____________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Corresponding author e-mail: wielwan@science.zu.edu.eg
Received: 13/07/2023; Accepted: 16/08/2023
DOI: 10.21608/EGJG.2023.221581.1053
©2023 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC)
Egypt. J. Geo. Vol. 68, pp: 197-217 (2023)
Mineralogical, fluid inclusion and radiometric studies on Wadi El-Dob
pegmatites, northern Eastern Desert, Egypt
Waheed Elwan
1
, Ahmed Dardier
2
, Ismail A. El Akeed
2,
Emad Kahlil
1
and Hader Sobhy
1
(1)
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig-4451, Egypt
(2)
Nuclear Materials Authority, P.O. Box – 530 Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
HE WADI El-Dob pegmatite body, located in the northern Eastern Desert, consists of three
distinct zones: the border zone, intermediate zone, and core zone. It is hosted within alkali-
feldspar granite and contains minerals such as plagioclase, quartz, muscovite, rare K-feldspar,
fluorite, topaz, hematite, rutile, pyrite, cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, and xenotime, so they classified
as NYF-type pegmatites. Fluid inclusion studies revealed the presence of three types of inclusions:
two-phase aqueous, three-phase (H
2
O-CO
2
), and poly-phase inclusions. The first type (stage I)
showed low salinity and homogenization temperature, while the second type (stage II) exhibited high
salinity and temperature. The poly-phase inclusions formed during the hydrothermal stage. The wide
temperature range of homogenization could be attributed to simple cooling. The estimated
temperatures from isochors varied between a lower and upper range under a specific pressure. The
fluids of both stages I and II likely originated from a magmatic source, possibly associated with the
devolatilization of alkali-feldspar granites. The coexistence of different types of inclusions can be
explained by the partial immiscibility of a homogeneous fluid (H
2
O-CO
2
-NaCl) due to the presence of
H
2
O-rich and CO
2
-rich inclusions, their occurrence in the same region and samples, and the similar
micro thermometric results. Generally, pegmatites are commonly suggested to be derived from
crystallizing granitic melt especially those pegmatites, which are hosted within the parental granite.
Geochemically, the resemblance of magma type between alkali-feldspar granites and the associated
pegmatite body suggests a common source magma. Both granite and pegmatite samples display a
typical trend of magmatic differentiation, which is consistent with fractional crystallization. NYF,
garnet-REE pegmatite containing ilmenite and Nb-Ta minerals may originate as the product of melt
segregation within the granite during its crystallization. Furthermore, NYF pegmatites may have
originated from mantle-sourced anorogenic magmas with a peralkaline signature. The border zone of
the pegmatite experienced crystallization temperatures within a range (560 - 570 °C). The chemical
composition of the intermediate zone (K-feldspar) from Wadi El-Dob and the physical tests
conducted on ceramics made from pegmatite samples indicate their suitability for wall ceramic tiles
according to standard values. Field radiometric measurements of the El Dob pegmatites revealed
varying content of K-40, uranium, and thorium. These variations indicate the presence of
hydrothermal and magmatic types, suggesting significant post-magmatic processes. Consequently, it
is recommended to exclude measurement stations with high values from use in the ceramic industry.
Keywords: Pegmatite, Eastern Desert, Fluid inclusions, El-Dob, Heavy minerals, Radiometry,
Ceramic.
1. Introduction
Pegmatites considered as coarse to very coarse-
grained granites. They represent an important
source of industrial minerals (feldspars, quartz,
spodumene, petalite), hi-tech mineral commodities
(e.g., Li, Cs, Be, Nb, Ta, Sn), radioactive minerals
(e.g., Th and U), and gemstones (Pal et al., 2007;
Simmons et al., 2006; Vasyukova and Williams-
Jones, 2019). Pegmatite bodies vary greatly in size
and shape; their shapes range from pockets, dykes,
sheets to huge plugs. Pegmatites in a particular field
may show a regional mineralogical-chemical
zonation (Černy, 1982). Rare metal-bearing
pegmatites are classified into two petrogenetic
families based on accessory phase mineralogy and
T
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