Estimating and interpretation of radioactive heat production using airborne gamma-ray survey data of Gabal Arrubushi area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

• Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry.
• Radioactive heat production.
• Concentrations of the three radioelements.
• Radioelement composite image.

The present work deals with mapping of radioactive heat production from rocks in the Gabal Arrubushi area in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt based on airborne spectral gamma-ray survey data. The results show that the radioactive heat production in the areas ranges from 0.01 μWm−3 to 5.2 μWm−3. Granites, muscovite and sericite schists in the western part of Gabal Arrubushi area have abnormally high radioactive heat production values from 2.57 μWm−3 to 4.44 μWm−3. Meanwhile, the higher averages of radioactive heat production of these rock units change from 1.21 μWm−3 to 1.5 μWm−3. The intermediate averages of heat production of felsitic mylonite schist, chlorite schist, felsites, amphibolites and Hammamat sediments are below the crustal average value range, i.e., from 0.8 μWm−3 to 1.2 μWm−3. The lowest averages of heat production values are less than 0.8 μWm−3 and found in the following rock units: Wadi sediments, rhyolites, andesites, gabbro and serpentinites.