Geology Of Wadi Sidri Radioactive Ocurrences, Western Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Geologic and radiomclric investigations have been carried out in the environs of Wadi Sidri in Western Sinai, applying a combination of various geological, geophysical and gcochcmical techniques. This work revealed the presence of some radioactive anomalies of various intensities, extensions and origin, associated with different rock types. The discovered anomalies arc classified into two main groups of quite different types but they seem to be genetically related to each other. The first type is connected to Laic Precambrian granites and related dyke-forming rocks. These anomalies are mostly of cpigcnctic origin showing some hydrothcrmal features and structural control. On the other hand, the second type of radioactive anomalies is lithologically controlled where several anomalies are localized in a ferruginous siltstone bed of presumably Early Carboniferous age, which is frequently associated with sedimentary manganese and iron deposits. Both the geological criteria and the distribution of radioactivity in Western Sinai show that the principal areas for potential radioactive deposits are confined along or near the contact between Precambrian basement rocks and Paleozoic sedimentarics, particularly along the Carboniferous shoreline.