Quantitative elemental analysis and natural radioactivity levels of mud and salt collected from the Dead Sea, Jordan

Mud and salt samples from six different locations have been collected from the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, Jordan. Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) showed twenty-five elements in the mud and salt samples. Shape and grain size of the studied samples were characterized by Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative phase analysis (QPA) based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) of mud samples revealed that five minerals are dominant namely Quartz, Kaolinite, Calcite, Topaz and Dolomite while the salt samples are mainly composed of Halite. The radiation hazard parameters and the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 228Ra, 40K and 137Cs have been quantified by γ-ray spectrometry. Noticeable differences were recognized from location to another but all of the obtained values were within the world activity concentration range.