MINERALOGY OF STREAM SEDIMENTS IN THE GABAL KAB-AMIRI AREA, CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt

2 Faculty of science, Banha, Egypt

3 Nuclear Materials Authority , Egypt

Abstract

This study provides an information about the heavy mineral composition of stream sediments of Wadi Kab - Amiri, Wadi
Kab Um El Abas and Wadi El Saqia in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Geological and mineralogical investigations reveal
the significant potential of the stream sediments in all the wadis for radioactive anomalies. Mineralogy of the heavy mineral
separates includs variable contents of rare metal-, Th- and U-bearing minerals. Monazite, thorite and allanite are recorded in
addition to several Nb-Ta-bearing phasess. Electron microprobe and EDX analyses constrain on the variable contents of Th
and U in most heavy minerals under investigation. Considering the proximal radiometric anomalies and similar mineralogical
composition of the KabAmiriintrusion and the more significant episyenitemass, it is concluded that the investigated stream
sediments are endogenic sediments with inherited radiogenic and mineral budget.

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