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The research area lies in Egypt's Central Eastern Desert and is considered one of the most important localities where it contains many valuable metals. The episyenite rocks serve as a trap for uranium mineralization. The current study focused on evaluating the natural radioactive risk and pollution. The radioelement contents were determined by using Na–I detector. Episyenite rocks have high radioelement contents and low eTh/eU ratio. eU and eTh concentration contour maps indicate that the central and southeastern parts are high, while the northeastern and southwestern parts are high in Potassium. The radiological and ecological parameters were higher than the recommended international values in some samples, clarifying its unsafe use as building material or in infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronologically, the main exposures in the study area include; tonalite, granodiorite, adamellite, Hammamat Sediments, monzogranite, syenogranite, rapakivi syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite and dykes. This work aims to determine the suitability of the granitic rocks for using as ornamental stones through detecting their radiological and ecological impacts. The studied samples were measured radiometrically by using Na-I detector for determination of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K concentrations. External hazard indices (Hex) in some samples are more than unity, also, the (Raeq) are higher than the exemption limits (370 Bq.kg−1) exceeds the upper limit of exposure. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was applied to investigate the correlation between the radionuclides and the corresponding radiological hazard variables. Based on the statistical analysis, 232Th and 226Ra mainly contribute to the radioactive risk of the studied rocks. Regarding ecological indices, 42.1% of younger granite samples have Pollution load index values greater than 1, indicating deterioration, while the majority of older granite samples are lower than 1 suggesting perfection samples. Where, some sample from the older granitoids and younger granites have many radiological and ecological parameters greater than the recommended international limits, so, these samples should not be used in construction for safety reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]