Abstract
Zircon grains from the Nile Delta beach sediments were mineralogically investigated for their provenance perspective. Electron microprobe backscattered electron images, and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy line scans showed well-developed oscillatory and sector zoning in the majority of the studied zircon grains. In addition, some grains showed inclusions represented mainly by apatite. The zoning in zircon reflects compositional variations of Zr, Si, Hf, P, Y, and rare earth elements (REE). Based on the electron probe microanalyzer data, the calculated formula of the studied detrital zircon is A(Zr3.82Hf0.05Th0.003Ca0.10Fe0.008REE0.033Tl0.03Y0.001)∑4.04 T(Si3.90P0.08Al0.011V0.003Sc0.004)∑4.00O4. Th, Y, P, Sc, and Fe are substituted into zircon either by simple or coupled substitution mechanisms. Additional zircon grains separated from Abu Swayel granites and metamorphic gneisses, south Eastern Desert of Egypt were similarly investigated for comparison. Although evidence based on morphological characteristics, zoning, apatite inclusions, and mineral chemistry supports a derivation of zircon from granitic rocks including the hydrothermally altered varieties, the possibility that the zircon grains may have more than one source cannot be ruled out due to the large area of the Nile watershed.
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