High Field Strength Elements distribution in river sediments of Nile (Egypt) and Zarafshon (Tajikistan) as investigated by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
Распределение высокозарядных элементов в речных отложениях Нила (Египет) и Зарафшона (Таджикистан) по данным инструментального нейтронно-активационного анализа

Additional data

Submitted: 03.02.2026; Accepted: 10.04.2026; Published 27.04.2026;
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How to Cite

O. G. Duliu, W. M. Badawy, D. Abdusamadzoda, D. A. Abdushukurov, M. V. Frontasyeva, I. Zinicovscaia, P. S. Nekhoroshkov, H. El-Samman. "High Field Strength Elements distribution in river sediments of Nile (Egypt) and Zarafshon (Tajikistan) as investigated by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis" Natural Sci. Rev. 3 100702 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.54546/NaturalSciRev.100702
BibTex
O. G. Duliu1,2,3,a, W. M. Badawy3,4, D. Abdusamadzoda3,5, D. A. Abdushukurov5, M. V. Frontasyeva3, I. Zinicovscaia3,6, P. S. Nekhoroshkov3, H. El-Samman7
  • 1Department of Structure of Matter, Earth and Atmospheric Physics, Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
  • 2Geological Institute of Romania, Bucharest, Romania
  • 3Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia
  • 4Radiation Protection and Civil Defense Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
  • 5Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences, Tajik State National University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
  • 6Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
  • 7Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shibin El-koom, Egypt
  • ao.duliu@fizica.unibuc.ro
DOI: 10.54546/NaturalSciRev.100702
Keywords: High Field Strength Elements, river sediments, Nile, Egypt, Zarafshon, Tajikistan, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, statistical data analysis
Topics: Earth and Environmental Sciences
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Abstract

The High Field Strength Elements (HFSE), due to their relatively low mobility in the majority of sedimentary processes, are among the most suitable elements for provenance studies, as they permit collecting information on the parent material. Therefore, the distribution of the mass fractions of two incompatible elements (Co and Ni) and 13 HFSE (Sc, Zr, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Tm, Yb, Hf, Th, and U) in unconsolidated sediments belonging to two different river systems, i.e., the Egyptian sector of the Nile River and the Tadjik sector of the Zarafshon River, evidences similarities and dissimilarities between the sedimentary materials and their correlation with the local geochemistry. The Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in its Epithermal variant was used. In total, 38 and 29 samples of unconsolidated sediments were collected along the Nile and the Zarafshon rivers. In the great majority, the distribution functions of the mass fractions were not normal, as Shapiro–Wilk, Anderson–Darling, Lilliefors, and Jarque–Bera ANOVA tests proved. More discriminating bi-plots and ternary diagrams permitted a better comparison between the distribution functions of the considered elements. All of them showed, for both types of sedimentary material, a relative similarity with the less recycled felsic type of rocks. Despite this, a further detailed analysis revealed systematic differences between the two sediment categories, suggesting that the Nile sediments have been influenced by the mafic material transported from the basalt-rich plateaus of Ethiopia via the Blue Nile.

Acknowledgements

The research was performed within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement between the Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Sector of Neutron Activation Analysis and Applied Research of the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics of JINR as well as between the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) of Egypt and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna within the ASRT–JINR collaboration. O. G. Duliu recognizes his contribution within more Cooperation Protocols between the University of Bucharest and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The authors are grateful to the staff of the SNAA&AR and FLNP JINR for performing the INAA of the samples. Also, we thank two anonymous reviewers for their useful remarks and advice.

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