Petrogenesis, Geodynamics and Radioactivity of the Granitic Rocks of the Nugrus Weakness Zone, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

AbstractThe studied granitic bodies belong to the south Eastern Desert of Egypt. They extend in a NNW–SSE trend along the same strike of the Nugrus weakness zone by which they are structurally controlled. These rocks are composed of biotite and biotite‐muscovite monzogranites to syenogranites. Geochemically, a higher abundance of Ba and Rb in biotite granites with a relatively low abundance in biotite‐muscovite granites as well as the diversity of Th, U, Nb, Ta, Zr, and REE reflects their origin from different sources and geodynamic settings. The biotite granites are predominantly metaluminous to low peraluminous whereas the biotite‐muscovite granites have a peraluminous nature. Potassium enrichment at the expense of calcium in these rocks reflects a derivation from crustal sources by partial melting in the presence of a volatile system. Radiometric investigation showed high abundances of U (up to 38 ppm) and Th (up to 26 ppm) in biotite‐muscovite granites relative to biotite granites (up to 5 ppm U and 18 ppm Th). Radioactive anomalies furthermore have been recorded in parts of biotite‐muscovite granites that were affected by the faults (up to 116 ppm eU and 97 ppm eTh). Consequently, biotite‐muscovite granites form a potentially fertile source for uranium mineralization.