Radioactive anomaly and mineralogy of the lower part of the Tabuk Formation, Al Qassim area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

John J. Matzko; V. J. Flanigan; Mustafa Mawad; Ziad Al Kollak; M.I. Naqvi; Abdul Malik Helaby

doi:10.3133/ofr78520

Radioactive anomaly and mineralogy of the lower part of the Tabuk Formation, Al Qassim area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Open-File Report 78-520

By: John J. Matzko, V. J. Flanigan, Mustafa Mawad, Ziad Al Kollak, M.I. Naqvi, and Abdul Malik Helaby

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr78520

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Abstract

A radioactive anomaly about 10 km long was detected by an airborne survey of the Tabuk Formation, about 75 km west-northwest of Buraydah in northeastern Saudi Arabia. The gamma-spectrometer anomaly is 6 to 10 times higher than background over the adjacent Precambrian shield area and indicates anomalous concentrations of thorium-bearing minerals. Radioactive detrital minerals identified are zircon, monazite, xenotime, huttonite, and sphene. These minerals account for the anomaly; uranium and potassium-bearing minerals contribute only slightly to the overall spectrometer response. Several varieties of zircon have different morphologies, inclusions, and degree of freshness. Colorless, possibly relatively young grains showing a bright orange fluorescence, and radiation-damaged probably relatively older zircons without any fluorescence, suggest recycling during more than one erosion cycle and at least two different sources for the sediments of the Tabuk Formation. The antipathetic association of allanite and monazite further supports the thesis of more than one source for the sediments of the Tabuk Formation.

Suggested Citation

Matzko, J., Flanigan, V.J., Mawad, M., Kollak, Z.A., Naqvi, M., Helaby, A.M., 1978, Radioactive anomaly and mineralogy of the lower part of the Tabuk Formation, Al Qassim area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-520, ii, 22 leaves :ill., maps ;28 cm. ; (25 p. - PGS), https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr78520.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Radioactive anomaly and mineralogy of the lower part of the Tabuk Formation, Al Qassim area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	78-520
DOI	10.3133/ofr78520
Year Published	1978
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Description	ii, 22 p.
Public Comments	SA(IR) 220
Country	Saudi Arabia
Other Geospatial	Al Qassim area