Natural radioactivity, mineralogy and hazard assessment of syenogranites (ornamental stones) using a statistical approach

Sherif A. Taalab; Ahmed M. Ismail; W.M. El Maadawy; Kamal Abdelrahman; Mayeen Uddin Khandaker; Ahmed K. Sakr; Mohamed Y. Hanfi

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Oct 2024)

Natural radioactivity, mineralogy and hazard assessment of syenogranites (ornamental stones) using a statistical approach

Sherif A. Taalab,
Ahmed M. Ismail,
W.M. El Maadawy,
Kamal Abdelrahman,
Mayeen Uddin Khandaker,
Ahmed K. Sakr,
Mohamed Y. Hanfi

Affiliations

Sherif A. Taalab: Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, P.O. Box 11884, Egypt; Corresponding author. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, P.O. Box 11884, Egypt.
Ahmed M. Ismail: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530 El-Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
W.M. El Maadawy: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530 El-Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
Kamal Abdelrahman: Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud Univ., P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mayeen Uddin Khandaker: Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies Group, CCDCU, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
Ahmed K. Sakr: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
Mohamed Y. Hanfi: Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box 530 El-Maadi, Cairo, Egypt; Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia; Corresponding author. Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 56, no. 10
pp. 4141 – 4148

Abstract

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The study focused on syenogranite and its altered variety, and specifically monitored the activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectroscopy. Syenogranites in the study area in Egypt were investigated to determine their potential use in industries such as ornamental stones and ceramics. The main outcrops in the study area consist of metasediments, metavolcanics, metagabbro, syn-to late-orogenic granites, and post-orogenic granites (syenogranites). There are also numerous dikes and veins of various shapes and compositions that have intruded and penetrated all the older rocks in the area. The mean activity (± standard deviation, SD) of these radioelements in the granites is 226Ra (63 ± 71 Bq kg−1), 232Th (76 ± 170 Bq kg−1), and 40K (1248 ± 532 Bq kg−1) were found to be greater than the world average. The radiological hazards are mostly attributed to the γ-rays emitted by granitic rocks. The granites studied in this study deviate from international standards mainly due to the presence of minerals containing radioelements such as zircon, allanite, monazite, sphene titanite, apatite, thorite, samarskite, fergusonite, xenotime, columbite, apatite and fluorite. As a result, granitic rocks are unsuitable for home building.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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