Ground Gamma-Ray Spectrometric Study and Environmental Impact for Moreid-Elsahu Area, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt

Moreid-Elsahu area is a part of southwestern Sinai and is located between latitudes 29 degrees 01' 00'' N & 29 degrees 04' 00'' N and longitudes 33 degrees 22' 00'' E& 33 degrees 25' 00'' E. It is occupied by basement rocks of Precambrian age, which unconformably overlain by Paleozoic rocks. The Paleozoic succession (160-370 m) is subdivided into seven formations, which are (from the oldest), Sarabit El khadim, Abu Hamata, Adedia, Um Bogma, El Hashash, Magherat El Maiah and Abu Zarab. The study area is selected as a promising target for uranium potentiality and ground geophysical follow-up surveys were applied for this area. Systematic ground gamma-ray spectrometric survey was taken on a grid pattern that consists of parallel profiles trending in the E-W direction. The gamma-ray spectrometric maps show that the highest radio-spectrometric levels are located in the southwestern part and some scattered parts along the study area. They are mainly associated with the Um Bogma Formation and gibbsite occurrences. Therefore, Um Bogma Formation is considered as the main target for uranium prospecting. The interpretation of gamma-ray spectrometric indicated that the study area possesses gamma radiation ranging between 0.3 and 233 Ur as a total count, 0.1 to 6 % for K, 0.3 to 208 ppm for eU and 0.37 to 71.3 ppm for eTh. In addition, it is found that the area as a whole remains in the safe side and under the maximum permissible safe radiation dose rate without harmful to the individual, but there are some parts of the study area have values of more than 1.0 mSv/y, and may cause some harmful for any one found in these places.