinama)
4. SABIAN purple Marble (Marble from Dichinama)

III. Descriptions of Marbles

1. Eshet Blue Marble

Eshet Blue Marble is found 632 km, west of Addis Ababa, in Benishegul Gumuz Regional state in Dallati area. This marble does not occupy a single hill but it is a portion of gray marble, which cuts across by a green schist rock. It is proximal to the schist and has a blue color. The marble is evaluated and found to be excellent in quality. It is used for interior & exterior surfacing, flooring, riser & wall skirting etc. The total reserve of Eshet blue marble is 855,750 M³

2. Sabian Multicolor Marble

Sabian Multicolor marble deposit occurs in western Tigray 1200 km from Addis Ababa through Shire-Shiraro-Humera main road in Dichinama area. This Marble is smoky white and golden like colored with varied shades and veining of pink. Beige and gray. It is used in wall surfacing or cladding for interior and exterior walls, flooring, treads, risers, skirting etc… The reserve of Sabian Multicolor Marble is approximately about 333,261 M³.

3. Sabian Rose Green Marble

This marble is found 1200 km far from Addis Ababa to the north through Shire-ShiraroHumera main road in Dichinama area. Sabian Rose Green Marble is decorated with varied yellow, green and rose shades. It emulates the beautiful Persian carpets. The reserve is estimated to be 97,248 m and it is excellent for flooring and treads. This marble avoids carpets due to its attractive color.

4. Sabian Purple Marble

This marble is found 1202 km far from Addis Ababa to the north through Shire Shiraro-Humera main road in Dichinama, area.

Sabian Purple Rose marble looks Red wine with light and dark shades. Royal and elegant, known for its unique color not found anywhere else in the world. It is used for interior and exterior wall Cladding. It enhances beautifully office or home furniture, Excellent for chimneys, treads, risers & skirting. The reserve of this marble is estimated to be 243,775 M³.

Source: Ethiopian Geological Survey