Radiation Physics and Chemistry 81 (2012) 221–225

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Radiation Physics and Chemistry

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radphyschem

Natural radioactivity and their radiological effects for different types of rocks
from Egypt
Shaban Harb a, Abd El-Bast Abbady a, Abd El-Hadi El-Kamel b, Imran Issa Saleh c,
Abdallah Ibrahim Abd El-Mageed b,n
a
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Egypt
b
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt
c
Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, Aden University, Yemen

a r t i c l e i n f o abstract

Article history: The present work investigated the radioactivity level of the rocks samples collected from different sites
Received 25 August 2011 in Egypt. Twenty one rocks samples were analyzed by gamma-ray spectrometry using NaI(Tl) detector
Accepted 2 November 2011 with specially designed shield. The concentration of three natural radionuclides namely 226Ra, 232Th
Available online 7 November 2011
and 40K has been determined and compared with chemical data obtained by XRF analysis. The results
Keywords: showed that these radionuclides were present in concentration ranges (3.4–99, 7.5–134 and
Radioactivity 93–3382 Bq kg  1), (54.9–211.6, 20.71–170.5 and 2068–2344 Bq kg  1) and (13–106, 29.25–106.1 and
Radiological effect 682–755 Bq kg  1) for gneiss, granite and basalt rocks, respectively, while the values were (7.5, 12.5 and
Rocks 263.9 Bq kg  1) and (113, 148.5 and 1672 Bq kg  1) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sandstone and siltstone
Absorbed dose
rocks, respectively. Also radium equivalent activity, total dose rates and external hazard index of the
rocks samples under consideration were calculated. The results showed that granite rocks contain a
high proportion of natural radioactive elements, while sandstone rocks have lesser radioactivity
concentration compared with other types of rocks.
& 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction 2. Experimental

Natural radioactivity is associated mainly to primordial radio-
nuclides, including the elements belonging to the 238U, 232Th and
40
K series. The terrestrial background radiation is related to the
type of rocks. The higher concentrations of uranium, thorium and
potassium are associated with phosphate and granite rocks
(Abbady, 2005; Nada, 2003; Nagdya, 2003). Recent studies have
also demonstrated a high content of these elements in Calc-
Silicate rocks (Santos et al., 2010).
Radiological risk assessment resulting from radionuclides pre-
sent in rocks and soil has become necessary to avoid exposure to
ionizing radiation.
This study aims to know the natural radioactivity for different
type of rocks from Egypt and assess the radiological hazard
resulting from them, using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometers.
The absorbed dose rate, radium equivalent activities, external
hazard index have been calculated based on guidelines provided
by UNSCEAR (2008).
n
Corresponding author. Tel.: þ20 100493535; fax: þ 20 882342708.
E-mail address: mageed39@yahoo.com (A.I. Abd El-Mageed).
2.1. Sampling and sample preparation
A total of 21 rock samples have been collected randomly from
different sites from Egypt. Fig. 1 shows the locations of samples.
Rock samples were crushed to small pieces and grinded to be
powder. Each samples were dried in an oven at 105 1C and sieved
through a 100 mesh, which is the optimum size enriched in heavy
mineral (Walley El-Dine et al., 2001). The samples were packed in
plastic containers dimensions of 75 mm in diameter and 90 mm
height. The samples were weighed and stored for a minimum
period of one month to allow daughter products to come into
radioactive equilibrium with their parents 226Ra and 232Th and
then were counted for 12–24 h depending on the concentration of
the radionuclides.
2.2. Experimental setup
Each sample was measured with a gamma-ray spectrometer
consisting of a NaI(Tl) setup and multichannel analyzer 8192
channel, with the following specifications: resolution (FWHM) at
1.33 MeV 60Co is 60 keV—relative efficiency at 1.33 MeV 60Co is
7.5%. The detector is shielded in a chamber of two layers starting

0969-806X/$ - see front matter & 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2011.11.005
222 S. Harb et al. / Radiation Physics and Chemistry 81 (2012) 221–225

29 31 33 35 37 radionuclides based on the assumption that 370 Bq kg  1 of

32 226
Ra, 259 Bq kg  1 of 232Th and 4810 Bq kg  1 of 40K produce
Miditerranean Sea
the same gamma ray dose rate (Krisiuk et al., 1971). Radium
Port Said
equivalent activity can be calculated from the following relation
suggested by Beretka and Mathew (1985)
Ismailia
Cairo
Suez
30 Raeq ¼ ðATh  1:43Þ þ ARa þðAk  0:077Þ ð1Þ
Sinai 232 1
where ATh is the activity concentration of Th in Bq kg , ARa is
the activity concentration of 226Ra in Bq kg  1 and AK is the
activity concentration of 40K in Bq kg  1.
28 External hazard index due to the emitted gamma-rays of the
samples are calculated and examined according to the following
Western Desert

Assiut
Safaga criterion:
ARa A AK
Quseir Hex ¼ þ Th þ r1 ð2Þ
Qena 26 370 259 4810
Re
d where ARa, ATh and AK are the activity concentrations of 226Ra,
232
se Th and 40K, respectively. The calculated average external
hazard index was found to be less than unity.
a

Aswan The total air absorbed dose rate (nGy h  1) due to the mean
24 activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K (Bq kg  1) can be
calculated using the formula of UNSCEAR (1988)
Sampling locality
D ¼ 0:462ARa þ 0:604ATh þ 0:042Ak ð3Þ
Cities 0 100 200Km
where: ARa, ATh and AK are the mean activity concentrations of
238
U, 232Th and 40K, respectively, in (Bq kg  1). Beck et al. (1972)
derived this equation for calculating the absorbed dose rate in air
Fig. 1. Sampling location for different rocks from Egypt.
at a height of 1.0 m above the ground from measured radio-
nuclides concentrations in environmental materials.
with stainless steel (10 mm thick) and lead (30 mm thick). This
shield serves to reduce different background radioactivity.
3. Result and discussion
The spectrometer was calibrated for efficiency and energy
using multi-nuclide standard solution (QCY48) PTB (Germany).
Table 1 shows the chemical results of the rocks analyses by
The standard source peaked in the same geometry as that used for
XRF, the major oxides in rocks samples are Cl, Fe2O3, K2O, SiO2,
measured samples. For calibration, the standard source is placed
TiO2, Al2O3 and CaO. From the results of XRF it can be seen that
above the detector in a well defined geometry, and the measure-
granite and gneiss rocks have higher content of K2O, this reflect
ment is started. The dependence of the efficiency on the radiation
the higher activity of 40K in these rocks. Also we noted that
energy was determined at 0.0 mm sample-detector distance. The
granite and basalt rocks from Alfaiyom are rich in the elements
absolute efficiency of the NaI(Tl) detector was determined
oxides, and the higher concentrations of radionuclides in these
using the standard solution QCY48 PTB (Germany). The detector
types of rocks can be attributed by higher elements oxides in
efficiency decreases continuously with energy. The dependence of
these types of rocks, while sandstone rock is poor of elements
the efficiency on the volume of the sample was determined by a
oxides compared with other types of rocks.
bottle (600 ml). It can be noticed that the detector efficiency
Table 2 summarize the measured concentrations of the natu-
decreases with the volume of the sample in the energy-range of
rally occurring radioactive elements 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in
interest.
different types of rocks. The results indicated that the main
To minimize the effect of the scattered radiation from the
contribution to the background Gamma-radiation in rocks is the
shield, the detector is located in the center of the chamber. Then
radiation from the natural radioactive series notably 40K, 238U and
the sample was placed over the detector for at least 10 h. The 232
Th. The 226Ra content of the gneiss rock samples ranged from
spectra were either evaluated with the computer software
3.471 to 1007 9 Bq kg  1 while that in the granite rock samples
program Maestro (EG&G ORTEC), or manually with the use of a
ranged from 55 74 to 211.6 710 Bq kg  1. For basalt rocks the
spread sheet (Microsoft Excel) to calculate the natural radio-
values of 226Ra ranged from 1372 to 10675 Bq kg  1 while
activity. 226Ra activity of the samples was determined via its
values of 226Ra in sandstone and siltstone are 7.571.5 and
daughters (214Pb and 214Bi) through the intensity of the 295.22,
11377 Bq kg  1, respectively. 232Th content of the gneiss rocks
351.93 keV, for 214Pb and 609.31, 1120 and 1764.49 keV, for 214Bi
Gamma-lines. 232Th activity of the sample was determined from
the daughters (228Ac), (212Pb) and (208Tl) through the intensity of Table 1
209.25, 338.32 and 911.2 keV Gamma-lines for (228Ac), (212Pb) XRF analysis of some rock samples, showing their oxides composition.
emissions at 238.63 keV and (208Tl) emissions at 583.19, 2614 keV
Sample Type of CaO Fe2O3 SiO2 K2O Al2O3 TiO2 Cl Total
Gamma-lines. 40K activity determined from the 1460.7 keV emis- no. rock
sions Gamma-lines.
15 Granite 0.92 2.29 1.15 1.49 a a
94.13 99.98
2.3. Calculation of the radiological effects 11 Gneiss 8.8 10.5 67.8 2.02 10.84 a a
99.96
19 Basalt 7.96 20.83 8.07 1.32 1.55 2.44 57.79 99.96
a a a a
20 Sandstone 0.73 19.64 79.1 99.47
The most widely used radiation hazard index Raeq is called the 21 Siltstone 1.8 12.77 8.21 1.82 3.96 3.5 67.8 99.86
radium equivalent activity. The radium equivalent activity is a
weighted sum of activities of the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K a
Not detectable.
 S. Harb et al. / Radiation Physics and Chemistry 81 (2012) 221–225 223

Table 2
226 232 40
Activity concentrations of Ra, Th and K (Bq kg  1) and radiological hazard indices of different rocks from Egypt.

S.N Location Type of rock Activity Bq kg  1 Dose rate (nGy h  1) Raeq (Bq kg  1) Hex

226 232 40
Ra Th K

1 Wadi Feiran, Sinai Gneiss 21 74 17 74 93 7 8 23.3 52.1 0.1

2 Wadi Feiran, Sinai Gneiss 24 74.5 55.5 77 957 7 40 84.3 177.0 0.5
3 Wadi Feiran, Sinai Gneiss 14 73 20.4 74.5 781 7 30 51.8 103.2 0.3
4 Wadi Feiran, Sinai Gneiss 19.4 73.5 25.7 76 805 7 36 58.3 118.1 0.3
5 Wadi Feiran, Sinai Gneiss 63.5 78 134.2 713 3382 7 90 252.3 515.7 1.4
6 Gabal Nugrus Gneiss 16.4 74 38.3 76 16737 51 101.6 199.9 0.5
7 Gabal Nugrus Gneiss 100 79 128 711 2046 7 110 207.7 440.0 1.2
8 Gabal Nugrus Gneiss 7.3 72 10 73 563.5 7 32 33.2 64.8 0.2
9 Gabal Nugrus Gneiss 58 77 150 79 1980 7 88 198.7 424.6 1.1
10 Gabal Abu Ghalga Gneiss 3.4 71 7.5 71.4 520 7 35 28.2 54.2 0.1
11 Gabal Abu Ghalga Gneiss 6.9 71 14.35 73 536 7 32 34.5 68.7 0.2
12 Gabal Abu Ghalga Gneiss 7 71.5 10.15 72 675.5 7 42 38.1 73.5 0.2
Mean 28.4 73 37.7 74 1167.6 7 42 92.7 191.0 0.5
13 Gabal Aradia Granite 112 712 20.7 73 2068 7 97 151.6 300.6 0.8
14 Gabal Aradia Granite 55 74 22.1 74 23447 110 138.4 266.9 0.7
15 Gabal Aradia Granite 211.6 710 170.5 78 22717 120 293.2 630.3 1.7
16 Aswan Granite 141 715 151 713 2152 7 113 244.5 522.4 1.4
17 Aswan Granite 71 79 88.1 79 2206 7 116 178.4 366.8 1.0
Mean 118 77 90.5 77 22087 91 201.22 417.4 1.12
18 Alfaiyom Basalt 106 75 106 78 755 7 45 142.5 315.8 0.9
19 Eastern Desert Basalt 13 72 29.25 74 682 7 40 52.2 107.3 0.3
Mean 59.5 74 67.7 76 718.57 42 97.35 211.55 0.6
20 Eastern Desert Sandstone 7.5 71.5 12.5 73 264 7 11 22.0 45.7 0.1
21 Eastern Desert Siltstone 113 77 148.5 712 1672 7 55 209.8 454.1 1.2

ranged from 7.574 to 150711 Bq kg  1 while that for granite

rocks values ranged from 20.773 to 170.5 78 Bq kg  1. In basalt
rocks values of 232Th ranged from 29.25 75 to 1067 8 Bq kg  1
while that in sandstone and siltstone are 12.573 and
148.5 712 Bq kg  1, respectively. The highest activity concentra-
tion for 226Ra and 232Th is observed in granite rocks, which are
much higher than recommended limit (32 and 45 Bq kg  1) for
226
Ra and 232Th, respectively, reported by UNSCEAR (2008), while
the lowest activity concentration is observed in sandstone rocks.
From the microscopic study we noted the granite rocks mainly
consist of magnetite, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, microcline and
potassium feldspar minerals, which have the ability of capturing
uranium and thorium from circulating solutions. The content of
226
Ra and 232Th in the gneiss rocks is greatly different from one
geological feature to another. The highest activity concentration is
observed in gneiss rock samples from Gabal Nugrus while the
lowest activity concentration is observed in samples from Gabal
Abu Ghalga. Also activity concentration for 226Ra and 232Th in
basalt rock samples from Alfaiyom is much higher than those
from eastern Desert, this is because the rocks from Alfaiyom is
very modern and rich in elements oxides compared with rocks
from eastern desert. It was also observed that 232Th contents in all
types of rocks samples were higher in 226Ra content at all sites
except in the granite rock samples.
Concentration of 40K at granite rocks vary in the narrow range
from 2068 to 2344 Bq kg  1, these values is five times higher than
the worldwide average (412 Bq kg  1) reported by UNSCEAR
(2008). Concentration of 40K at gneiss rocks vary in the wide
range from 93 to 3382 Bq kg  1. For basalt rocks the mean value of
40
K is 718.5 742 Bq kg  1 while for sandstone and siltstone rock
samples are 263.9 711 and 1672755 Bq kg  1, respectively. The
distributions of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in different rock samples are
shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2. Average activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K of different rocks types from Egypt.
The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in rock
samples in the present study were compared with those from rocks from eastern desert, Wadi Wizr and Um-Greifat areas in
similar investigations in Egypt and other countries and summary Egypt, respectively, the results showed the activity concentration
results were given in Table 3. El-Arabi et al. (2000), Nagdya (2003) of 226Ra in these areas are much higher than those in the present
and Nada (2003), reported the natural radioactivity in granite study while activity concentration of 232Th and 40K are less than
224 S. Harb et al. / Radiation Physics and Chemistry 81 (2012) 221–225

Table 3
226 232 40
Concentrations of Ra, Th and K in different types of rocks of the present work and other studies.

Country Type of rock Activity concentrations (Bq kg  1) References

226 232 40
Ra Th K

Egypt Gneiss 28.4 73 37.7 74 1167.67 42 Present work

Granite 118 77 90.57 7 2208 791
Basalt 59.5 74 67.7 76 718.5 7 42
Sandstone 7.57 1.5 12.5 73 263.9 7 11
siltstone 113 77 148.5 712 1672 7 55
Egypt (eastern desert) Granite 102–640 56–161 774–1234 El-Arabi et al., 2000
Egypt (Bir El-sed) Granite 57.4 53.4 1041 Ahmed et al., 2006
Egypt (Wadi Wizr) Granite 36–661 0.9–13.8 11.8–248 Nagdya, 2003
Italy (Ustica) Basalt 15–164 16–174 201–1350 Bellia et al., 1997
India (Kaiga) Rock 1.2–14.2 0.5–11.5 14.8–866.2 Patra et al., 2006
Yemen Juban Gneiss 55 121 2341 El-Mageed et al., 2010
Granite 53.6 127 1742
sandstone 32.1 22.3 190.9
Siltstone 212.8 109 32.4

those in the present study. Also Ahmed et al. (2006) studied the
natural radioactivity in some types of rocks from Bir El-Sid and
Wadi El-Gemal in eastern desert, the results showed the activity
concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in granite rocks are less than
those in the present study. Similarly, El-Mageed et al. (2010)
reported the natural radioactivity in rocks around Juban town in
Yemen and the results showed the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th
and 40K in the gneiss, siltstone and sandstone rocks are slightly
higher than those in the present study while for granite rocks the
activity concentration of 226Ra is less than those in the present
study. Also activity concentration for natural radionuclides for
granite rocks are higher than the activity concentrations in other
type of rocks, this may be due to the granite rocks mainly consist
of magnetite, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, microcline and potas-
sium feldspar minerals, which accumulate in limited uranium and
thorium. The activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the
present study are higher than in literature (Yaboah et al., 2001;
Kerur et al., 2010).
3.1. Radiation hazard indices
The absorbed dose rate in air 1.0 m above ground were
calculated and are given in Table 2. The average absorbed dose
rates for gneiss, granite, basalt, sandstone and siltstone rocks are
92.7, 201.22, 97.35, 22 and 209 nG h  1, respectively. According to
the recent UNSCEAR Reports (2000, 2008) the corresponding
worldwide average values is 58 nG h  1. This reveals that the
mean absorbed dose rates in air outdoors from gneisses and
basalt rocks are higher than that of worldwide average value,
while that for granite and siltstone rocks are approximately three
and half times higher than worldwide average values. For sand-
stone rocks the value of absorbed dose rate is less than recom-
mended limit reported by UNSCEAR (2008).
The calculated Ra-equivalent activities of the gneiss, basalt,
sandstone rocks are 191, 417, 211.5 and 45 Bq kg  1, respectively,
which are below the recommended value 370 Bq kg  1 (Berteka
and Mathew, 1985) (Table 2) except some rock samples from
Gabal Nugrus area, while the corresponding value for granite and
siltstone are 412 and 454 Bq kg  , which are higher than recom-
mended value (Table 2).
The external hazard index (Hex) can be calculated from the
Eq. (2) (Berteka and Mathew, 1985). The results of Hex based on
the criterion formula (Eq. (2)) are given in Table 2. The average
values are 0.5, 0.6 and 0.1 for gneiss, basalt, sandstone and rocks,
respectively. The recommended value is less than unity
(UNSCEAR, 2008). For granite and siltstone rocks the correspond-
ing values of Hex are 1.12 and 1.2, respectively.
4. Conclusion
The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in rock
samples in the present study have been measured using gamma-
spectrometry system and the radiological effect have been esti-
mated in different type of rocks. The highest activity concentra-
tion for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K is observed in granite rocks, which
are much higher than recommended limit (32, 45 and 412
Bq kg  1) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively, reported by
UNSCEAR (2008), while the lowest activity concentration is
observed in sandstone rocks. At the same time the chemical
composition of granite rocks showed higher percentage of Fe2O3,
K2O, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3 and CaO than the other type of rocks. The
natural radioactivity in granite rocks may be correlated with
presence of these elemental oxides and heavy-mineral (magne-
tite, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, microcline and potassium
feldspar), which have the ability of capturing uranium and
thorium from circulating solutions.
The average absorbed dose rates (D), radium equivalent activity
(Raeq) and external hazard index (Hex) for granite and siltstone rocks
are (201.22 nG h  1,417.4 Bq kg  1, 1.12) and (209.8, 454.1 Bq kg  1
and 1.2), respectively, which are higher than recommended values
(58 nG h  1, 370 Bq kg  1, 1) reported by UNSCEAR (2008), while
that for gneiss, basalt and sandstone rocks are (92.7 nG h  1,
191 Bq kg  1, 0.5), (97.35 nG h  1, 211.55 Bq kg  1 and 0.6) and
(22 nG h  1, 45.7 Bq kg  1 and 0.1), respectively, which are less than
recommended values reported by UNSCEAR (2008).
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