A preliminary chemical survey of the salt deposits and evaporates of lake balangida, hanang district, tanzania

N. MWAKOBA, Chemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaFollow
D. MOSHA, Chemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaFollow
K. SCHRØDER, Department of Chemistry, University of Trondheim, Norway.Follow

Section

Physical Sciences

Abstract

Lake Balangida is a typical salt-and –soda lake sharing many common hydrochemical features with the twenty or so hypersaline dischargeless lake of the African Gregory Rift Valley (Dead Sea to Lake Malawi). Sulphate content is however, comparatively exceptionally high but the single most contrasting dissimilarity is the virtual absence of fluoride. In previous reports, we have presented findings on the chemistry of the lake brines and inflows. In the present work, the salt deposits and evaporated which cover the lake after desiccation during the September-December dry spell are chemically examined. Salt and soda appear to occur in separate locations; the former predominates in the westerly area under the steep stream less scarp while the dominates the eastern shoreline area towards Mt. Hanang from which all in draining streams originate. The salt reserves (exclusive of bottom sediments and solute in percolating brine) total approximately 616,000 tonnes proportioned thus: NaCl, 248000; Na₂CO₃+ NaHCO₃, 192000 +16700; Na₂SO₄, 15100; KCl, 8300 tonnes. These estimates have been worked out from the analytical averages for sampled solids, mean salt crust thickness, density and surface area data. Chemical patterns and correlations are examined and discussed. The present utility, economic significance and prospects for the deposits are briefly discussed. The present utility, economic significance and prospects for the deposits are briefly discussed.

Recommended Citation

MWAKOBA, N.; MOSHA, D.; and SCHRØDER, K. (1992) "A preliminary chemical survey of the salt deposits and evaporates of lake balangida, hanang district, tanzania," Tanzania Journal of Science: Vol. 18: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at:https://doi.org/10.65085/2507-7961.2412