Saleh, Gehad M., Alhazani, Tamader, Kamh, Samir Z., El-Badry, Basma A., Sami, Mabrouk, Sanislav, Ioan V., and Lasheen, El Saeed R. (2026) Remote Sensing, Mineralogy, and Radioactive Prospecting of the Bostonite Dykes: Radiological Hazard Evaluation. Minerals, 16 (6). 621.

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Abstract

This study investigates the dyke swarms of the Um Dwiela area in the southern Egyptian Shield through a combined approach of remote sensing, field investigations and laboratory analyses, including mineralization and radioactive prospecting. Radioelements laboratory measurements and optical remote sensing datasets are combined to detect the bostonite rocks and their radioactive mineralization. The processing of Landsat-8, Sentinel-2 and ASTER data effectively delineated the country rocks, bostonite dykes and structural elements. Field observations indicate that the dykes trend NE-SW, extending approximately 12 km with widths ranging from 1 to 13 m. These dykes have experienced multiple alteration phases, pointing to the influence of hydrothermal fluids. Uranium mineralization is structurally controlled, occurring within fractures at the contact between bostonite and metasedimentary rocks. Average measurements obtained using a NaI(Tl) analyzer reveal elevated and variable radionuclide concentrations [232Th (442.25 Bq/kg), 238U (608.43 Bq/kg), and 40K (1141.41 Bq/kg)], all exceeding internationally permissible safety limits. Multiple radiological hazard indices further indicate a substantial radiation risk, with all values classified as high according to global standards. Consequently, the associated gamma radiation exposure poses an elevated radiological hazard concern.

Item ID:	92427
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2075-163X
Copyright Information:	Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2026 23:38
FoR Codes:	37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3704 Geoinformatics > 370402 Earth and space science informatics @ 60% 37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370503 Igneous and metamorphic petrology @ 40%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280107 Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences @ 100%
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