Determination of radioactivity hazard zonation and structural setting using airborne gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic data in Wadi Allaqi area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The present study basically deals with the establishment of natural radiation levels in the western part of Wadi El-Allaqi, in the South Eastern Desert. These will provide baseline information that can be used as a reference to detect and determine the amount and extent of any possible future variation or contamination in the natural radioactivity levels that might occur in the area of investigation. The spectrometric airborne gamma-ray data of the research area were qualitatively and quantitatively interpreted and compared with the lithological units of the surface to identify the anomalous zones. All rock units have a normal distribution for the TC, eU, eTh, K, eU/eTh, eU/K, and eTh/K where these rock units exhibited coefficient of variability values less than 100%. The radiation levels of dose rate remain in the safe side to individuals and less than the maximum permissible from the natural sources of gamma radiation. The computed radiogenic heat potential indicated ophiolitic metagabbro has the highest potential, ranging between 0.14 and 1.57 μWm−3 with a median of 0.42μWm−3. Sand sheet has the lowest potential, varying from 0.09 to 0.35μWm−3 with a median heat generation capacity of 0.15 μWm−3. The analysis of aeromagnetic data showed that the regional magnetic sources are found at depth 2470m while the shallow sources found at depth 572m. The result of analysis and interpretation of regional, residual, and tilt derivative magnetic maps display that the major structures that affected the study area are NNW, NNE, NW, NS, and E-S. © 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.