Radiological risks, mineralogical features and Petrological Aspects of some Neoproterozoic Basement Rocks

Abstract

In continuation of our program to create a radiation map of various environments and geological regions, the Wadi Mubarak region was chosen for this purpose, which is located in North Marsa Allam and South El Quser bounded by latitudes 25° 28.386′ N & 25° 20.493′ N and longitudes 34° 37.084′ E & 34° 36.387′ E, covering an area of about 440 km². The geological context of the study region is primarily informed by field geology. The predominant rock formations in this area consist of exposed ophiolite and related rocks, metavolcanics, gabbro, tonalite, Hammam granodiorite, and monzogranite. Numerous valleys filled with Quaternary sediments intersect the outcrops of various rock units. The region is traversed by Wadi Mubarak, which runs approximately NE-SW, and Wadi Kadabora, which flows in a N-S direction. According to the geological and sampling maps, the rock units are arranged chronologically from old to youngest. An analysis of radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²³²Th, and ²²⁶Ra) was conducted on 36 samples of Egyptian Neoproterozoic rocks collected from Wadi Mubarak, utilizing gamma spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) 3” × 3” detector. The measured radioactivity concentrations in the rocks are as follows (in Bq kg⁻¹): ²²⁶Ra: 8 to 34, ²³²Th: 5 to 35 and ⁴⁰K: 134 to 374 Furthermore, an assessment of the radiological risks associated with the examined samples indicates that these measurements are below the global average. Consequently, it can be concluded that the living conditions for the local population are secure.