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El Ramsa area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt: radioactivity, mineralogy, and geochemistry studies

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Abstract

Um Bogma Formation represents the main target for uranium exploration at El Ramsa area. The gamma-ray spectrometric survey shows diverse measurements of radioactivity over the surveyed area, which reflects contrasting radioelement, contents for the exposed various rock types. The highest radio-spectrometric levels are located in the northeast part and scattered parts to the southwest of the study area. They are mainly associated with Um Bogma Formation. Seven uranium anomalous localities are recorded which can be used as exploration guides to explore further uranium anomalies. The highest radiometric uranium anomalies were recorded within gibbsite, carbonaceous shale, dolomite, marl, and ferruginous sandstone of Um Bogma Formation. The chemical investigations indicate enrichment in U, Cu, Mn, Cd, Ni, Zn, and Pb elements. It also reveals high uranium contents up to 640 ppm and a strong positive relation between uranium and both iron and aluminum oxides was noticed. Furthermore, high content of rare earth elements, reaching up to 5736 ppm with an average 4204 ppm, is reported in gibbsite samples. Uranium minerals such as vanuralite, sklowdowskite, and phosphuranulite were detected. The present study reveals that the source of uranium and other elements in El Ramsa area is the hydrothermal fluids which associated with the magmatic eruption during the Paleozoic events.

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Acknowledgements

The author appreciates the comments and suggestions of Professor Domenico Doronzo (Chief-Editor) and Professor Abdullah M. Al-Amri (Editor-in-Chief) of Arabian Journal of Geosciences that benefited the previous versions of this manuscript. Sincere thanks are extended to reviewers for the comprehensive and constructive comments that significantly improved the manuscript. I would also like to extend my thanks to Professor, Head of Nuclear Materials Authority, and Professor A. Dardier (Head of Laboratories of Nuclear Materials Authority) for helping to conduct analyzes in a short time. The author is deeply indebted to Chief of DRC, labs, Cairo, Egypt, for helping to conduct analyzes. The author is strongly indebted to the head of the South Sinai Project for assistance in the field work.

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    Mahmoud M. Nasr

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Nasr, M.M. El Ramsa area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt: radioactivity, mineralogy, and geochemistry studies. Arab J Geosci 14, 892 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-07125-z

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