Radiological Investigation on Sediments: A Case Study of Wadi Rod Elsayalla the Southeastern Desert of Egypt

The presence of heavy radioactive minerals in the studied granitoids from which the Wadi sediments leads to the study of the exposure to emitted gamma rays from the terrestrial radionuclides, such as 238U, 232Th, and 40K. The geological study revealed that the Wadi sediments derived from the surrounding granitoids, such as syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite, and quartz syenite. The mineral analysis confirmed that the granitoids were enriched with radioactive minerals, such as uranothorite as well as monazite, zircon, yttrocolumbite, and allanite. The mean activity of the 238U, 232Th, and 40K concentrations are 62.2 ± 20.8, 84.2 ± 23.3, and 949.4 ± 172.5 Bq kg−1, respectively, for the investigated Wadi sediments, exceeding the reported limit of 33, 45 and 412 Bq kg−1, respectively. Public exposure to emitted gamma radiation is detected by estimating many radiological hazard indices, such as the radium equivalent content (Raeq), external and internal hazard indices (Hex and Hin), annual effective dose (AED), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess lifetime cancer (ELCR). The obtained results of the radiological hazards parameters showed that public exposure to emitted gamma radiation can induce various dangerous health effects. Thus, the application of the investigated sediments in different building materials and infrastructures fields is not safe. A multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) was applied to detect radionuclide correlations with the radiological hazard parameters estimated in the granite samples.

Elemental Memory: The Solid Fluidity of the Elements in the Nuclear Era

The epistemological challenges of the Anthropocene trouble distinctions of solid and fluid. In this contribution, the author proposes, after Gabrielle Hecht, that the nuclearity of the Anthropocene contributes significantly to destabilising these categories. Nuclear materials and ideas of nuclearity force (re)consideration of deep timescales and imperceptible processes, problematising fixed material ontologies. The article engages with nuclear matters and queries the logic of solids and fluids by developing the notion of elemental memory. An attention to elemental memory – an element’s capacity to auto-affect over time – reveals the inadequacy of terms like solid and fluid, and highlights the expressiveness of solid fluid substances. Empirically, the author demonstrates, first, how elemental memory informs the solid-fluid processuality of radioactive glasses, especially trinitite. Second, engaging with the work of artists Mari Keto and Erich Berger, she addresses the slow auto-transformations of radioactive minerals.

Identifikasi Keterdapatan Mineral Radioaktif pada Urat-Urat Magnetit di Daerah Ella Ilir, Melawi, Kalimantan Barat

ABSTRAKElla Ilir secara administratif terletak di Kabupaten Melawi, Kalimantan Barat. Geologi regional daerah Ella Ilir tersusun atas batuan malihan berumur Trias–Karbon yang diterobos oleh batuan granitik berumur Yura dan Kapur. Keterdapatan mineral radioaktif di daerah tersebut terindikasi dari radioaktivitas urat-urat magnetit pada batuan malihan berumur Trias–Karbon dengan kisaran nilai 1.000 c/s hingga 15.000 c/s. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan jenis cebakan mineral bijih dan mengidentifikasi keterdapatan mineral radioaktif pada urat-urat bijih magnetit di daerah Ella Ilir. Metode yang digunakan adalah pemetaan geologi, pengukuran radioaktivitas, analisis kadar uranium, dan analisis mineragrafi beberapa sampel urat bijih magnetit. Litologi daerah penelitian tersusun oleh kuarsit biotit, metatuf, metabatulanau, metapelit, granit biotit, dan riolit. Sesar sinistral barat-timur dan sesar dekstral utara-selatan merupakan struktur sesar yang berkembang di daerah ini. Komposisi mineral urat-urat magnetit terdiri dari mineral-mineral bijih besi, sulfida, dan radioaktif. Mineral bijih besi terdiri dari magnetit, hematit, dan gutit. Mineral sulfida terdiri dari pirit, pirhotit, dan molibdenit sedangkan mineral radioaktif terdiri dari uraninit dan gumit. Keterdapatan urat-urat bijih magnetit dikontrol oleh litologi dan struktur geologi. Urat-urat magnetit pada metabatulanau berukuran tebal (1,5–5 m), mengisi rekahan-rekahan yang terdapat di sekitar zona sesar. Sementara itu, urat-urat magnetit pada metapelit berukuran tipis (milimetrik–sentimetrik), mengisi rekahan-rekahan yang sejajar dengan bidang sekistositas. Cebakan mineral bijih di daerah penelitian adalah cebakan bijih besi atau cebakan bijih magnetit berbentuk urat karena proses hidrotermal magmatik.ABSTRACTElla Ilir administratively located in Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan. Regional geology of Ella Ilir area is composed of metamorphic rocks in Triassic–Carboniferous age which are intruded by Jurassic and Cretaceous granitic rocks. Radioactive minerals occurences in the area are indicated by magnetite veins radioactivities on Triassic to Carboniferous metamorphic rocks whose values range from 1,000 c/s to 15,000 c/s. Goal of the study is to determine the type of ore mineral deposits and to identify the presence of radioactive mineral in magnetite veins in Ella Ilir area. The methods used are geological mapping, radioactivity measurements, analysis on uranium grades, and mineragraphy analysis of severe magnetite veins samples. Lithologies of the study area are composed by biotite quartzite, metatuff, metasilt, metapellite, biotite granite, and ryolite. The east-west sinistral fault and the north-south dextral fault are the developed fault structures in this area. Mineral composition of magnetite veins are consists of iron ore, sulfide, and radioactive minerals. Iron ore mineral consists of magnetite, hematit, and goetite. Sulfide minerals consist of pyrite, pirhotite, and molybdenite, while radioactive minerals consist of uraninite and gummite. The occurences of magnetite veins are controlled by lithology and geological structures. The magnetite veins in metasilt are thick (1.5–5 m), filled the fractures in the fault zone. Meanwhile, the magnetite veins in metapellite are thinner (milimetric–centimetric), filled the fractures that are parallel to the schistocity. The ore deposits in the study area are iron ore deposits or magnetite ore deposits formed by magmatic hydrothermal processes.