Evaluation of Uranium, Thorium and Some Metal Elements in Rocks by HR-ICP-MS and LIBS

The aim of the work was to assess the mineral radioactive materials and the some metal elements using High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. The LIBS was used to prove the ability to provide on-line analyses for raw ores in field conditions for uranium and elemental analysis for thorium, calcium, iron and zinc detections. A comprehensive study was conducted to determine the concentration of the elements in rock samples to explain the conditions for exploration radioactive mineralization in different selected areas in Gattar Mountain in Egypt with comparison to rock monazite sample. The HR-ICP-MS at Nuclear Research Centre (NRC), Inshas, Egypt was used to measure the isotopic uranium concentration that to be (0.43 ± 0.11-0.63 ± 0.13) % and thorium (0.02 ± 0.001- 0.05 ± 0.001) % in the rocks. Consequently, the emission spectra of LIBS on rock samples in the range 402.46 – 460.57nm was obtained.

The high accuracy measurement of HR-ICP-MS for elements concentration and the high resolution of wavelength selections of LIBS analytical technique for uranium that is improved a significant reduction of mineral processing and energy costs of uranium, thorium and metals mining. Accordingly, the assessment of the uranium and thorium concentration in the Gattar rock is greatly recommended for economic exploration and extraction processing of nuclear materials recovery.