Natural radioactivity and radiological implications of granite rocks, El-Sela area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt.

In the present study, the 238U and 232Th radioactivity afford a perfect indication of the attendance of heavy minerals. Herein, integrated ground gamma-ray spectrometric data, X-ray fluorescence analysis and HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer data are employed to evaluate the natural radioactivity of the studied granite rocks. From X-ray analysis, 13 trace elements were estimated. All samples contain a high concentration of barium, zirconium and strontium. The concentration of uranium is high in all the collected twenty-four granite samples. The radiological hazard indices are computed to evaluate the possibility of applying the granites in various building materials. It was found that the granite rocks of the Southeastern Desert, Egypt are not safe for use as a building material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]