COMPOSITE IMAGES AND URANIUM MIGRATION STUDY OF THE SPECTROMETRIC DATA, TALET SELEIM AREA, SOUTHWESTERN SINAI, EGYPT

Document Type : Research and Reference

Authors

1 Cairo University

2 Nuclear Materials Authority

Abstract

The present study deals with the application of two recent techniques on the recorded geophysical data. The first technique is the composite image while the second is the migration in and out of the mobile mineralization. The geophysical measurements were carried out on the exposed rocks of southwestern Sinai in the area which lies at the intersection of Lat. 29¨ 2\N and Long. 33¨22\E.
The investigated area is characterized by the presence of two distinguishable geomorphological features. The elevated Abu-Thora sandstone cap rock, reaches an elevation of around 450m above sea level. The second feature is dominated by low topography and consists mainly of Um-Bogma Formation. The composite image technique combines any three parameters of the radioelement concentrations and/or their ratios to form composite color image maps. These resulting maps can be used to help and add valuable information to the geological and mineral distribution maps. Interpretation of the false colored composite images of the geophysical data in the area could help outline potential zones of anomalous radioelement contents which may be considered as good targets for radioactive mineral exploration (Um Bogma Formation).The second technique evaluates the amount of minerals migrated in and out of the rocks. It depends on the presence of the paleo thorium and uranium under the same condition, where U is more mobile than Th which is more stable. The difference between the amount of paleo and recent U concentrations reflects the rate of migration in and out the rocks. The present study shows that there is a close relationship between the distribution of radioelements and the lithology. It also shows that migration of uranium took place inside the lower member of Um Bogma Formation. It migrated out in the case of the other rocks. The present work is also an attempt to relate the mineral occurrence to the structural trends. The study reflects that the NW, NNW and NE faults have a significant role on the mineral distribution.