Recent uranium mobilization of late neoproterozoic El Sela sheared granites, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2021-05, Vol.328 (2), p.539-550
• Main Authors: Mezayen, Ahmed M. El, Shahin, Hassan A., Kawady, Nilly A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Germanium; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Hydrothermal fluids; Inorganic Chemistry; Leaching; Lead isotopes; Mathematical analysis; Meteoric water; Mineralization; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear energy; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Radioisotopes; Radium 226; Ratios; Shear zone; Uranium
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07665-4

The sheared granite of El Sela represents one of the most promising uranium mineralization in the southern part of the eastern desert, in Egypt. The present work concerned in detailed with El Sela shear zone through ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE trends as a perfect way for ascending hydrothermal solutions and meteoric water that led to leaching of uranium from its bearing minerals and redeposit them in the altered granites. Activities of radionuclides were identified for 238 U, 235 U, 234 U, 230 Th, 232 Th, 226 Ra, 214 Bi, 214 Pb, 210 Pb, and 40 K in the studied samples by hyper-pure germanium detector. Furthermore, activity ratios 234 U/ 238 U, 230 Th/ 238 U, 230 Th/ 234 U, 226 Ra/ 238 U, 226 Ra/ 230 Th, 238 U/ 235 U, and 234 U/ 235 U were calculated. Additionally, the 238 U/ 235 U activity ratios range were evaluated from 20.99 to 22.4 with an average of 21.69 indicating a slight deviation from the natural ratio (21.7). The 234 U/ 235 U activity ratios range recorded from 4.866 to 121.39 with a reported average of 63.13 uranium migration (out / in). Finally, the age of uranium mobilization in the studied samples was calculated from 18.83 to 43.25 kyr. suggested a recent uranium mineralization.