A Comparison Study of Soil Samples from Sinai Province in Egypt by Using X-Ray Diffraction and Gamma-Ray Analysis

Abstract

Ten soil samples from Jabal Al Qur, Wadi Baba, and Wadi Sieh in Sinai, Egypt, were analyzed by XRD spectroscopy. The XRD spectroscopy results indicate that the major, minor and trace constituents varied from one sample to another. Samples were also analyzed by HPGe gamma spectrometer to determine the activity concentration of U-238, Th-232 series and K-40. The concentrations for 238 U ranged from 57.03 to 4220.41 Bq/kg with an average 1110.75 Bq/kg, for 232 Th, ranged from 13.55 to130.46 Bq/kg with an average 71.85 Bq/Kg . The concentrations for 40 K were in the range from 12.18 to 948.93 Bq/kg with an average value 457.09 Bq/kg. The average activity concentration values of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, in all the collected samples were higher than the world average. The radium equivalent (R eq ), absorbed dose rate (D R ), the effective dose rate (D eff ), and hazard indices resulted due to the natural radionuclides in soil are also calculated. The Results show that the study area is not safe for human and environments.