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Using Portable Gamma-Ray Spectrometry for Testing Uranium Migration: A Case Study from the Wadi El Kareim Alkaline Volcanics, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt
Osama K. DESSOUKY,
Hani H. ALI,
Corresponding Author
Osama K. DESSOUKY
Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorHani H. ALI
Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Search for more papers by this authorOsama K. DESSOUKY,
Hani H. ALI,
Corresponding Author
Osama K. DESSOUKY
Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorHani H. ALI
Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530, El Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Search for more papers by this authorAbout the first author: Osama Khairy DESSOUKY, was born at Ismailia City, Egypt. He graduated in 2002 with a B.Sc in geology from the faculty of science, Suez Canal University (Ismailia), Egypt. He received a M.Sc. (2009) and Ph.D (2013) in geology from Suez Canal University. He worked as a geologist (2003–2011) in the Egyptian Nuclear Materials Authority, assistant lecturer (2011–2013) and lecturer of geology at the Research Sector (2013 up to now). His current research is focused on the exploration of radioactive mineralization and its gneisses beside their host rocks. E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: +201003469820.
Abstract
The 300±20 Ma anomalously radioactive trachytes of Wadi El Kareim, central Eastern Desert, are a significant example of U-mineralization related to the alkaline volcanics in Egypt. Extensive portable gamma-ray spectrometric data has been utilized to identify geological factors controlling uranium mobility in the geological units along the three detailed study locations of Kab Al-Abyad, South Wadi (W) Al-Tarafawy and W. Al-Farkhah; their eTh/eU ratios averaging around 4.1, 3.7 and 5.6 respectively. Quantitative analysis with the integration of mobility maps and geological studies suggest two systems controlling U-migration within the geological units (confined system and unconfined system). In the confined system, the syngenetically formed U have experienced mobility after leaching and are redistributed in the presence of an incorporation carrier during transportation (probably as carbonate complexes). Then the retardant for uranium is achieved by sorption or by coprecipitation with the aid of Fe oxy-hydroxide, and finally the formation of immobile secondary U-bearing minerals takes place along a lithogeochemical trap. In contrast to the confined system, the unconfined one is basically lacking the lithogeochemical trap which influences the final accumulation of U-bearing minerals. The radioactivity of the trachyte rocks arises from the radioactive minerals uranophane and beta-uranophane with U- and/or Th-bearing minerals samarskite, Th-rich REE silicates, monazite and allanite.
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