Assessment of Radiological Hazards of Sedimentary, Igneous and Sediments Natural Rocks

Gamma-ray spectroscopy based on a 100% efficiency hyper-pure germanium detector was used to evaluate the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K natural radionuclides in sedimentary, conglomerate, igneous and sedi-ments rock samples collected from four different locations in Eastern desert in Egypt. The obtained activity concentrations are used to evaluate the radi-ological hazards indices, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent in air, radium equivalent, external and internal hazard index, radiation level index, annual gonadal dose equivalent, excess lifetime cancer risk and expo-sure rate. The results show that 1) the absorbed dose rate depends on the rock type, 2) the annual effective dose equivalent in air in 71% of sample below 20 mSvy-1 (permissible limit for workers), 3) the conglomerate rocks show low radioactivity level, 4) sedimentary rocks are rich in radium while igneous rocks are rich in thorium and the sediments rocks are rich in both radium and thorium.

Integrated Structure and Mineralization Study Using Aero-Magnetic, Aero-Spectrometric and Remote Sensing Data at Esh El-Mallaha Area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The main scope of this research is to detect geologic structure trends affecting the study area, determine uranium anomalous areas and define alteration zones. Airborne magnetic data were used to detect the geologic structure trends affecting the study area through applying edge detectors such as total horizontal derivative, analytic signal and tilt derivative. The radio-spectrometry data and Landsat image data were used in determining the uranium anomalous areas and alteration zones. The integration between geology, magnetic and Landsat image was applied through constructing lineaments density map for the three data sets resulting in the leading of NW-SE trend all over the area. This integration makes clear that the basement (Red Sea hills), Esh El-mallaha range and G. Zeit are limiting two large basins (West Mallaha and Zeit). In addition, the main areas of uranium enrichment (Duwi formation at Esh El-Mallaha range) are found to be well related to alteration zones.

Analysis of Morphometric Parameters and Radioactive Characteristics Using Remote Sensing Data and GIS Techniques in the Wadi Wizr Basin Area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how modern technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and digital elevation models can help in the creation of a geographic database for the Wadi Wizr basin in Egypt’s Central Eastern Desert, in addition to examining and analysing the radioactive properties of various rocks. This was accomplished with the help of a digital elevation model (DEM) with a 30 metre accuracy and GIS software in 10.8 Arc Map. The RS-230 was also used to measure uranium and thorium concentrations. GIS softwares and digital elevation models have been shown to be more effective than the traditional method. This was demonstrated by the flexible and quick working method, the accuracy of the parameters used, and the results of the morphometric analysis of the basin river network. In addition to, the main drainage pattern from subtype to tree type, where the branching ratio was (1.59). This basin could also cause flooding. Similar studies, according to the results of this study, should make greater use of geographic information system technology and modern data sources. Wadi Wizr also has a radioactive anomaly, with uranium equivalent concentrations reaching 70 ppm in some fault parts.

Determination of Curie Point Depth and Heat Flow Using Airborne Magnetic Data over the Kom-Ombo and Nuqra Basins, Southern Eastern Desert, Egypt

The Kom-Ombo and Nuqra basins in southern Egypt have recently been discovered as potential hydrocarbon basins. The lack of information about the geothermal gradient and heat flow in the study area gives importance to studying the heat flow and the geothermal gradient. Several studies were carried out to investigate the geothermal analyses of the northwestern desert, as well as the west and east of the Nile River, using density, compressive wave velocity, and bottom hole temperature (BHT) measured from deep oil wells. This research relies on spectral analysis of airborne magnetic survey data in the Kom-Ombo and Nuqra basins in order to estimate the geothermal gradient based on calculating the depth to the bottom of the magnetic source that caused the occurrence of these magnetic deviations. This depth is equal to the CPD, at which the material loses its magnetic polarisation. This method is fast and gives satisfactory results. Usually, it can be applied as a reconnaissance technique for geothermal exploration targets due to the abundance of magnetic data. The depth of the top (Zt) and centroid (Z0) of the magnetic source bodies was calculated for the 32 windows representing the study area using spectral analysis of airborne magnetic data. The curie-isotherm depth, geothermal gradient, and heat flow maps were constructed for the study area. The results showed that the CPD in the study area ranges from 13 km to 20 km. The heat flow map values range from 69 to 109 mW/m2, with an average of about 80 mW/m2. The calculated heat flow values in the assigned areas (A, B, C, and D) of the study area are considered to have high heat flow values, reaching 109 mW/m2. On the other hand, the heat flow values in the other parts range from 70 to 85 mW/m2. Since heat flow plays an essential role in the maturation of organic matter, it is recommended that hydrocarbon accumulations be located in places with high heat flow values, while deep drilling of hydrocarbon wells is recommended in places with low to moderate heat flow values.

Mineralogical, REE-geochemical and fluid inclusion studies on some uranium occurrences, Gabal Gattar, Northeastern Desert, Egypt

Altered granite occurrences (GII and GV) at Gabal (G.) Gattar are the most important mineralized rocks hosting U-mineralization in Egypt. This mineralized granite is affected by multi-stage hydrothermal alteration proc-esses along brittle structures. This alteration comprises pre-ore alkali-metasomatism and ore-stage hydrothermal hematitization, silicification, kaolinitization, fluoritization, carbonatization and episyenitization. Autoradiographic examination indicates that primary uranium mineralization is present as massive or disseminated ores along tectonic fractures, interstitially in granular minerals, and as cements of breccias. Uraninite, pitchblende and coffinite are the main primary minerals, while uranophane and kasolite are the secondary ones. Galena, chalcopyrite, pyrrohtite and pyrite are the most abundant sulphides in association with uranium mineralizations. Hydrothermal alterations at the GII occurrence exhibit an increase in Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Nb, Rb beside HREEs and a decrease in Ba, Co, Sr, and V, while alterations at the GV occurrence show enrichment in Ni, Cu, Pb, Mo, Nb, Y, HREEs and depletion in Zn, Ba, Co, Rb, Sr, and V. Hydrothermal alteration during the late magmatic stage is also identified through the development of unusual REE patterns and fractionation of ratios like Zr/Hf and Y/Ho out of the CHARAC (Charge Radius Con-trolled) range. Non-chondritic Y/Ho ratio at GV is of larger value than chondritic one which may result from wa-ter-rock interaction or print from the encompassing sedimentary rocks. Fluid inclusion studies on quartz and fluorite revealed that temperatures of the mineralizing fluids range between 126 and 240℃ at pressure ≤0.5×108 Pa and give salinity values ranging between 1 wt% and 7.8 wt% NaCl equivalent.

Mineralogy and radioactivity of pegmatites from South Wadi Khuda area,Eastern Desert,Egypt

Radioactive minerals in pegmatites associated with granitic rocks are commonly encountered in the south of the Wadi Khuda area and found as dyke-like and small bodies.They are observed within garnet-muscovite granites near the contact with older granitoids.Field surveys indicated that the studied pegmatites vary in dimensions ranging from 2 to 10 m in width and from 10 to 500 m in length.They are composed mainly of intergrowth of milky quartz,reddish-pink K-feldspar and plagioclase together with small pockets of muscovite.Field radiometric measurements indicated that radioactivity in pegmatites is more than twice that of their enclosing country rocks.Radionuclide measurements revealed that the average contents of U and Th increase gradually from rocks of dioritic to granodioritic composition(1.5×10-6 U and 4.3×10-6 Th) and increase significantly in biotite granites(5.8×10-6 U and 15.2×10-6 Th) but drastically decrease in muscovite granites(2.2×10-6 U and 5.6×10-6 Th).The average contents of U and Th of anomalous pegmatites are 95.3×10-6 and 116.9×10-6,respectively,indicating their uraniferous nature.In the south of the Wadi Khuda area,pegmatites are low in average Th/U(1.4) and high in average U/K(35.6),which suggests that uranium concentrating processes did not affect the pegmatites,indicating poor source-rocks.Mineralogical investigations of the studied pegmatites revealed the presence of secondary uranium minerals(kasolite and autunite),in addition to zircon,thorite,apatite,garnet and biotite.Primary and secondary radioactive mineralizations indicated that the mineralization is not only magmatic,but also post-magmatic.Electron microprobe analyses showed distinct cryptic chemical zoning within thorite where UO2 decreases from core to rim.This feature in thorite is sporadic,suggesting non-uniform redistributions of UO2 within thorite during magmatic processes.

Extraction of cerium(Ⅳ) using tributyl phosphate impregnated resin from nitric acid medium

Tributyl phosphate （TBP） solvent was used for impregnation into Amberlite XAD-16 nonionic polymeric resin beads using the wet method to prepare solvent impregnated resin （SIR）. Undiluted TBP in a ratio to the resin support （volume to mass） of 6.0 at room temperature （RT） in 24 h was impregnated the resin with a mass ratio of 1.944, while the prepared gross sample of SIR at the ratio of solvent to resin of 3.0 was impregnated with a mass ratio of 1.88. Cerium（Ⅳ） oxide concentrate, prepared from crude Egyptian monazite sand, containing 37% cerium, 1.6% thorium and about 40% the other trivalent rare earth oxides, was used to prepare cerium（Ⅳ） nitrate solution for extraction using the prepared SIR. The impregnated resin was satisfactory for Ce（Ⅳ） extraction from nitric acid medium at room temperature. Cerium loading capacity of the impregnated resin reached 95.6% of the calculated theoretical capacity （173 g/kg （Ce/SIR）） under the conditions of 51.57 g/L cerium and 2.48 g/L thorium, 5.0 mol/L free nitric acid, solution to resin ratio of 10.0 and contacting the phases for 5.0 min. The loading capacity reached 98.75% when cerium concentration was increased to 91.43 g/L under the same conditions.

Isothermal, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies for solid-phase extraction of uranium(VI) via hydrazine-impregnated carbonbased material as efficient adsorbent

The current study describes the application of a new extraction method for efficient uranium adsorption via cost-effective hydrazine-impregnated activated carbon.Various experimental parameters such as time, adsorbent weight, temperature(°C), and uranium concentration were thoroughly investigated. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed86% uranium extraction under optimized conditions(20% P2O5 at 25 °C, 120 min). The obtained findings fit well with thermodynamic and isothermal(Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms) models and pseudo second-order kinetics. In thermodynamic studies, the negative sign of(DG°) specified the spontaneity of process, the negative sign of(DH°) revealed endothermicity, and the positive sign of(DS°) showed high randomness after adsorption.

Maximizing the exploitation of phosphogypsum wastes using soaking technique with citric acid, recovering rare-earth and residual phosphate contents

Phosphogypsum(PG), the main by-product of phosphoric acid production industries, is considered one of the most important secondary sources of rare earth elements(REEs). The current study focuses on the recovery of REEs content and the residual phosphate content existing in the PG with preserving on the CaSO_(4)skeleton to be used in other various applications. These attainments are carried out using citric acid leaching process via soaking technique. Several dissolution parameters for REEs using citric acid were studied, including soaking time, soaking temperature, citric acid concentration, solid-to-liquid ratio, and recycling of the citrate leaching solutions in the further REEs dissolution experiments. The best-operating conditions were 14 d of soaking time, 7.5% citric acid concentration, and the solid-toliquid ratio of 1/5 at ambient temperature. About 79.57% dissolution efficiency of REEs was achieved using the optimal conditions. Applying four soaking stages by mixing different fresh PG samples with the same citrate solution sequentially, cumulative dissolution efficiency for REEs was found to be 64.7% under optimal soaking conditions. REEs were recovered using Dowex 50X8 resin from citrate solutions with 96% extraction efficiency. Dissolution kinetics proved the pseudo-first-order nature, reversible reactions, and two activation energies for all REEs.

Mineralogy,M-type tetrad effect and radioactivity of altered granites at the G.Abu Garadi shear zone,central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The G. Abu Garadi area is covered mainly by metasediments, alkali feldspar granites and stream sediments. The alkali feldspar granite is traversed by a major strike-slip fault trending in an N-S direction as well as two subordinate sets of faults trending NW to WNW for the first one and NE for the second one. These faults represent the shear zones affected by magmatic (syngenetic) as well as hydrothermal (epigenetic) activities causing alteration of the granitic rocks. The most common alteration features are albitization, greisenization and koalinitization. The mass balance calculations of the studied altered samples show enrichments in Zr, Y, Ni, U, Th and Ga and depletions in Zn, Sr, Nb, Ba, Pb, Cu and V. Only the greisenized samples exhibit a significant enrichment in Nb, ∑REE budget and pronounced lanthanide tetrad effect (M-type), especially TE1,4, while weakly expressed tetrad effects are for the other albitized and koalinitized samples. Mineralogically, the common accessory minerals in the altered samples include samarskite-(Y), betafite, uranothorite, zircon, fluorite and cassiterite. The greisenized granites contain high eU and eTh than the other altered types, where they are characterized by an assemblage of the radioactive minerals; samarskite-(Y), betafite, uranothorite in addition to zircon. The inter-element relationships between U and Th and also their ratios illustrate that the radioelement distribution in these granites is mainly governed by magmatic processes, in addition to post-magmatic ones. The distribution of chemical elements and the fractionation of some isovalents within the shear zone are largely controlled by the newly formed mineral phases. With respect to uranium mobilization, uranium migrated from the host alkali feldspar granites of G. Abu Garadi, while the shear zones acted as traps for the migrated uranium. Moreover, U migrated in the shear zone during greisenization and albitization, and migrated out during koalinitization.

Geochemistry of lamprophyres associated with uranium mineralization, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

Two brecciated shear zones (NNW-SSE) are found crosscutting cataclastic rocks. The cataclastic rocks (3.0 km2) occupy the core of the granitic pluton and enclose a roof pendant of mafic-ultramafic rocks. The NNW-SSE-extending lamprophyre dykes vary in thickness from 0.5 m to 1 m and up to 800 m long, cutting the cataclastic rocks and are composed mainly of plagioclases, amphiboles, relics of pyroxenes and K-feldspar phenocrysts embedded in fine-grained groundmass. They are characterized as being peraluminous, calc-alkaline in composition (chemical trap) and enriched in calcite, sulfide and P2O5. The lamprophyres were affected by hydrothermal alteration (chlorite-carbonate alteration) while the cataclastic rocks were affected by diagenetic alteration (K-feldspar-albite alteration). Uranium mineralization is the product of hydrothermal events and has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), involving primary uranium minerals (U3O8) and secondary uranium minerals (uranophane and beta-uranophane, kasolite, torbernite, autonite and meta-autonite) in addition to U- bearing minerals (astrocyanite, betafite and fergusonite). The presence of different mineral parageneses associated with clay minerals indicates that the lamprophyres were subjected to acidic and alkaline mineralizing solutions. Moreover, the U-Zr/U, U-Ce/U values show negative correlations, confirming U-enrichment in both cataclastic rocks and shear zones while the Th-eU/eTh, Th-Zr/Th and Th-Ce/Th values show negative correlations, indicating that the U-bearing solutions are rich in Th in the cataclastic rocks only.

Mineralogy, geochemistry and age dating of shear zone-hosted Nb-Ta-, Zr-Hf-, Th-, U-bearing granitic rocks in the Ghadir and El-Sella areas, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The rare metal minerals of mineralized altered granites within the Ghadir and El-Sella shear zones, are represented by betafite, U-minerals (uraninite and uranophane), zircon, monazite, xenotime, and rutile in the Ghadir shear zone. While they are columbite-tantalite minerals as ferrocolumbite, pyrochlore, and fergusonite, Th-minerals (cheralite, uranothorite, and huttonite monazite), Hf-zircon, monazite and xenotime in the El-Sella shear zone. Hf-zircon in the El-Sella and Ghadir shear zones (increasing from the core to the rim) contains high inclusions of U-Th, and REE minerals such as cheralite, uranothorite, huttonite monazite and xenotime especially in the El Sella shear zone. The rare-metal minerals, identified from peralkminous granites of the shear zones are associated with muscovite, quartz, chlorite, fluorite, magnetite, and biotite that are restricted to the two shear zones. Uraninite (low Th content) occurring in the Ghadir shear zone indicates the hydrothermal origin, but there are thorite, uranothorite, cheralite, and Hf-zircon in the El Sella shear zone, also indicating the hyrothermal proccess after magmatic origin. Compositional variations of Ta/(Ta+Nb) and Mn/(Mn+Fe) in columbite from 0.07-0.42 and 0.04-0.33, respectively, and Hf contents in zircon are so high as to be 12%, especially in the rim in the El Sella shear zone. This feature re-flects the extreme degree of magmatic fractionation. Four samples from the altered granites of the Ghadir shear zone also are very low in TiO2 (0.04 wt%-0.17 wt%), Sr [(82-121)×10-6], and Ba [(36-380)×10-6], but high in Fe2O3T (0.46 wt%-0.68 wt%), CaO (0.64 wt%-1.23 wt%), alkalis (8.59 wt%-8.88 wt%), Rb [(11-203)×10-6], Zr [(98-121)×10-6], Nb [(9-276)×10-6], Ta [(2-139)×10-6], U [(14-63)×10-6], Th [(16-105)×10-6], Pb [(13-32)×10-6], Zn [(7-8)×10-6], Y [(15-138)×10-6], Hf [(3-9)×10-6], and ∑REE [(81-395)×10-6, especially LREE [(70-322)×10-6]. They are very high in Zr/Hf (15.07-85.96) and Nb/Ta (7.17-21.48), and low in Rb/Sr (2.56-3.36) and Th/U (0.096-3.36). Four samples of the altered granites from the El Sella shear zone are very low in TiO2 (0.23 wt%-0.38 wt%), Sr [(47-933)×10-6], and Ba [(82-175)×10-6] , with high Fe2O3T (1.96 wt%-2.87 wt%), CaO (0.43 wt%-0.6 wt%), alkalis (4.46 wt%-10.7 wt%), Rb [(109-313)×10-6], Zr [(178-1871)×10-6], Nb [(11-404)×10-6], U [(56-182)×10-6], Th [(7-188)×10-6], Ta [(0.5-57)×10-6], Pb [(12-28)×10-6], Zn [(1-13)×10-6], Y [(62-156)×10-6], Hf [(3-124)×10-6], and ∑REE [(101-184)×10-6], especially HREE [(7-139)×10-6]. This is consistent with the very fractionated, fluorine-bearing granitic rocks that were altered and sheared in the El Sella shear zone. Zr/Hf (14.23-39.79) and Nb/Ta (1.98-7.01) are very high, and Rb/Sr (0.14-1.7) and Th/U (0.25-2.5) are low in the Ghadir shear zone. Field evidence, textural relations, and the composi-tion of ore minerals suggest that the main mineralizing event was magmatic (615+/-7 Ma, and 644+/-7 Ma CHIME monazite), especially in the El Sella shear zone, with later hydrothermal alteration and local remobilization of the high-field-strength elements.

Rare metal-bearing pegmatites from the Southeastern Desert of Egypt:Geology,geochemical characteristics,and petrogenesis

The pegmatite province of the Southeastern Desert (SED) is part of a pegmatite district that extends from Egypt (extends to 1200 km2). Rare metal pegmatites are divided into (1) unzoned, Sn-mineralized; (2) zoned Li, Nb, Ta and Be-bearing; and (3) pegmatites and pegmatites containing colored, gem-quality tourmaline. The Rb/Sr data reflect a crustal origin for the rare metal pegmatites and indicate that the original SED magma was generated during the peak of regional metamorphism and predates the intrusion of post-tectonic leucogranites. These bodies developed an early border zone consisting of coarse to very coarse muscovite+quartz+alkali feldspar, followed by an intermediate zone of dominant quartz+feldspar+muscovite rock. Garnet, tourmaline, beryl, galena, pyrite, amblygonite, apatite and monazite are rare accessories in both zones. Cassiterite tends to concentrate in replacement zones and along fractures in albite+quartz+muscovite-rich portions. The highest concentrations of cassiterite occur in irregular greisenized zones which consist dominantly of micaceous aggregates of green Li-rich muscovite, quartz, albite and coarse-grained cassiterite. The different metasomatic post-solidification alterations include sodic and potassic metasomatism, greisenization and tourmalinization. Geochemically, the pegmatite-generating granites have a metaluminous composition, showing a differentiation trend from coarse-grained, unfractionated plagioclase-rich granite towards highly fractionated fine- to medium-grained, local albite-rich rock. Economically important ore minerals introduced by volatile-rich, rare metal-bearing fluids, either primarily or during the breakdown of the primary mineral assemblages, are niobium-tantalum oxides, Sn-oxides (cassiterite), Li-silicates (petalite, spodumene, euctyptite, and pollucite), Li-phosphates (amblygonite, montebrasite and lithopilite) and minor REE-minerals (Hf-zircon, monazite, xenotime, thorian, loparite and yttrio-fluorite). The pollucite is typically associated with spodumene, petalite, amblygonite, quartz and feldspar. The primary pollucite has Si/Al (at) ratios of 2.53-2.65 and CRK of 79.5- 82.2. Thorian loparite is essentially a member of the loparite (NaLREETi2O6)-lueshite (NaNbO3)-ThTi2O6-ThNb4O12 quaternary system with low or negligible contents of other end-member compositions. The mineral compositionally evolved from niobian loparite to niobian thorian and thorian loparite gave rise to ceriobetafite and belyankinite with high ThO2 contents. Thorian loparite is metamict or partly metamict and upon heating regains a structure close to that of synthetic loparite NaLaTi2O6.

Mineralogy,geochemistry,radioactivity and environmental impacts of Gabal Marwa granites,southeastern Sinai,Egypt

The Gabal Marwa area is located in the southeastern part of Sinai,Egypt.It comprises gneisses and migmatites,granodiorites and monzogranites.Field,petrographic,mineralogic and chemical investigations indicated that the Gabal Marwa granites are classified as granodiorites and monzogranites.The monzogranites constitute the most predominant rock unit exposed in the study area.They have been subjected to hydrothermal alterations,especially along the shear zones.Sericitization,desilicification,nametasomatism and development of spotty or dendritic manganese oxides are the most pronounced alteration features.These alterations resulted in the increase of TiO2,Al2O3,FeOt,MnO,CaO,MgO,Na2O,K2O and Cr,Zr,Rb,Y and Sr and the decrease of SiO2,P2O5,Ni,Zn,Ba and Nb.Radiometric studies indicated that the altered granites belong to high thorium,high uranium granites.The U,Th,U and Th,Th/U,Th and U-K variation diagrams suggested that magmatic processes controlled the distribution of these elements but the effect of hydrothermal alteration processes were clearly distinct.The Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Diffraction analyses indicated that the most important radioactive minerals include uranothorite,thorite,zircon,monazite and samarskite.Cinnabar and Mn minerals were also found.From the U,Th,Ra and K activity concentrations obtained for all the studied granitic samples,radium equivalent activity(Raeq),external hazard index(Hex),and internal hazard index(Hin),were calculated to assess the radiation hazard to human beings living in dwellings made of the studied granites.Altered monzogranites have radioactivity above the proposed acceptable level and,therefore,caution must be taken when these granites are used as building materials.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of Nb-,Ta-,Sn-,U-,Th-,and Zr-bearing granitic rocks from Abu Rusheid shear zones,South Eastern Desert,Egypt

Granite-hosted,Nb-,Ta-,Sn-,U-,Th-,and Zr(Hf)-bearing mineralization from the Abu Rusheid shear zones occurs about 97 km southwest of the town of Marsa Alam,South Eastern Desert,Egypt.The SSE-trending brittle-ductile Abu Rusheid shear zones crosscut the peralkalic granitic gneisses and cataclastic to mylonitic rocks(mylonite,protomlyonite,and ultramylonite).The northern shear zone varies in width from 1 to 3 m with a strike length of >500 m,and the southern shear zone is 0.5 to 8 m wide and >1 km long.These shear zones locally host less altered lamprophyre and locally sheared granitic aplite-pegmatite dykes.The rare-metal minerals,identified from the peralkalic granitic gneisses and cataclastic to mylonitic rocks are associated with muscovite,chlorite,quartz,fluorite,pyrite,magnetite,and rare biotite that are restricted to the Abu Rusheid shear zones;these are columbite-tantalite and pyrochlore(var.betafite) in the northern shear zone and ferrocolumbite in the southern shear zone.Cassiterite occurs as inclusions in the columbite-tantalite minerals.U-and Th-minerals(uraninite,thorite,uranothorite,ishikawaite,and cheralite) and Hf-rich zircon coexist.Magmatic(?) zircon contains numerous inclusions of rutile,fluorite,U-Th and REE minerals,such as uranothorite,cheralite,monazite,and xenotime.Compositional variations in Ta/(Ta+Nb) and Mn/(Mn+Fe) in columbite range from 0.07-0.42 and 0.04-0.33,respectively,and Hf contents in zircon from 1.92-6.46 of the two mineralized shear zones reflect the extreme degree of magmatic fractionation.Four samples of peralkalic granitic gneisses and cataclastic to mylonitic rocks from the southern shear zone have very low TiO2(0.02 wt%-0.04 wt%),Sr [(15-20)×10-6],and Ba [(47-78)×10-6],with high Fe2O3T(0.94 wt%-1.99 wt%),CaO(0.14 wt%-1.16 wt%),alkalis(9.2 wt%-10.1 wt%),Rb [(369-805)×10-6],Zr [(1033-2261)×10-6],Nb [(371-913)×10-6],U [(51-108)×10-6],Th [(36-110)×10-6],Ta [(38-108)×10-6],Pb [(39-364)×10-6],Zn [(21-424)×10-6],Y [(8-304)×10-6],Hf [(29-157)×10-6],and ∑REE [(64-304)×10-6],especially HREE [(46-167)×10-6].Three samples from the northern shear zone also have very low TiO2(0.03 wt%),Sr [(11-16)×10-6],and Ba [(38-47)×10-6],with high Fe2O3T(1.97 wt%-2.91 wt%),CaO(0.49 wt%-1.01 wt%),alkalis(7.2 wt%-8.3 wt%),Rb [(932-978)×10-6],Zr [(1707-1953)×10-6],Nb [(853-981)×10-6],Ta [(100-112)×10-6],U [(120-752)×10-6],Th [(121-164)×10-6],Pb [(260-2198)×10-6],Zn [(483-1140)×10-6],Y [(8-304)×10-6],Hf [(67-106)×10-6],and ∑REE [(110-231)×10-6],especially HREE [(91-177)×10-6].The very high Rb/Sr(57.5-88.9),and low Zr/Hf(16.9-25.6),Nb/Ta(7.7-9.8),and Th/U(0.21-1.01) are consistent with very frac-tionated fluorine-bearing granitic rocks that were altered and sheared.The field evidence,textural relations,and compositions of the ore minerals suggest that the main mineralizing event was magmatic(629+/-5 Ma,CHIME monazite),with later hydrothermal alteration and local remobilization of the high-field-strength elements.

Adsorption of U(Ⅵ) from acid solution on a low-cost sorbent:equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic assessments

In this paper,waste clay was cured with ethyl acetate to obtain treated clay(TC),which was modified with gallic acid to obtain a low-cost sorbent that was characterized by EDX,SEM,and FTIR analysis.Uranium(Ⅵ)adsorption was achieved using the batch adsorption method on the TC and gallic acid-modified treated clay(GMTC).The maximum uptakes of U(Ⅵ)on TC and GMTC were 37.2 and 193.0 mg/g,respectively.The U(Ⅵ)adsorption kinetics on the TC and GMTC sorbents were well-fitted by the pseudo-second-order mechanism,and the adsorption equilibrium followed the Langmuir model.The optimum parameters were applied to El Sela leach solution for uranium recovery.

Geochemistry of the uranium-thurium-bearing granitic rocks and pegmatites of Wadi Haleifiya area,Southeastern Sinai,Egypt

There are two main granitic rocks cropping out in the study area:1) the syn-orogenic granites are moderately weathered,jointed,exfoliated and characterized by low relief.These rocks are subdivided into tonalite and granodiorite.They are essentially composed of plagioclase,quartz,biotite,hornblende and potash feldspar;and 2) the post-orogenic granites,characterized by high relief terrain and represented by monzogranite,syenogranite and alkali granite.The monzogranites suffered hydrothermal alteration in particular along joints,faults,shear zones and fractures,which recorded the highest values of radioactivity,reflecting the role of post-magmatic alteration processes in the enhancement of radioactivity.The hydrothermal alteration(desilicification and hematitization) resulted in the formation of mineralized(altered) granites.The altered granites are enriched in TiO 2,Al 2 O 3,FeO T,MnO,MgO,Na 2 O,Rb,Sr,Y,Zr,Zn,Ga and Co and depleted in SiO 2,CaO,P 2 O 5,Nb,Pb,Cu,Ni and Cr relative to the fresh monzogranite.The investigated granites contain basic xenoliths as well as pockets of pegmatites.Perthites,quartz,plagioclase and sometimes biotite,represent the essential constituents.Some accessory minerals like zircon are metamicted reflecting their radiogenic nature.The alkali granites are characterized by the presence of aegirine,rebeckite and arfvedsonite.Both syn-and post-orogenic granites show some variations in their bulk chemical compositions.The older granitoids are metaluminous and exhibit characteristics of I-type granites and possess an arc tectonic environment.On the other hand,the younger granites are peraluminous and exhibit the characteristics of post-collisional granites.It is interpreted that radioactivity of the studied rocks is mainly controlled by both magmatic and post-magmatic activities.Frequently,the post-orogenic granites host zoned and unzoned pegmatite pockets.Some of these pockets anomalously attain high radioactivity.The syenogranites and the pegmatites are characterized by high contents of SiO 2 and K 2 O and low CaO and MgO.They have transitional characters from highly fractionated calc-alkaline to alkaline.The alkali granites related to A2-subtype of A-type granites.The post-orogenic granites were originated from magma of dominant crustal source materials and related to post-collisional setting under extensional environment.

Petrology, geochemistry, radioactivity, and M–W type rare earth element tetrads of El Sela altered granites, south eastern desert,Egypt

The southern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt—about 30 km southwest of Abu-Ramad city—is mainly covered by ophiolitic rocks(Sul Hamed), island arc assemblage, younger granites(muscovite granites of Qash Amer and two mica granites of El Sela), and various acidic and basic dikes. Field, petrological, and geochemical studies indicate that the El Sela shear zone has been subject to hydrothermal and supergene alteration such as kaolinization, albitization, sericitization, and hematitization. It is invaded by quartz ENE–WSW veins associated with hydrothermal alteration accompanied by radioactive mineralization. The investigated younger granitic rocks had very low contents of compatible elements, such as Cr, Ni,and Co; and high contents of incompatible elements, such as Zr, and large ion lithophiles, such as Sr, especially in the El Sela shear zone. Major oxide and trace element analyses revealed calc-alkaline affinity and peraluminous character.These highly differentiated granitic rocks' lower Zr/Hf and higher Y/Ho than the normal ratio are consistent with hydrothermal alteration. Most samples had rare earth element(REE)-patterns with an M-type tetrad effect in the first and fourth segments and a W-type tetrad in the third segment. The average ∑REE in the studied granites was lower than the world granite average; the ratio of light to heavy REEs greater. The main radioactive, uranium-bearing, and uraniferous Fe and Mn minerals are uranothorite,autunite, uranophane and autunite as compounds, kasolite,columbite, xenotime, uranophane-bearing zircon and jarosite, silver-bearing pyrite, hematite, and autunite-bearing pyrolusite.

Geochemistry of lamprophyre dykes, Wadi Sikait area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The Wadi Sikait area lies at about 95 km southwest of Marsa Alam City along the Red Sea Coast, Eastern Desert, Egypt. It is occupied by Precambrian rocks of ophiolitic mélange, metamorphosed sandstones (MSS), gab-bros and monzogranites which were later intruded by lamprophyre dykes and quartz veins. The lamprophyre dykes were extruded in NW-SE and NE-SW trends cutting monzogranites and metamor-phosed sandstones. The lamprophyres are porphyritic and composed of clinopyroxene, olivine and amphibole phenocrysts enclosed in a fine-grained groundmass of clinopyroxene, amphibole, opaque and lithium mica. The al-teration products are represented by amphibole (tremolite-actinolite and hornblende), carbonate, epidote, chlorite, iddingsite, clay minerals, limonite and serpentine. The Sikait lamprophyre dykes can be classified as alkaline lamprophyres characterized by silica contents rang-ing from 41.65 wt% to 50.88 wt% and Na2O>K2O. They are enriched in LILE, LREE and HFSE, but strongly de-pleted in compatible elements such as Cr and Ni relative to the primitive mantle. Sikait lamprophyres have moderate Zr/Hf (35.6-52.8) and Nb/Ta (20.5-22.5) ratios. Most of these features are attributed to the origin of these dykes from the metasomatized mantle affected by subduction-related fluid. These lamprophyres are compositionally similar to Salu lamprophyres in eastern China. The Sikait lamprophyre samples have high LREE (320×10-6-419×10-6) relative to HREE (20×10-6-33×10-6) with ratios (LREE/HREE=11.6-18.7) and no negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.9-1.04). The relative presence of posi-tive Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce*=1.04) in lamprophyre samples suggests the oxidizing condition under which the REEs were precipitated due to the common occurrence of fluorite and apatite.

Geophysical Mapping, Geochemical Evidence and Mineralogy for Nuweibi Rare Metal Albite Granite, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The present study aims to shed light on the rare metals of Nuweibiareaalbite granite in the Eastern Desert through the chemical analyses of the two types of fine-grained albite granite (FAG) and medium-grained albite granite (MAG) in addition to mineralogical studies as well as ground spectrometric survey and aeromagnetic mapping. On the basis of ground spectrometric measurements K, eUand eTh distribution maps were obtained. The concentration of K, U and Th content shows maxima (4.5%, 13 ppm and 27 ppm on average, respectively) in the FAG, and (4.5%, 10 ppm and 35 ppm on average) in the MAG. The eU/eTh ratio significantly increases in FAG with higher magma differentiation than MAG reaching 0.63. This paper uses magnetic geophysical methods to investigate geometry and sense of motion across the Nuweibi area. The interpreted structures from the magnetic maps are characterized by two main intersecting sets of NW-SE and NE-SW trending faults in addition to other three minor faults that trend in N-S, NNW-SSE and ENE-WSW directions. The NW-SE trending faults represent the recent sets in the study area where they are dissected and displaced by the other old faults. The Werner depth map shows the interface depths of the granite and basement rocks that extend to great depths ranging from 10 to 380 m. FAG is extended underneath most of the surrounding schist rocks because of their attributed low magnetic intensity that confirmed also with drilling. Microscope and Microprobe analyses indicated that the most important radioactive minerals include uranothorite, thorite, zircon, and monazite. Columbite group minerals represent the most common Nb-Ta host in Nuweibi-albite granites that contain significant levels of Ta (up to 65.4 wt. % Ta2O5) and Nb (up to 60 wt. % Nb2O5), with Ta/(Ta+Nb) ratio ranging from 0.17 to 0.84. Columbite group minerals are represented mostly by columbite-(Mn) and tantalite-(Mn), with Mn/(Mn+Fe) ratio ranging from 0.42 to 0.89. Ixiolite, wodgnite and tapiolite-(Mn) were found only in the FAG indicating the final stages of the evolution of parental granitic magma. The U-Th and U-K variation diagrams suggested that magmatic processes controlled the distribution of these elements. The Scanning Electron-microprobe analyses reveal variable compositions and extents between the MAG and FAG in the Nb, Ta-Ti, Sn-Fe, Mn triangular plot. It is worthy to be noted that because of the higher Ta/Nb ratio in the tapiolite-Mn and ixiolite of FAG in comparison with the coexisting Mn-columbite in the MAG, levels of HfO2 greater than 15% and even attaining 23%, characterized the hafnium zircon in the Nwueibialbite-enriched facies. There is a close correlation between Hf/(Hf + Zr) and Ta/(Nb + Ta) which seems mainly associated with the FAG.