Radioactivity and Tertiary volcanic activity in Egypt

Abstract

Hydrothermal activity was associated with basaltic volcanism accompanying Tertiary tectonic activity (mainly tensional faulting) in Egypt, and led to relatively widespread rock alteration and, in places, to formation of low-grade manganese-iron, lead-zinc, and pyritic replacement deposits and fissure-filling copper ores. Many of these occurrences exhibit weak radioactivity. The hydrothermal solutions were probably not originally uraniferous, but acquired their content of uranium and perhaps certain other metals during passage through the granitic basement rocks and sedimentary cover. In a few instances, conditions were favorable for formation of uraniferous concentrations of economic interest.