Multivariate statistical analysis of radioactive variables in two phosphate ores from Sudan

Multivariate statistical techniques are efficient ways to display complex relationships among many objects. An attempt was made to study the radioactive data in two types of Sudanese phosphate deposits; Kurun and Uro phosphate, using several multivariate statistical methods. Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that a U-238 distribution in Kurun phosphate is controlled by the variation of K-40 concentration, whereas in Uro phosphate it is controlled by the variation of U-235 and U-234 concentration. Histograms and normal Q–Q plots clearly show that the radioactive variables did not follow a normal distribution. This non-normality feature observed may be attributed to complicating influence of geological factors. The principal components analysis (PCA) gives a model of five components for representing the acquired data from Kurun phosphate, where 89.5% of the total variance is explained. A model of four components was sufficient to represent the acquired data from Uro phosphate, where 87.5% of the total data variance is explained. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicates that U-238 behaves in the same manner in the two types of phosphates; it associated with a group of four radionuclides; U-234, Po-210, Ra-226, Th-230, which the most abundant radionuclides, and all belong to the uranium-238 decay series. Two parameters have been adapted for the direct differentiate between the two phosphates. Firstly, U-238 in Uro phosphate have shown higher degree of mobility (CV% = 82.6) than that in Kurun phosphate (CV% = 64.7), and secondly, the activity ratio of Th-230/Th-232 in Uro phosphate is nine times than that in Kurun phosphate.

► Multivariate statistical techniques were used to characterize radioactive data.
► U-238 in Uro phosphate shows higher degree of mobility (CV% = 82.6).
► U-238 in Kurun phosphate shows lower degree of mobility (CV% = 64.7).
► The radioactive variables did not follow a normal distribution.
► The ratio of Th-230/Th-323 in Uro is nine times than that in Kurun.