Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Geology, faculty of science Tanta University
2
nuclear materials authority, Cairo, Egypt
3
Research sector, Nuclear Materials Authority
4
Geology, science, Tanta university, Cairo, Egypt
5
Geology department, Faculty of science Tanta Univeristy
Abstract
The study spotlights on the geological, petrographical, mineralogical and radiometric prospecting, which control the distribution of radioactive elements within the granitic rocks of Gabel Nugrus. The study area is composed of ultramafic rocks, ophiolitic metagabbros, biotite hornblende gneisses and granitic rocks. The granitic rocks are represented by monzogranite, syenogranite and garnetiferous muscovite granite. The minerals (uranophane, uranothorite, fergusonite, zircon, monazite, xenotime, allanite, sphalerite, gold, arsenopyrite and pyrite) were identified by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and back-scattered electron imaging system. In monzogranite, the average eU and eTh contents in both north and south of Gabel Nugrus are 9.25ppm, 5.4ppm, 31.41ppm, 19.29ppm respectively. In the syenogranite, the average eU, eTh contents are 10.22ppm and 24.45ppm respectively. In the garnetiferous muscovite granite, the average eU and eTh contents are 7.82ppm and 13.33ppm respectively. The radioactive anomaly in the study area is confined to the fractures cutting through the garnetiferous muscovite granite at the northern part of Gabel Magal El Harami area. The average of eU, eTh and eUm contents within fractures are187.87ppm, 109.57ppm, 156.57 reflecting strong addition of uranium from the surrounding rocks. While the radioelements have been dissolved from the surrounding rocks (different types of granites) by meteoric and/or surface water through joints and fissures and finally, it deposited/trapped along the fractures of garnetiferous muscovite granites (absorbed by iron oxides) and less impermeable mica lenses due to the change in the physicochemical conditions, Eh and Ph in the given medium.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO