Role of uranium in controlling radiogenic heat production based on gamma ray spectrometry and thermal remote sensing data, southwestern Sinai, Egypt

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 75; no. 4; p. 1
• Main Authors: Attia, Tamer E., Wahid, Ahmed M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental Science and Engineering; Gamma rays; Geochemistry; Geology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Land surface temperature; Lithology; Metamorphic rocks; Original Article; Remote sensing; Spectrometry; Spectrum analysis; Terrestrial Pollution; Thorium; Uranium; Egypt; Thermal band; Spectrometry; Uranium; RHP; Egypt; Granite
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-015-5131-y

This study is a trial to reveal a new relationship among important three scientific terms: gamma-ray spectrometry, processed remotely sensed data and radiogenic heat production (RHP). In addition, the uranium migration history represents a new key that controls the amount and flow of RHP over exposed igneous and metamorphic rocks. Solaf-Umm Graifat area in the west of Sinai pluton has the oldest metamorphic rocks and granites in Sinai Peninsula. This gives the study area a special case which helps in binding among these terms. Land surface temperature-radioelements composite images reflect the relationship between the amount of thermal flow and rock units, which have radiometric print (uranium content) as source rock or received rock. The total count and uranium anomalies located in the areas of highest surface temperature range from 35 to >40 °C give the highest RHP range from 13.15 to 11.27 μW m −3 rather than elevation, while some elevated localities show high radioactive content and RHP. This study reveals that the uranium migration history represents another important factor that judges the amount and the flow of RHP, rather than lithology, in the study area. Uranium is the most radioelement able to change the amount and flow of RHP according to its mobility; this is clearly shown in some received rocks of uranium which have the highest values of RHP such as quartzo-feldspathic gneiss (13.15 μW m −3 ). In addition uranium concentration shows strong correlation with heat production, compared with the weaker correlations with thorium and potassium concentrations.