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Abdelaal S, Hassanin W, Abdelhady AM, Rashad AM, Kassab MF, Salama S, Hamada MS, Elmaghraby EK, Helal AI, Ibraheim MH. Isotope signature and elemental characteristics of subsurface formations around deep-laying coal seams probed by means of atomic and nuclear-based techniques. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 303:134969. [PMID: 35588881 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A systematic investigation on the isotopic and elemental signature, for both stable and radioactive elements, and mineral contents was performed to examine the characteristics of subsurface formations collected at different depths between 3.962 km and 4.115 km around deep-laying coal seams located under the Marmarica plateau in Egypt. Concentrations of major and minor oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, SO3, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, ΣFeO + Fe2O3, SrO, ZrO2, and BaO) were determined by X-ray fluorescence and dependencies among these concentrations revealed the type and sort of the formations. Organic contents were determined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate the variation of the CO/CC bonding ratio with depth. Rare earth elements (REE), specifically Y, Sc, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry while actinoids were detected by the radioactive decay of its daughter nuclei. The results showed a high trapping of REE elements and actinoids in layers above the coal seams which indicates the occurrence of aqueous flow followed by possible sorption in these layers. The mobility of the fluid was investigated using the process radioactive decay series between Ra226 and Ac228 from one side and their daughters from the other side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Abdelaal
- Accelerator and Ion Sources Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt; Central Lab for Elemental and Isotopic Analysis, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - Walaa Hassanin
- Department of Biological Applications, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - A M Abdelhady
- Accelerator and Ion Sources Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt; Central Lab for Elemental and Isotopic Analysis, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - A M Rashad
- Accelerator and Ion Sources Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt; Central Lab for Elemental and Isotopic Analysis, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - M F Kassab
- Soil and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - S Salama
- Radiation Protection Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Hamada
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - Elsayed K Elmaghraby
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt.
| | - A I Helal
- Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt
| | - Mona H Ibraheim
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
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