UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ALÌD VOLCANO IN THE COLONY OF ERITREA (Translation of Angelo Marini's "IL VULCANO ALÌD NELLA COLONIA ERITREA")* Edited and Translated by Jacob B. Lowenstern1 and Francesco Villa2 Open File Report # 98-218 1 U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 910, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 2 Frantel Inc., 13847 Skyline Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95030 ____________________________________________________________________________ *originally published in L'Universo (1938) volume 19, p. 51-65 and p. 131-170 For additional information Copies of this report can be obtained write to: from: Jacob B. Lowenstern U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services 345 Middlefield Road, MS 910 Box 25286 Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA Denver, CO 80225-0286 USA email: [email protected] Tel: 303-202-4700; Fax: 303-202-4693 1998 i Contents Title Page .............................................................................................................................. i Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. ii Plate 1 .................................................................................................................................. iii Summary............................................................................................................................... 1 Preface .................................................................................................................................. 1 Translator's Foreword ..........................................................................................................2 Alìd Volcano in the Colony of Eritrea (L'Universo: Jan. 1938, v. 19, p. 51-65 .................. 3 Alìd Volcano in the Colony of Eritrea (continuation: Feb. 1938, v. 19, p. 131-170) ......... 12 Lava Fields .............................................................................................................. 12 Alluvium ................................................................................................................. 21 Rocks ...................................................................................................................... 22 Basaltic Rocks ........................................................................................................ 23 Liparitic Rocks ....................................................................................................... 23 Dacitic Rocks ......................................................................................................... 24 Water, Gaseous Emanations, etc ............................................................................ 24 Seismic .................................................................................................................... 26 Toponomy (Derivation of Place Names) ................................................................ 29 Orography .............................................................................................................. 30 Water, Watershed, Basins ..................................................................................... 30 Localities, -- Regions ............................................................................................. 32 Products .................................................................................................................. 33 Surveying ............................................................................................................... 35 Surveying Data ....................................................................................................... 37 Appendix I Alìd Volcano nella Colonia Eritrea original page numbers 51-65 Photocopy of the original manuscript (in Italian) Appendix II Alìd Volcano nella Colonia Eritrea: Continuation original page numbers 131-170 Photocopy of the original manuscript (in Italian) ii M. Biteito t) wes 150 th Nor ield ( 200 va F Oss La 500 Enda Ald 300 Made Passo di Eghidd 400 500 R. Corcor rto Hol M. Ald R. Airole Mahal 910 R. Goro Am Daggudd bgah M. Gadahel R. Aared Meschiu Marhadda arto Ado Holli Assael La 700 Illaghede Lae Ambbat Ertacal R. Silall Filladed E. Crater Cuahat Bareir C a r Assagol a 600 A m W. Crater R. Dibear Irar Gadahel Eerai Datticub M. Ghersamo Edaeral Af Ugueal Balasl Bareir 100 Plain Mauil Am R. Amaitoli Fafeia Gar Conca 200 Endro Argudd R. Argai Passo Uetn Mauil Af R. Uetn Ueten Gar st) thea 1 km (Sou Field N Oss Lava Plate 1 Contours are highly approximate and based on Defense Mapping Agency Series 1501, Sheet ND 37-7 at 1:250,000. Place names from Plate 1 of Marini (1938); the first figure of 2nd half of article. J.B. Lowenstern, 1997 iii USGS OFR 98-218: Translation of Marini (1938) Summary of Marini (1938) very useful discussion of their derivations. "Alìd Volcano in the Colony of Place names around Alìd are shown to Eritrea" (title translated from the Italian) come from at least 12 different languages. reports the results of an expedition by the A Products section attempts to summarize Italian Istituto Geografico Militare various commodities that could provide (Institute for Military Geography), headed income to the Eritrean colony, including by Angelo Marini in 1901-02. The article limestone, copper, evaporites and wood. contains numerous maps, drawings and The final section, Surveying, describes the photographs of Alìd and its surroundings techniques used to create the topographic within the Danakil Depression as it existed map and lists major and secondary datum at the time. The first installment, published points, relay stations and associated in the January edition of L'Universo, distances. contains a detailed discussion of the regional topography, provides geographic Preface names and summarizes the geological As part of a geothermal resource history of the area, as it was perceived at assessment of the Alìd volcanic center the time. Figures include a geologic map, a (Clynne et al., 1996; Duffield et al., 1997; map of thermal features, a map of dry Lowenstern et al., 1997) we tried to review streambeds, a cross section and numerous all pertinent literature on Alìd, the Danakil photographs. The second installment, depression and the Afar Triangle. In a published in the February edition of paper by Marinelli et al. (1980), we found L'Universo, begins with a discussion of the reference to what is likely the first written Biteito Mountains, on the Danakil horst to record that details the topography, the northeast of Alìd, followed by a geology, hydrology, seismicity, fumaroles description of the mountains to the west and place names of this region. Angelo and some discussion of the geologic Marini and his coworkers from the Italian history of the region. Subsequently, Institute for Military Geography (Istituto Marini gives a long description of the Oss Geografico Militare) undertook a detailed basalts, including numerous sketches and study of Alìd and its surroundings in 1901- discussion of the individual eruptive vents 02. This report is a translation of Marini's and boccas. A section on Alluvium 1938 publication on Alìd, published in focuses on the relative timing of L'Universo, volume 19, pages 51-65 sedimentation and volcanism, and records (January edition, #1) and 131-170 important features of the primary washes (February edition, #2). We hope, as did and related fan deposits that drain the Marini, that future researchers can make Eritrean highlands. The subsequent section use of the data, description, photographs on Rocks divides the primary lithologies and nomenclature that reflects Alìd, as it into Basaltic Rocks, Liparitic Rocks and existed at the turn of the 20th century. Dacitic Rocks, and provides petrographic Because we were unaware of the work descriptions and some basic chemcial until having completed our initial information. The section on Water manuscripts, we did not use the Gaseous Emanations, etc. describes each nomenclature published by Marini (1938). of the visited thermal areas, providing When comparing place names in this some information on alteration minerals translation with those used by Clynne and and gases present. The Seismic section others (1996), Duffield and others (1997) records numerous seismic events and and Lowenstern and others (1998), the swarms felt during the study period, listing following table may be of use: the time and location of each event. Marini then attempts to link all seismic events at Marini (1938) Duffield and others Alìd with other events felt around the (1997) world during the same period. The Airolè Airole Toponomy section gives a primer on Ambabat Humbebet pronunciation of place names as well as a Aràfali Arafali 1 USGS OFR 98-218: Translation of Marini (1938) Assaelà As'ela Translator's Foreword Buia Boya Dibearà Dibara The text between square brackets [ ] Ertacalè Darere are additions of the translator and were not Illaghede Ilegedi present in the Italian text. These additions were necesary to adjust the syntax, to References: clarify, and sometimes to give bits of Duffield, W.A., Bullen, T., D., Clynne, M. A., information that add meaning to the text. Fournier, R.O., Janik, C.J., Lanphere, M.A., My apologies if some of these bits of Lowenstern, J., Smith, J.G., W/Giorgis, L., Kahsai, G., W/Mariam, K. and Tesfai, T., information are patronizing. 1997, Geothermal Potential of the Alid The page number in italics refers to the Volcanic Center, Danakil Depression,