Factors controlling Uranium and thorium isotopic omposition of the streambed sediments of the river Nile, Egypt

Abstract EN

The streambed sediments of the River Nile in Egypt have been analyzed for their long-lived uranium and thorium radionuclides (238U, 234U, 230Th) using Alpha Spectrometric Techniques.

These sediments are dominated by sand size fractions with average heavy mineral contents of 2.65%.

Carbonates and organic materials constitute considerable amounts of the sediments (averages 13.82 and3.37%, respectively).

The average contents of uranium and thorium in the streambed sediments are 2.06 and 6.58 ppm, respectively, which are comparable with the corresponding values of the world rivers.

The230Th / 234U and 230Th / 238U activity ratios of the sediments are greater than unity indicating preferential uranium leaching.

During low water flow rate, the streambed sediments probably acquired some uranium from water with high 234U / 238U activity ratios.

This results in abnormally high 234U / 238U activity ratios in the sediments.

Heavy mineral contents, sorptive uptake of uranium by sediments of relatively high organic contents, geochemical behaviour of radionuclides and flow rates of the River Nile are considered as the most important factors controlling uranium and thorium isotopic composition of the streambed sediments.

The sources of the radionuclides are probably the local granitic rocks and phosphate fertilizers used in the cultivated lands adjacent to the River Nile.