Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The possible source of uranium mineralization in felsic volcanic rocks, Eastern Desert, Egypt of the Arabian-Nubian Shield: Constraints from whole-rock geochemistry and spectrometric prospection

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Geochimica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present work deals with the detailed geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and spectrometric prospection of the felsic volcanic rocks at the Eastern Desert, Egypt of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Felsic volcanic rocks are an essential source for rare earth elements (REEs) and uranium occurrences in this area. They are compositionally uniform with tholeiitic to calc-alkaline affinities, peraluminous and belong to the series of rhyolite with high-K melt. They exhibit more enrichment in high field strength elements (HFSE, e.g. Zr, Ta, Nd, Th, and U) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILE, e.g. Pb and Rb) compared to the country rocks of the studied area, with REE ranging from 188.20 to 442.70 ppm and strong depletion in Ti, Sr, P with deep negative Eu oddities. The felsic volcanic rocks were mostly generated from the partial melting of quartz-amphibolite facies accreted during the Neoproterozoic. Positive oddities of Zr- U- Th for the felsic volcanic rocks determine the involvement of crustal materials. Felsic volcanic rocks are found in A-type suites of magma and represent highly fractionated rocks derived from rhyolitic magma, with insignificant interaction with continental crust in the low-pressure environment and during fractional crystallization. Felsic volcanic rocks have higher values of radioactivity in which eU range from 0.5 to 121 ppm and eTh from 1.0 to 415.10 ppm. The high values of eU and eTh can be ascribed to the mineralization of uranium and the presence of accessory minerals of radiogenic nature such as uranophane, uranothorite, zircon, and monazite. Uranophane is considered as the mineral with most enriched uranium contents in the studied felsic volcanic rocks in which (UO2 = 87.30 wt %). Also, they are enriched with REE-bearing accessory minerals comprising allanite, titanite, and apatite. The geological investigations of the felsic volcanic rocks in the studied areas are inappropriate to clear the feasible economic potentialities of rare earth elements and U occurrences; itemized and invaluable explorational work is as yet needed. Whilst, the environmental impact of mineralization, owing to U and Th and their radiogenic daughter products, is observed and must be elaborated minutely.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdeen MM, Dardir AA, Greiling RO (1991) Hammamat pebbles in Felsite at Wadi Queih, North of Quseir, Eastern Desert of Egypt. Annal Geol Surv Egypt 17:73–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Abdalla HM (2001) Geochemistry and origin of rare metal mineralization of Um Safi felsite, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Egyptian J Geol 45(1):131–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Abu El-Ela FF (2001) Neoproterozoic alkaline magmatism of the Eastern Desert of Egypt: example of Atalla felsites. Second International Conference on Geology of Africa, Assiut University, Egypt, p. 55–291

  • Abdelsalam MG, Abdel-Rahman ME, El-Faki EM, Bushra A, El-Bashier FM, Stern RJ, Thurmond A (2003) Neoproterozoic deformation in the northeastern part of the Saharan Metacraton, northern Sudan. Precambr Res 123:203–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akaad MK (1957) Petrography, structure and time relations of the Igla formation. Egypt J Geol 1:93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Akaad MK, El Ramly MF (1958) Seven new occurrences of the Igla formation in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Geol Surv Cairo paper N 2:38

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali KA, Stern RJ, Manton WI, Kimura JI, Khamis HA (2009) Geochemistry, Nd isotopes and U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating of Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks from the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt: new insight into the ~750 Ma crust-forming event. Precambr Res 171:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aslan Z, Erdem D, Temizel İ, Arslan M (2017) SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages and whole-rock geochemistry for the Şapçı volcanic rocks, Biga Peninsula, Northwest Turkey: implications for pre-eruption crystallization conditions and source characteristics. Int Geol Rev 59(14):1764–1785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakhit FS (1978) Geology and radioactive mineralization of G. El Missikat area, Eastern Desert: Ph. D. Thesis, Ein Shams Univ., Cairo, 289 p

  • Barret TJ, Maclean WH (1999) Volcanic sequences, lithogeochemistry, and hydrothermal alteration in some bimodal volcanic-associated massive sulfide systems. Rev Econ Geo 8:101–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth MG, McDonough WF, Rudnick RL (2000) Tracking the budget of Nb and Ta in the continental crust. Chem Geol 165:197–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bau M (1996) Controls on the fractionation of isovalent trace elements in magmatic and aqueous system; evidence from Y/Ho, Zr/Hf and lanthanide tetrad effect. Contrib Mineral Petrol 123:323–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Best MG, Christiansen EH (2001) Igneous petrology: London, Blackwell Science, 458 p

  • Bonnetti C, Liu X, Mercadier J, Cuney M, Deloule E, Villeneuve J, Liu W (2018a) The genesis of granite-related hydrothermal uranium deposits in the Xiazhuang and Zhuguang ore fields, North Guangdong Province, SE China: Insights from mineralogical, trace elements and U-Pb isotopes signatures of the U mineralisation. Ore Geol Rev 92:588–612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnetti, C, Riegler T, Liu X (2018b) Alteration fingerprint of the early Yanshanian graniterelated high-temperature hydrothermal uranium mineralisation in the Nanling Metallogenic Belt, SE China. In: International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2018). CN-261–83, IAEA, Vienna, p. 45–48

  • Bonnetti C, Liu X, Cuney M, Mercadier J, Yu C, Riegler T (2020) Evolution of the uranium mineralisation in the Zoujiashan deposit, Xiangshan ore field: implications for the genesis of volcanic-related hydrothermal U deposits in South China. Ore Geol Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnetti C, Liu X, Mercadier J, Cuney M, Wu B, Li G (2020) Genesis of the volcanic-related Be-U-Mo Baiyanghe deposit, West Junggar (NW China), constrained by mineralogical, trace element and U-Pb isotope signatures of the primary U mineralization. Ore Geol Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boynton WV (1984) Geochemistry of the rare earth elements: meteorite studies. In: Henderson, P. (Ed.), REE Geochemistry, p. 63–114

  • Brown GC, Thorpe RS, Webb PC (1984) The geochemical characteristics of granitoids in contrasting arcs and comments on magma sources. J Geol Soc 141(3):413–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambon AR (1994) Uranium deposits in granitic rocks. Notes on the national training course on uranium geology and exploration. Organized by IAEA and NMA, 8–20 Jan, Cairo, Egypt

  • Castor SB, Berry MR (1981) Geology of the Lakeview uranium district, Oregon, in Goodell, P.C., Waters, A.C. eds., Uranium in Volcanic and Volcaniclastic Rocks: American Association of Petroleum. Geologists Studies in Geology 13: 55–62

  • Castor SB, Henry CD (2000) Geology, geochemistry, and origin of volcanic rock-hosted uranium deposits in northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon, US: Ore Geology Reviews 16: 1–40

  • Chabiron A, Alyoshin AP, Cuney M, Deloule E, Golubev VN, Velithkin VI, Poty B (2001) Geochemistry of the rhyolite magmas from the Streltsovka caldera (Transbaikalia, Russia)-a melt inclusion study: chemical. Chem Geol 175:273–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chabiron A, Cuney M, Poty B (2003) Possible uranium sources for the largest uranium district associated with volcanism: the Streltsovka caldera (Transbaikalia, Russia). Mineral Deposita 38:127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell BW, White AJR (1992) I- and S-type granites in the Lachlan Fold Belt; Trans. R Soc Edinb Earth Sci 83:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuney M (2003) Mechanisms of U-Fractionation. U solubility controls in silicate melts and fluid phase, partial melting and fractional crystallization. IAEA short course

  • Cuney M (2014) Felsic magmatism and uranium deposits. Bull Soc géol France 185(2):75–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuney M, Kyser K (2008) Recent and not-so-recent developments in uranium deposits and implications for exploration: mineralogical association of canada. Short Course Series 39:257

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuney M, Le fort P, Wang ZX (1984) Uranium and Thorium Geochemistry and Mineralogy in the Manasluleucogranite (Nepal, Himalaya). Geology of Granites and Their Metallogenetic Relations (Proceedings of a Symposium), Nanjing, 1982, University Sciences Editions, p. 853–873

  • Cunningham WD (1998) Lithospheric controls on late Cenozoic construction of the Mongolian Altai. Tectonics 17:891–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dailey SR, Christiansen EH, Dorais MJ, Kowallis BG, Fernandez DP, Johnson DM (2018) Origin of the fluorine- and beryllium-rich rhyolites of the Spor Mountain Formation. Western Utah American Mineralogist 103:1228–1252. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2018-6256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng J (2013) Geological characteristics and metallogenic conditions of the Xiache REE deposit in Heping County. Guangdong province Earth 5:5 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dessouky OK, Dardier AM, Abdel Ghani IM (2018) Egyptian Hammamat molasse basins and their relations to arc collision stages: Implications for radioactive elements mineralization potential. Geol J 1:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly KE, Goldstein SL, Langmuir CH, Spiegelman M (2004) Origin of enriched ocean ridge basalts and implications for mantle dynamics. Earth Planet Sci Lett 226:347–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dostal J (2016) Rare metal deposits associated with alkaline/peralkaline igneous rocks. society of economic geologists, inc. Rev Econ Geol 18:33–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Dostal J (2017) Rare earth element deposits of alkaline igneous rocks. Resources 6:34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eby GN (1992) Chemical subdivision of the A-type granitoids: Petrogenetic and tectonic implications. Geology 20:641–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Ghawaby MA (1966) Structural and lithologic controls of localization of radioactive mineralization in a south Qusier area. M.Sc. Thesis, Ain Shams Univ., Cairo: 100 p

  • El Kassas IA (1974) Radioactivity and geology of Wadi Atalla area. Eastern Desert of Egypt, Arab Republic of Egypt. Ph. D. Thesis, Faculty of Science, Ein Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

  • El-Kassas IA, Bakhit FS (1989) Geology of Wadi Alalla-El Missikat area. Eastern Desert Qatar Univ Sci Bull 9:227–244

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Naby HH (2009) High and low temperature alteration of uranium and thorium minerals, Um Ara granites, south Eastern Desert. Egypt Ore Geology Reviews 35:436–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Essawy MA (1972) Petrogenesis of alkaline rhyolites and microgranites from Samadai-Tunduba area, Eastern Desert. Egypt Annals Geological Survey of Egypt II:239–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Essawy MA, Abu Zeid KM (1972) Atalla Felsite Intrusion and its Neighbouring Rhyolitic Flows and Tuffs, Eastern Desert. Ann Geol Surv Egypt II:271–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich MH, Cuney M, Cregu G (1989) Uranium Enrichment Processes in Peraluminous Magmatism. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-TC-571/2. p.11–35

  • George-Aniel B, Leroy JL, Poty B (1991) Volcanogenic uranium mineralizations in the Sierra Pena Blanca District. Chihuahua, Mexico-Three genetic models: Econ Geol 86:233–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Gharib ME, Ahmed AH (2012) Late Neoproterozoic volcanics and associated granitoids at Wadi Ranga, south Eastern Desert, Egypt: A transition from subduction related to intra-arc magmatism/Lithos. 155: 236–255

  • Gibson PE, Wood SA (1997) Mineralogy, geochemistry and mobility of the REE and thorium at Lemhi Pass, Idaho: abstracts with programs. Geol Soc Am 29(6):50

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorton MP, Schandl ES (2000) From continents to island arcs: a geochemical index of tectonic setting for arc-related and within-plate felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks. Can Mineral 38:1065–1073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green TH, Pearson NJ (1987) An experimental study of Nb and Ta partitioning between Ti-rich minerals and silicate liquids at high pressure and temperature. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 51:55–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg JK (1981) Characteristics and origin of Egyptian younger granites. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, part II 92:749–840

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo F, Fan W, Li C, Zhao L, Li H, Yang J (2012) Multistage crust–mantle interaction in SE China: temporal, thermal and compositional constraints from the Mesozoic felsic volcanic rocks in eastern Guangdong-Fujian provinces. Lithos 150:62–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2011.12.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan MA, Hashad AH (1990) Precambrian of Egypt. In: The Geology of Egypt. (e.d. Said, R.) 201–245

  • Heikal MThS, Khedr MZ, Abd El Monsef M, Gomaa SR (2019) Petrogenesis and geodynamic evolution of neoproterozoic Abu Dabbab albite granite, central Eastern Desert of Egypt: petrological and geochemical constraints. J. Afr. Earth Sci. 158:103518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich EW (1962) Mineralogy and geology of radioactive raw materials. Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, New York, p 654

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogarth DD, Hartree R, Loop J, Solberg TN (1985) Rare-earth element minerals in four carbonatites near Gatineau, Quebec. Am Mineral 70:1135–1142

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollings P, Kerrich R (2000) An Archean arc basalt–Nb-enriched basalt–adakite association: the 2.7 Ga confederation assemblage of the Birch-Uchi greenstone belt. Superior Province Contrib Miner Petrol 139:208–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hostetler PB, Garrels RM (1962) Transportation and precipitation of uranium at low temperatures, with special reference to sandstone-type uranium deposits. Econ Geol 52:137–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA (2009) World distribution of uranium deposits, with uranium deposit classification

  • Ibrahim IH (2001) Geology, geochemistry and potentiality of radioactive mineralizations at Um Safi area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Ph.D. Thesis, Ain Shams Univ. of Egypt: 288 p

  • Ibrahim ME, Zalata AA, Assaf HS, Ibrahim IH, Rashed MA (2005) El sella shear zone, southeastern Desert, Egypt; An example of vein-type uranium deposit. Proceedings of 9th Inter Min Petrol and Metall Eng Conf, Cairo, Egypt

  • Ibrahim ME, Watanabe K, Saleh GM, Ibrahim WS (2015) Abu Rusheid lamprophyre dikes, South Eastern Desert, Egypt: as physical-chemical traps for REEs, Zn, Y, U, Cu, W, and Ag. Arab J Geosci 8:9261–9270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irber W (1999) The lanthanide tetrad effect and its correlation with K/Rb, Eu/Eu*, Sr/ Eu, Y/Ho and Zr/Hf of evolving peraluminous granite suites. Geochem Cosmochim Acta 63(3):489–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irvine TN, Baragar WRA (1971) A guide to the chemical classification of the common volcanic rocks. Can J Earth Sci 8:523–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa Y, Sawaguchi T, Ywaya S, Horiuchi M (1976) Delineation of prospecting targets for Kuroko deposits based on modes of volcanism of underlying dacite and alteration haloes. Mining Geology 26:105–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen BB (1967) Distribution patterns of rare earth elements in cerium-rich minerals. Nor Geol Tidsskr 47:9–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiashu R, Zehong H (1982) Forms of Uranium occurrence and its distribution in uraniferous granites. Geology of Granites and their Metallogenetic Relations. Sciences Press, Beijing, pp 621–635

    Google Scholar 

  • John DA (2001) Miocene and early Pliocene epithermal gold-silver deposits in the northern Great Basin, Western United States-Characteristics, distribution, and relationship to magmatism. Econ Geol 96:1827–1853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr A, Fryer BJ (1993) Nd isotope evidence for crustmantle interaction in the generation of A-type granitoid suites in Labrador, Canada. Chem Geol 104:39–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keppler H, Wylie PJ (1991) Partitioning of Cu, Sn, Mo, W, U, and Th between melt and aqueous fluid in the system haplogranite-H2O-HCl and happlogranite-H2O-HF. Contribut Mineral Petrol 109:139–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klepper MR, Wyand DG (1956) Uranium provenance. In: Stocking, H.E. and Smith, H.B. (Eds.), Contributions to the geology of uranium and thorium by the United Stated Geological survey and atomic energy commission for the united nations international conference on peaceful uses of atomic energy, Geneva, Switzerland,1955, U.S.Geol. Surv. Professional Paper,300: 17–26.

  • Kröner A (1984) Late Precambrian plate tectonics and orogeny: a need to redefine the term Pan-African. In: Klerkx J, Michot J (Eds.), African Geology. Teruren, p. 23–26

  • Large RR, Gemmell JB, Paulick H, Huston DL (2001) The alteration box plot: A simple approach to understanding the relationship between alteration mineralogy and lithogeochemistry associated with volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits. Econ Geol 96:957–971

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas MJ, Le Maitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zannetin B (1986) A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali-silica diagram. J Petrol 27:745–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas MJ, Le Maitre RW, Woolley AR (1992) The construction of the total alkali – 395 silica chemical classification of volcanic rocks. Mineral Petrol 46:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leat PT, Jackson SE, Thorpe RS, Stillman CJ (1986) Geochemistry of bimodal basalt-subalkaline/peralkaline rhyolite provinces within the southern British Caledonides. J Geol Soc London 143:259–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SG, Masuda A, Kim HS (1994) An early Proterozoic leuco granitic gneiss with the REE tetrad phenomenon. J Chem Geol 114:59–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lentz DR (1998) Petrogenetic evolution of felsic volcanic sequences associated with Phanerozoic volcanic-hosted massive sulfide systems: the role of extensional geodynamics. Ore Geol Rev 12:289–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lentz DR (1999) Petrology, geochemistry, and oxygen isotope interpretation of felsic volcanic and related rocks hosting the Brunwick 6 and 12 massive sulfide deposits (Brunswick belt), Bathurst mining camp, New Brunswick, Canada. Econ Geol 94:57–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leroy JL (1992) George-Aniel B. Volcanism and uranium mineralisations-The concept of source rock and concentration mechanism: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 50:247–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Maithani PB, Srinivasan S (2011) Felsic volcanic rocks, a potential source of uranium. An Indian Overv Energy Procedia 7:163–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maniar PD, Piccoli PM (1989) Tectonic discrimination of granitoids. Geol Soc Am Bull 101:635–643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masuda A, Kawakami O, Dohmoto Y, Takenaka T (1987) Lanthanide tetrad effects in nature: two mutually opposite types, W and M. Geochem J 21:119–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKay GA (1989) Partitioning of rare earth elements between major silicate minerals and basaltic melts. In: Lipin BR, McKay GA (Eds.), Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Rare Earth Elements: Mineralogical Society of America, 21: 45–77

  • Mikuláš F (2015) The origin of the uranium–molybdenum deposit Kurišková. Geol, Geophys Environ 41(1):78–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyashiro A (1978) Nature of alkalic volcanic rock series. Contrib Mineral Petrol 66:91–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moine B, Ramambazafy A, Rakotondrazafy M, Cuney M, de Perceval P (1997) The role of fluor-rich fluids in the transport of Th. Zr, Ti, and REE-An example from the granulites of South Madagascar: Proceedings European Current Research on Fluid Inclusions 14:209–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Monecke T, Kempe U, Monecke J, Sala M, Wolf D (2002) Tetrad effect in rare earth element distribution patterns: a method of quantification with application to rock and mineral samples from granite-related rare metal deposits. Gechim Cosmochim Acta 66:1185–1196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nash JT (2010) Volcanogenic Uranium Deposits: Geology, Geochemical Processes, and Criteria for Resource Assessment. US Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2010–1001, 99 p

  • Nininger RD (1954) Minerals for atomic energy, 1st edn. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, p 143

    Google Scholar 

  • Niu YL (2008) The origin of alkaline lavas. Science 320, 883 p

  • Niu YL, O’Hara MJ (2009) MORB mantle hosts the missing Eu (Sr, Nb, Ta and Ti) in the continental crust: New perspectives on crustal growth, crust-mantle differentiation and chemical structure of oceanic upper mantle. Lithos 112:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce JA (1982) Trace element characteristics of lavas from destructive 424 plate boundaries. In: 425 Thorpe RS (ed) Andesites: Orogenic Andesites and Related Rocks, John Wiley and Sons, 426 New York, p. 525–548

  • Pearce JA (1983) The role of sub-continental lithosphere in magma genesis at destructive plate margins: in Hawkesworth CJ, Norry MJ, editors, Continental basalts and 429 mantle xenoliths: Orpington, Shiva, p. 230–249

  • Pearce JA, Harris NBW, Tindle AG (1984) Trace element discrimination diagrams for the tectonic interpretation of granitic rocks. J Petrol 25:956–983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phair G, Shimamoto, (1952) Radioactive Tertiary porphyries in the central city district, Colorado and their bearing Upon pitchblend deposition. U.S. Geol, Survey, TEL, p 247

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilet S, Baker MB, Stolper EM (2008) Metasomatized lithosphere and the origin of alkaline lavas. Science 320:916–919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plank T (2005) Constraints from Thorium/Lanthanum on sediment recycling at subduction zones and the evolution of the continents. J Petrol 46:921–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poty B, Cuney M, Friedrich MH (1986) Uranium deposits spatially related to granites in the French Part of the Hercynian Orogeny, Vein Type Uranium deposits. IAEA-TECDOC-361, IAEA, Vienna, p. 215–246

  • Rickwood PC (1989) Boundary lines within petrologic diagrams which use oxides of major and minor elements. Rollinson, H., 1993. using geochemical data: evaluation, interpretation, presentation. Longman, New York, Lithos 22:247–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Romberger SB (1999) Mobility of uranium and thorium in natural aqueous systems: EOS. Transac Am Geophys Union 80(46):1204

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryerson FJ, Watson EB (1987) Rutile saturation in magmas: Implications for the Ti-Nb-Ta depletion in island-arc basalts. Earth Planet Sci Lett 86:225–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rytuba JJ, Conrad WK (1981) Petrochemical characteristics of volcanic rocks associated with uranium deposits in the McDermitt caldera complex, in, Goodell, P.C., and Waters, A.C., eds., Uranium in Volcanic and Volcaniclastic Rocks: American Association of Petroleum. Geologists Studies in Geology, 13: 63–72

  • Saleh GM (1997) The potentiality of uranium occurrences in wadi- Nugrus area, south Eastern Desert, Egypt. Ph.D. Thesis, Faculty of sci. Mansoura univ. 171p

  • Salman AB, El Aassy IE, Shalaby MH (1990) New occurrence of uranium mineralization in GabalGattar, northern Eastern Desert. Egypt Ann Geol Surv Egypt 16:31–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Seedorff E, Dilles JH, Proffett JM, Einaudi MT, Zurcher L, Stavast WJA, Johnson DA, Barton MD (2005) Porphyry deposits-characteristics and origin of hypogene features, in Economic Geology 100th Anniversary 251–298

  • Saatci ES, Aslan Z (2018) Petrography and petrology of the YÜREKLİ (BALIKESIR) volcanics: an example of post-collisional felsic volcanism in the Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey). Bull Min Res Exp 157(157):103–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Shellnutt JG, Wang KL, Zellmer GF, Iizuka Y, Jahn BM, Pang KN, Qi L, Zhou MF (2011) Three Fe-Ti oxide ore-bearing gabbro-granitoid complexes in the Panxi region of the Permian Emeishan large igneous province. SW China: American Journal of Science 311:773–812. https://doi.org/10.2475/09.2011.02

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Speer JA (1982) Zircon in orthosilicate (ed. P. H. Ribble) MSA Review in mineralogy, 5: 67–113

  • Speer JA, Solberg TN, Becker SW (1981) Petrography of the uranium-bearing minerals of the Loberty Hill pluton. South Carolina: Phase assemblages and migration of uranium in granitoid rock. Economic Geol 76:2162–2175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern RJ (1994) Arc assembly and continental collision in the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen: implication for the consolidation of Gondwanaland. Ann Rev Earth Planetary Sci 22:319–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun SS, McDonough WF (1989) Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: Implications for mantle composition and processes. In: Saunders AD, Norry MJ (eds.): Magmatism in the ocean basins. Geol Soc London Spec Publ 42: 313–345

  • Sylvester PJ (1998) Post-collisional strongly peraluminous granites. Lithos 45:29–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szemerédi M, Lukács R, Varga A, Dunkl I, Józsa S, Pál-Molnár E, Szepesi J, Guillong M, Szakmány G, Tatu M, Harangi S (2020) Permian felsic volcanic rocks in the Pannonian Basin (Hungary): new petrographic, geochemical, and geochronological results. Int J Earth Sci 109:101–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1995) The continental crust: Its composition and evolution. Blackwell Scientific Publicion, Oxford, p 312

    Google Scholar 

  • Villemant B, Palacin P (1987) Différenciation magmatique et mé- canismes de concentration de l’uranium: exemple du volcanisme du Latium (Italie centrale). Bull Minéral 110:319–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton AW, William G, Henry C (1976) Release of uranium from volcanic glass in sedimentary sequences; an analysis of two systems

  • Wang DH, Zhao Z, Yu Y, Zhao T, Li J, Dai J, Liu X, He H (2013) Progress, problems and research orientation of ion-adsorption type rare earth resources. Rock Miner 32:796–802 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Fan W, Sun M, Liang X, Zhang Y, Peng T (2007) Geochronological, geochemical and geothermal constraints on petrogenesis of the Indosinian peraluminous granites in the South China Block: a case study in the Hunan Province. Lithos 96:475–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB, Rogers N, Van Staal CR, Longstaffe FJ, Jenner GA, Winchester JA (1998) Geochemical and isotopic (Nd, O) data from Ordovician felsic plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Miramichi Highlands: Petrogenetic and implications for the Bathurst mining camp. Can J Earth Sci 35:237–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whalen JB, Currie KL, Chappell BW (1987) A-type granites: geochemical characteristics, discrimination and petrogenesis. Contrib Miner Petrol 95:420–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson M (1989) Igneous Petrogenesis. Unwin Hyman, London, p 457

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Gu Z, Wang B, Liu Y, Luo Y, Xu Q, Tan Y, Tang Y, Yang B (2015) Content and mineralization of Xunwu rare earth ore. Biomaterials 34:231–233 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu CD, Wang KX, Liu XD, Cuney M, Pan JY, Wang G, Zhang L, Zhang J (2020) Uranium Mineralogical and Chemical Features of the Na-Metasomatic Type Uranium Deposit in the Longshoushan Metallogenic Belt, Northwestern China. Minerals, 10 (335): 1–24; doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/min10040335

  • Zhang Y, Yuan C, Long X, Sun M, Huang Z, Du L, Wang X (2017) Carboniferous bimodal volcanic rocks in the Eastern Tianshan. NW China: Evidence for arc rifting: Gondwana Research 43:92–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z (1990) A study on weathering crust ion adsorption type REE deposits, South China. Contrib Geol Miner Resour Res 5:57–71 (In Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Masuda A, Shabani MB (1993) REE tetrad effects in rare-metal granites. J Chinese Journal of Geochemistry 12:206–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Wang DH, Chen ZH, Chen ZY (2017) Progress of research on metallogenic regularity of ion-adsorption type REE deposit in the Nanling Range (In Chinese with English abstract). Acta Geol Sin 91(12):2814–2827

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeid EKA (2020) Autunite-group minerals and their paragenesis from the Sheared Granite of Gabal El Sela, South Eastern desert. Egypt Open Journal of Geology 10:703–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zielinsky RA (1981) Experimental leaching of volcanic glass- Implications for evaluation of glassy volcanic rocks as source of uranium. Am Assoc Petroleum Geol Stud Geol 13:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoheir B, Zehc A, El-Bialy M, Ragab A, Deshesh F (2021) Steele-MacInnis M (2020) Hybrid granite magmatism during orogenic collapse in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: Inferences from whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes. Precambr Res 354:106044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zussman J, Deer WA, Howie RA (1966) An introduction to rock forming minerals. Longmans, London, p 517

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Dr. M. H. Shalaby, and late prof. Dr. M. E. Ibrahim (Nuclear Materials Authority of Egypt) for their kind support, field facilities and careful reading of the manuscript. Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Ehab Korany (Nuclear Materials Authority of Egypt) for his fruitful help in petrography. The authors are indebted to the editors of Journal of ACTA GEOCHIMICA, for reviewing and editing of the manuscript. Special thanks to anonymous reviewers for their encouraging comments and annotations that greatly improved an earlier version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Materials Authority, El Maadi, P.O. Box 530, Cairo, Egypt

    Gehad. M. Saleh, Bahaa. M. Emad, Ibrahim. B. Abdel Kader & Rania. M. Sakr

Authors
  1. Gehad. M. Saleh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bahaa. M. Emad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ibrahim. B. Abdel Kader
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rania. M. Sakr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bahaa. M. Emad.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOC 186 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saleh, G.M., Emad, B.M., Kader, I.B.A. et al. The possible source of uranium mineralization in felsic volcanic rocks, Eastern Desert, Egypt of the Arabian-Nubian Shield: Constraints from whole-rock geochemistry and spectrometric prospection. Acta Geochim 40, 819–845 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-021-00472-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-021-00472-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation