Elemental analysis of natural quartz from Um Higlig, Red Sea Aea, Egypt by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A scheme for INAA of 25 elements: As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sc, Sm, Th, U, Yb, Zn and Zr in quartz collected from the eastern desert along the Egyptian Red Sea coast is proposed. The samples were prepared together with standard reference material and irradiated in a neutron flux of 7×1011 n/cm2 s in the TRIGA Mainz research reactor facilities. The gamma spectra were collected by a HPGe detector and the analysis was done by a computerized multichannel analyzer.The accuracy of the procedure is evaluated by the analysis of two geo-standard reference materials (Dolerite WSE and Microgabro PMS). The choice of the nuclear reaction, irradiation and decay times and of the proper gamma radiation in counting are presented and discussed. The data presented here are our contribution to understanding the elemental composition of the quartz rock. Because there are no existing databases for the elemental analysis of quartz, our results are a start to establishing a database for the Egyptian quartz. It is hoped that the data presented here will be useful to those dealing with geochemistry, quartz chemistry and related fields. - Highlights: • The instrumental neutron activation analysis technique was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of natural quartz. • The samples irradiated with thermal neutrons in the TRIGA Mainz research reactor. • The following elements have been determined: As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sc, Sm, Th, U, Yb, Zn and Zr