The effect of uranium migration on radionuclide distributions for soil samples at the El-Gor area, Sinai, Egypt

The concentrations and distributions of the activity of natural radionuclides in soil samples were investigated in fifteen soil samples at El-Gor area representing two profiles (A and B) using a HP-Ge detector and alpha counting by SSNTD (CR-39), respectively. The average concentrations of the radionuclides 238U, 226Ra, 235U, 232Th and 40K are 203.4, 177.23, 9.77, 43.33 and 386.22 Bq kg−1 (dry weight), respectively, and profile A and 238U, 226Ra, 235U, 232Th and 40K have average concentrations of 232.58, 246, 11.7, 31.7, and 277.07 Bq kg−1 for profile B, respectively. The eTh and eU were estimated to detect the migration process of uranium into or out of an area or uranium to or from the studied profiles. The results indicate a migration of uranium by 29% for profile A and 65.37% for profile B. The activity ratio (238U/226Ra) was found to be 0.9 in profile A and 1.15 in profile B. These ratios coincide with the uranium migration processes. The responsible mass corresponding to the measured 226Ra activity was also calculated. The radon activity concentrations for the two profiles are nearly 300 Bq m−3. The emanation coefficient (η) was calculated from the ratio of the expected radon activity to the measured radon for the studied soil samples. The value of η was found to depend only on the radium activity regardless to soil formation.