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Volume 15
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10.3390/geosciences15040138
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Article

Radioactive Assessment and Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, REE-Bearing Minerals in Alkaline Syenite: Environmental Implications for Radiological Safety

by
Ahmed E. Abdel Gawad
1,*,
Elena G. Panova
2,
Mohamed M. Ghoneim
1,
Svetlana Y. Yanson
2,
Sultan J. Alsufyani
3,
A. Saftah
3,
Nadi Mlihan Alresheedi
4 and
Mohamed Y. Hanfi
1,5,*
1
Nuclear Materials Authority, El-Maadi, Cairo P.O. Box 530, Egypt
2
Department of Geochemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
3
Department of Physics, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of General Studies, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Yanbu Industrial College, Yanbu P.O. Box 30436, Saudi Arabia
5
Department of Life Safety, Institute of Fundamental Education, Ural Federal University, St. Mira 19, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Geosciences 2025, 15(4), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040138
Submission received: 27 February 2025 / Revised: 26 March 2025 / Accepted: 28 March 2025 / Published: 4 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Geochemistry)
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Abstract

This study focused on identifying Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, and REE-bearing minerals with a multivariate statistical approach in alkaline syenite to evaluate their radiological risks, at Nikeiba, Egypt. Through microchemical analyses, by utilizing electron probe microanalysis, horite, microlite, monazite, zircon, columbite, and fergusonite were shown to bear uranium and thorium. These minerals have played an important role in higher radioactive zones in the studied alkaline syenite. REE-minerals comprising bastnäsite, monazite, and fluorite and apatite are well recorded. The total rare earth elements (TREE2O3) reveal higher concentrations in bastnäsite than monazite, with averages 74.87 and 63.8 wt%. Ce is considered the most predominant LREE in the analyzed bastnäsite and monazite. The mean values of radionuclide activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K are 108 ± 20 Bq/kg, 107 ± 9 Bq/kg, and 1255 ± 166 Bq/kg, respectively. Radiological assessments revealed a radium equivalent activity of 357 Bq/kg, below global limits, but an air-absorbed dose rate (166 nGy/h) and annual effective doses (0.81 mSv/y indoors, 0.20 mSv/y outdoors) exceeding safe thresholds. Additionally, the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was calculated at 0.00071, surpassing the acceptable limit of 0.00029, making these rocks unsafe for construction use. Statistical analyses further underscored the relationships between radionuclide concentrations and associated risks, highlighting the necessity for continuous monitoring and mitigation.
Keywords: alkaline syenite; construction material; rare metals mineralization; environmental radioactivity alkaline syenite; construction material; rare metals mineralization; environmental radioactivity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Abdel Gawad, A.E.; Panova, E.G.; Ghoneim, M.M.; Yanson, S.Y.; Alsufyani, S.J.; Saftah, A.; Alresheedi, N.M.; Hanfi, M.Y. Radioactive Assessment and Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, REE-Bearing Minerals in Alkaline Syenite: Environmental Implications for Radiological Safety. Geosciences 2025, 15, 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040138

AMA Style

Abdel Gawad AE, Panova EG, Ghoneim MM, Yanson SY, Alsufyani SJ, Saftah A, Alresheedi NM, Hanfi MY. Radioactive Assessment and Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, REE-Bearing Minerals in Alkaline Syenite: Environmental Implications for Radiological Safety. Geosciences. 2025; 15(4):138. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040138

Chicago/Turabian Style

Abdel Gawad, Ahmed E., Elena G. Panova, Mohamed M. Ghoneim, Svetlana Y. Yanson, Sultan J. Alsufyani, A. Saftah, Nadi Mlihan Alresheedi, and Mohamed Y. Hanfi. 2025. "Radioactive Assessment and Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, REE-Bearing Minerals in Alkaline Syenite: Environmental Implications for Radiological Safety" Geosciences 15, no. 4: 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040138

APA Style

Abdel Gawad, A. E., Panova, E. G., Ghoneim, M. M., Yanson, S. Y., Alsufyani, S. J., Saftah, A., Alresheedi, N. M., & Hanfi, M. Y. (2025). Radioactive Assessment and Th-, Nb-Ta-, Zr-, REE-Bearing Minerals in Alkaline Syenite: Environmental Implications for Radiological Safety. Geosciences, 15(4), 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040138

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