Integrated radiometric and mineralogical investigation of radioactive mineralization in the El-Erediya Shear Zone, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The shear zone cut through the western southern part of El-Erediya granite pluton represents one of the most promising radioactive minerals occurrences in Egypt's Eastern Desert. To explore this shear zone, exploratory tunnels were dug at wadi level. The present study aims to map the potential mineralization, determine geological units, and their relations with mineralizations along the main adit and shear zone of El-Erediya exploratory tunnels. Fuzzy C-means analysis (FCM) is applied to measured ground gamma ray spectrometry data (eU, eTh, and K⁴⁰). FCM identified three distinct radiometric clusters, revealing the spatial association of radioelement enrichment. The variation in the occurrence of different geological features within these clusters indicates that post-magmatic processes significantly influence the distribution and concentration of radioelements throughout the study area. Mineralogical investigations identified the occurrences of pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, marcasite, magnetite, goethite, hematite, uranophane, uranopilite, kasolite, betafite, plumbobetafite, ishikawite, thorite, zircon, and xenotime that have either magmatic or non-magmatic (hydrothermal and supergene) origins. Additionally, mineralogical investigations show that most of the radioactive minerals are found in cluster No. 2. These minerals are associated with opaque minerals (e.g., pyrite, hematite, goethite, pyrolusite, and fluorite), which serve as capturing agents for uranyl-ions from hydrothermal solutions. The integration of radiometric and mineralogical analysis provides an effective tool for identifying potential zones of radioactive mineralization and enhances understanding of their lithological controls.