Pan-African rare metals bearing pegmatites in Wadi Ghadir, South Eastern desert, Egypt: the geochemical evolution and implications for mineralization

Abstract Quartz-diorites, monzogranites and pegmatites are the main rock units in studied area. The occur as zoned pockets within with zonal arrangement: border, wall, intermediate, core zones. wall zone have enrichment of radioactive RREs-bearing minerals. K-feldspar, plagioclase quartz essential minerals, whereas uranothorite, columbite, zircon, xenotime, monazite, sphalerite pyrite accessories. Geochemically, W. Ghadir peraluminous character, ferroan alkalic–calcic affinity emplaced plate setting. These revealed Li-bearing variety high level rare earth elements mineralization. exhibit contents Li, Nb, Cu, Ta, U, Th, Pb, Zr, Zn Ga, can be from previous data, classified a Niobium–Yttrium–Fluorine (NYF) pegmatite or metal pegmatite. trace ratio supports low degree fractionation metasomatism evolutionary history pegmatites, very Cs values (2.2–4.3 ppm) indicate paucity alkali fractionation. Spectrometric investigation that not uraniferous, while anomaly is confined to pegmatites. Applying U mobilization equation proved samples been originated late magmatic phase magma rich radioelements, affected hydrothermal solutions uranium than thorium which indicates addition. Radioactive important heavy minerals represented by pyrite.