Natural Radionuclide Levels and Radiological Hazards of Khour Abalea Mineralized Pegmatites, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

Arranged from oldest to youngest, the main granitic rock units exposed in Khour Abalea are metagabbros, cataclastic rocks, ophiolitic melange, pegmatite and lamprophyre dykes. The presence of radioactivity associated with heavy bearing minerals construction materials—like granite—increased interest extraction process. As it turns out, rocks play an important economic part examination area’s surroundings. radionuclide content is measured by using NaI (Tl)-detector. In mineralized pegmatites, U (326 2667 ppm), Th (562 4010 RaeU (495 1544 ppm) K (1.38 9.12%) ranged considerably average 1700 ppm, 2881.86 1171.82 ppm 5.04%, respectively. Relationships among radioelements clarify that radioactive mineralization studied pegmatites magmatic hydrothermal. A positive equilibrium condition confirms uranium addition rocks. This study determined 226Ra, 232Th 40K activity concentrations samples assessed radiological risks these 226Ra (13,176 ± 4394 Bq kg−1), (11,883 5644 kg−1) (1573 607 (P) greater than global average. high mainly attributed mineral (autunite), uranophane, kasolite carnotite, thorium (thorite, thorianite uranothorite) as well accessories minerals—such zircon monazite. To assess dangerous effects area, various hazard factors (external, internal indices, radium equivalent annual effective dose) estimated. investigated almost surpassed recommended allowable thresholds for all environmental factors.