ESTIMATION OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES OF THE ROCKS OF ABU KHURUQ RING COMPLEX, EGYPT

The naturally occurring radionuclides (radium, thorium, potassium and radon) were investigated in the alkaline rocks of Abu Khuruq Ring, southern Eastern Desert, Egypt. High-Resolution Germanium detector was used for the detection of 40 K, 232 Th, and 226 Ra (Canberra, GR4020 model) while 222 Rn concentration was measured by AlphaGuard Saphymo GmbH system, model PQ 2000 (AG). Positive correlation was observed between effective radium content and radon concentrations pointing to the strong linear dependency between both contents in the studied rocks. The average values of activity concentration of 40 K, 232 Th, 226 Ra, and 222 Rn were little more than the suggested level by a factor of 1.38%, 3.16%, 2.09%, and 1.16%, respectively. Significant variations were observed between radiological hazards parameters, e.g., the mean value of annual effective dose (0.55 mSv y -1 ) was more than the global reference value of 0.41 mSv y -1 by a factor of 1.34. The calculated average value of gamma index was 0.90, whereas the calculated average value of alpha index was 0.37. Hex, Hin and Raeq showed less average values than the standard values of unity and 370 Bq kg -1 , respectively.