The geochemistry of uranium and thorium isotopes in the Western Desert of Egypt

Details The geochemistry of uranium and thorium isotopes in the Western Desert of Egypt The geochemistry of uranium and thorium isotopes in the Western Desert of Egypt

Nov 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994gecoa..58.4591d&link_type=abstract

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 58, Issue 21, pp.4591-4600

Computer Science

Scientific paper

The concentrations of 238 U, 234 U, 232 Th and 228 Th have been measured in the groundwaters of the Bahariya and Farafra oases of the Western Desert of Egypt. These waters are characterized by normal amounts of U, but unusually high concentrations of Th. The pattern of variation of the parent isotopes, 238 U and 232 Th, as well as the daughter isotopes, 234 U, 230 Th and 228 Th, is systematic within and between the two oases. From the unusually consistent distribution of the 234 U / 238 U activity ratios one can conclude that the samples from both oases are representative of a two-component mixing system. One component, characterized by low U content and a high 234 U / 238 U activity ratio, is typical of deep artesian systems and probably represents flowthrough water derived from the Nubian highlands to the south. The second component is characterized by a greater U concentration and a low activity ratio. This signature is hypothesized as being derived by leaching of downward infiltrating water during pluvial times. The source of the U may be the uraniferous phosphate strata that overly the sandstone aquifer in both oasis areas. Higher Th values are associated with the artesian flow component of the mixing system and suggests that Th-bearing minerals may be abundant in the Nubian sandstone aquifer. The distribution of 230 Th and 228 Th in the water samples supports this interpretation.

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