Mineralogical Characterization and Physical Beneficiation of Mineralized Lamprophyre Dykes from Wadi Nugrus-Abalea, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Fathy, Mai M.; Saleh, Gehad M.; Kharbish, Sherif; Kamar, Mohamed S.; Maged, Ali; Fawzy, Mona M.

doi:10.21608/fsrt.2025.383591.1165

Mineralogical Characterization and Physical Beneficiation of Mineralized Lamprophyre Dykes from Wadi Nugrus-Abalea, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nuclear Materials Authority. P.O. Box 530, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

² Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez University, 43221 Suez, Egypt

³ Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez University, El Salam City, P.O. Box 43518, Suez Governorate, Egypt

10.21608/fsrt.2025.383591.1165

Abstract

This study investigates the mineralogical composition of two lamprophyre dykes located in the Wadi Nugrus-Abalea area, Egypt. Analysis revealed that the primary mineral constituents of the samples are quartz, feldspar, and muscovite, comprising approximately 79.2 wt.%. Additionally, the samples contain significant amounts of economically valuable polymetallic minerals—14.28 wt.% in the first dyke and 5.79 wt.% in the second. The altered lamprophyre samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), alongside analysis of their physical properties. Based on these results, flow sheets were proposed to outline the sequential physical beneficiation steps, including wet gravity separation followed by dry high-intensity magnetic separation, to concentrate valuable minerals and remove associated gangue. The study identified several industrially and strategically important polymetallic minerals within the lamprophyre samples, such as base metal minerals, kasolite that contains uranium (U), which consider a principal fuel for nuclear power generation as well as used to produce isotopes essential for medical diagnostics and cancer treatments, fluorite, chernovite-Y, and xenotime that has Rare Earth Elements (REEs) which play crucial roles in electronics, as well as iron oxides and base metals like copper that play an essential role for electrical wiring, electronics, and power generation and finally; zinc which a key role in galvanizing steel to prevent corrosion. Physical beneficiation processes successfully yielded high-grade mineral concentrates suitable for use as feedstock in chemical extraction processes, highlighting their potential for various industrial applications.

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