Mohamed Th.S. Heikal

Dr. Mohamed Th.S. Heikal


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 May 2025 in Minerals
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MEMustafa Ali Elsagheer
Mustafa Ali Elsagheer
Mokhles K. AzerMokhles K. Azer
Mokhles K. Azer
HMHilmy E. Moussa
Hilmy E. Moussa
AMAyman E. Maurice
Ayman E. Maurice
Mabrouk SamiMabrouk Sami
Mabrouk Sami
HSHadeer Sobhy
Hadeer Sobhy
The current work records for the first time the rare-metal pegmatites with mixed NYF-LCT located at Wadi Sikait, south Eastern Desert of the Egyptian Nubian Shield. Most of the Sikait pegmatites are associated with sheared granite and are surrounded by an alteration zone cross-cutting through greisen bodies. Sikait pegmatites show zoned and complex types, where the outer wall zones are highly mineralized (Nb, Ta, Y, Th, Hf, REE, U) than the barren cores. They consist essentially of K-feldspar, quartz, micas (muscovite, lepidolite, and zinnwaldite), and less albite. They contain a wide range of accessory minerals, including garnet, columbite, fergusonite-(Y), cassiterite, allanite, monazite, bastnaesite (Y, Ce, Nd), thorite, zircon, beryl, topaz, apatite, and Fe-Ti oxides. In the present work, the discovery of Li-bearing minerals for the first time in the Wadi Sikait pegmatite is highly significant. Sikait pegmatites are highly mineralized and yield higher maximum concentrations of several metals than the associated sheared granite. They are strongly enriched in Li (900–1791 ppm), Nb (1181–1771 ppm), Ta (138–191 ppm), Y (626–998 ppm), Hf (201–303 ppm), Th (413–685 ppm), Zr (2592–4429 ppm), U (224–699 ppm), and ∑REE (830–1711 ppm). The pegmatites and associated sheared granite represent highly differentiated peraluminous rocks that are typical of post-collisional rare-metal bearing granites. They show parallel chondrite-normalized REE patterns, enriched in HREE relative to LREE [(La/Lu)n = 0.04–0.12] and strongly negative Eu anomalies [(Eu/Eu*) = 0.03–0.10]. The REE patterns show an M-type tetrad effect, usually observed in granites that are strongly differentiated and ascribed to hydrothermal fluid exchange. The pegmatite has mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the mixed NYF-LCT family and shows non-CHARAC behavior due to a hydrothermal effect. Late-stage metasomatism processes caused redistribution, concentrated on the primary rare metals, and drove the development of greisen and quartz veins along the fracture systems. The genetic relationship between the Sikait pegmatite and the surrounding sheared granite was demonstrated by the similarities in their geochemical properties. The source magmas were mostly derived from the juvenile continental crust of the Nubian Shield through partial melting and subsequently subjected to a high fractional crystallization degree. During the late hydrothermal stage, the exsolution of F-rich fluids transported some elements and locally increased their concentrations to the economic grades. The investigated pegmatite and sheared granite should be considered as a potential resource to warrant exploration for REEs and other rare metals.

1 October 2018 in Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
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MHMohamed Th.S. Heikal
Mohamed Th.S. Heikal
SGS. Gomaa
S. Gomaa
Mohamed Abd El MonsefMohamed Abd El Monsef
Mohamed Abd El Monsef
ATA.A. Taha
A.A. Taha
GTG. Top
G. Top
MMM. El- Mansi
M. El- Mansi
The study referred to determine the possible radiological risks by the help of internationally approved health hazard indices derivated by field and laboratory gamma measurements performed for surface, adit and core samples from Gabal Abu Dabbab albite granite Ta-Nb-Sn mining area, which is located some 50 km northwestern Marsa Alam city within the central Nubian Shield of Egypt. The field measurements were taken by portable RS-230 γ-ray spectrometer and the laboratory spectrometric analyzes were verified by HPGe detector for the radioactivity measurements of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K (Bq/kg) in the studied samples to assess their radiation hazards. Statistical depicting groups, summary statistics and two sample comparison tests (t-test and Mann-Whitney test) were used for statistical evaluations. The gamma-ray radioactivity levels of surface samples maximized to 94.68, 61.64, 45.10 and 1051.62 Bq/kg for 238U, 226Ra, ³²Th and ⁴⁰K respectively, whereas adit samples reached to 206.47, 113.16, 198.7, 939.43 Bq/kg and core samples reah to 108.23, 54.17, 43.47, 939.42 respectively. Almost values of the radiation hazard indices in the studied samples were under the health hazard limits

22 July 2025 in Toxics
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MHMohamed Th.S. Heikal
Mohamed Th.S. Heikal
ASAya S. Shereif
Aya S. Shereif
Árpád CsámerÁrpád Csámer
Árpád Csámer
FDFatma El-Sayed Deshesh
Fatma El-Sayed Deshesh
Between approximately 725 and 518 Ma, a suite of specialized felsic plutons and granitic stocks were emplaced across the Arabian Shield, many of which are now recognized as highly mineralized prospects enriched in rare earth elements (REEs), rare metals, and radioactive elements bearing mineralizations. The current investigation focused on the radiological and geochemical characterization of naturally occurring radionuclides, specifically 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, within three strategically selected granitic prospects, namely, J. Tawlah albite granite (TW), J. Hamra (HM), and J. Abu Al Dod alkali feldspar syenite and granites (AD). Concerning the radioactivity levels of the investigated granitic stocks, specifically the activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, the measured average values demonstrate significant variability across the TW, HM, and AD stocks. The average 238U concentrations are 195 (SD = 38.7), 88.66 (SD = 25.6), and 214.3 (SD = 140.8) Bq/kg for TW, HM, and AD granitic stocks, respectively. Corresponding 226Ra levels are recorded at 172.4 (SD = 34.6), 75.62 (SD = 25.9), and 198.4 (SD = 139.5) Bq/kg. For 232Th, the concentrations are markedly elevated in TW at 5453.8 (SD = 2182.9) Bq/kg, compared to 77.16 (SD = 27.02) and 160.2 (SD = 103.8) Bq/kg in HM and AD granitic stocks, respectively. Meanwhile, 40K levels are reported at 1670 (SD = 535.9), 2846.2 (SD = 249.9), and 3225 (SD = 222.3) Bq/kg for TW, HM, and AD granitic plutons, respectively. Notably, these values exceed the global average background levels, indicating an anomalous enrichment of the studied granitic occurrences. The mean radiological hazard indices for each granitic unit generally exceed global benchmarks, except for AEDEout in the HM and AD stocks, which remain below international limits. The geochemical disparities observed are indicative of post-magmatic alteration processes, as substantiated by the interpretation of remote sensing datasets. In light of the significant radiological burden presented by these granitic stocks, it is essential to implement a rigorous precautionary framework for any future mining. These materials must be categorically excluded from uses that entail direct human exposure, especially in residential construction or infrastructure projects.

26 May 2025 in Geosciences
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Journal Article
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Mokhles K. AzerMokhles K. Azer
Mokhles K. Azer
ASAdel Abdullah Surour
Adel Abdullah Surour
HMHilmy Essa Mousa
Hilmy Essa Mousa
AMAyman E. Maurice
Ayman E. Maurice
Mabrouk SamiMabrouk Sami
Mabrouk Sami
MOMohamed O. Osama
Mohamed O. Osama
The greisens discussed in the present study are associated with the Homrit Akarem post-collisional granites, which are exposed near the western edge of the Egyptian Nubian Shield in the Southeastern Desert of Egypt. The Homrit Akarem granites intruded into Neoproterozoic country rocks, with sharp intrusive contacts. The marginal parts of the Homrit Akarem intrusion underwent extensive post-magmatic metasomatism, resulting in the formation of albitized granite and greisens. The Homrit Akarem greisens occur as veins and stockworks, which can be classified into four types: muscovite-rich, cassiterite-rich, topaz-rich, and beryl-rich greisens. Based on petrographic inspection, we identified ore minerals (cassiterite, beryl, topaz, muscovite, Nb-Ta oxides, tourmaline, fluorite, and corundum) in the greisens using electron probe microanalysis. The Homrit Akarem mineralized greisens were formed in a magmatic cupola above A-type magma, where fluid–rock interactions played a significant role in their formation. The accumulation of residual volatile-rich melt and exsolved fluids in the apical part of the magma chamber produced albitized granite, greisens, and quartz veins that intruded into the peripheries of the granitic intrusion and its surrounding country rocks. The variation in the mineralogy of the studied greisens indicates the diverse chemical composition of both the hydrothermal/magmatic fluids and the host granites. The simultaneous decrease in temperature and pressure is considered a crucial factor that controlled mineralization in the apical parts of the magma chamber. The occurrence of cassiterite, beryl, topaz, tourmaline, muscovite, and Nb-Ta oxides in the studied greisens suggests a potential polymetallic deposit of industrial minerals.

26 November 2019 in Arabian Journal of Geosciences
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMohamed Th.S. Heikal
Mohamed Th.S. Heikal
ELEl-Metwally M. Lebda
El-Metwally M. Lebda
EKEzz A. Khalaf
Ezz A. Khalaf

9 September 2018 in Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMohamed Th.S. Heikal
Mohamed Th.S. Heikal
SGS. R. Gomaa
S. R. Gomaa
Mohamed Abd El MonsefMohamed Abd El Monsef
Mohamed Abd El Monsef
ATA.A. Taha
A.A. Taha
GTG. Top
G. Top
MMM. M. El- Mansi
M. M. El- Mansi
The deals with the determination of the possible radiological risks by the help of internationally approved health hazard addressed by field and laboratory gamma measurements performed for surface, adit and core samples from Gabal Abu Dabbab albite granite Ta-Nb-Sn mining area. The studied area is located some 50 km northwestern Marsa Alam city within the central Nubian Shield of Egypt. The field measurements were taken by portable RS-230 γ-ray spectrometer and the laboratory spectrometric analyzes were verified by HPGe detector for the radioactivity measurements of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K (Bq/kg) in the studied samples to assess their radiation hazards. Statistical depicting groups, summary statistics and two sample comparison tests (t-test and Mann-Whitney test) were used for statistical evaluations. The gamma-ray radioactivitylevels of surface samples reached 94.68, 61.64, 45.10 and 1051.62 Bq/kg for 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and ⁴⁰K respectively, whereas adit samples reached 206.47, 113.16, 198.7, 939.43 Bq/kg and core samples reach to 108.23, 54.17, 43.47, 939.42 respectively. Almost values of the radiation hazard indices in the studied samples were under the health hazard limits.