Uranium exploration in El-Missikat prospect area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

A detailed ground gamma-ray spectrometric survey and a detailed geological and structural mapping were carried out in the Missikat prospect area. The spectrometric data were treated qualitatively and quantitatively. The uranium potential was evaluated through the use of the statistical method of analyses, examination of eU, eU/eTh and eU/K stacked profile and comparing the calculated content of the three radioelements with the average crustal value. The degree of the remobilization of the uranium in each rock unit was reflected in the trend variation of eU and eTh with their ratio. The main result of this study is the mapped rock unit possesses a higher concentration of the three radioelements than the equivalent crustal rocks. The silica vein, shear zone and fault show a high concentration of the radioelements. The eTh concentration is generally more than the eU concentration, which could be attributed to the fact that uranium is more leachable than thorium. The remobilization of uranium is indicated in most type of rocks, which means that post magmatic redistribution of uranium has taken place. It might have been concentrated within or near this rock type. The basic dykes and quartz diorite show the least concentration of the three radioelements.