Uranium Mineralization Hosted by the Paleozoic Sandstones at Southwest Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

The uranium mineralization hosted by the Paleozoic sandstones is one of two types: The first is the syngenetic continental/littoral paleoplacers (refractory Th-U bearing minerals) which were detritus from far distant source rocks. These minerals are mainly uranothorite, thorite, zircon, cheralite, chevickinite, davidite, xenotime, and monazite. Meander loops and channels with deep scours appear to be the most favourable sites for this mineralization. The second is the tectonic-lithologic sandstone-type uranium deposits being epigenetic U-enrichment within the sandstones along the permeable fault zones. It contains saleeite, sodium-meta-autunite, threadgoldite and uvanite in addition to REE-bearing iron and aluminium phosphate minerals; vivianite, goyazite, wavellite, florencite and plumbogummite. The studied Paleozoic sandstones are enriched in P

State of the Practice Worldwide: Utilizing Hydrogeochemical Data and GIS Tools to Assess the Groundwater Quality in Arid Region: Example from Wadi Feiran Basin, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

“…GW is characterized by a comparatively reduced salinity in PCFBR aquifers than from QA and PCS aquifers. The major explanation is that in a QA aquifer GW flow path is longer than the PCFBR and PCS includes more soluble mineral components than the basement rocks according to Shata (1997). Over recent years, because of over‐pumping, the rate of TDS has usually increased (Shata 1997; Abou El‐Magd 2003).…”

“…It is represented by fissured and fractured fine to medium-grained granitic rocks, which have hydrogeological importance due to their good permeability results from the interconnection of fissures (Abou El-Magd 2003;El-Rayes 2004;Aggour 2006;Mohamed et al 2015;Arnous 2016). The depth to water varies from 4.35 to 10.6 m with an obvious decline in water level (Shata 1997).…”

“…The basement complex consists of metamorphic rocks, older and younger granites, and volcanic rocks which are unconformable and covered by sedimentary rocks and quaternary deposits (Figure 4). Numerous researchers identified the geological setting of the WFB, including (El-Sheshtawi et al 1993;Soliman et al 1995;Shata 1997;Abou El-Magd 2003). The Metamorphic complex of Feiran in the Sinai Peninsula is considered one of the Arabian-Nubian Shield's high-grade metamorphic complexes (Abu-Alam 2010).…”

“…2015; Arnous 2016). The depth to water varies from 4.35 to 10.6 m with an obvious decline in water level (Shata 1997).…”

“…1993; Soliman et al. 1995; Shata 1997; Abou El‐Magd 2003). The Metamorphic complex of Feiran in the Sinai Peninsula is considered one of the Arabian–Nubian Shield's high‐grade metamorphic complexes (Abu‐Alam 2010).…”