Delineation of the radioactive elements based on the radiometric data using concentration–area fractal method in the Saghand area, Central Iran

Abstract

The aim of this research is the separation of the airborne geophysical anomalies of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) using concentration–area (C–A) fractal method in the Saghand area, Central Iran. At the first step, the C–A log–log plots of U and Th were generated and their thresholds were identified. The U and Th log–log plots obtained from the C–A method indicate the existence of enrichments in the study area. The intensity anomaly map based on the C–A fractal method shows the amounts of 2,238.721–2,379.7 eppm for U and high amounts 1,862.087–1,943.8 eppm for Th. Based on the results obtained from the multifractal modeling, the main anomalies of U and Th occurred in the central part toward the north of the study area and the other parts in the south and SE of the area, especially U. The central part of the area is located in the metasomatic units, and it is associated with epidote and chlorite alterations. The C–A anomalies were further done using ground radiometric data and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealing higher than 837 and 575 ppm for U and Th concentration values, respectively.