Mineralogy and geochemistry of fine-grained Dahab stream sediments, Southeastern Sinai, Egypt: emphasis on the intergrowths of Fe–Ti oxides

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of stream sediments collected from 30 stations in the Dahab-Wadi Kid area (southeastern Sinai, Egypt) are presented. The studied sediments contain considerable amounts of heavy minerals, including abundant Fe–Ti oxides, with up to 25.94% index figure that measures the relative abundance of heavy minerals to light minerals. Immaturity of the sediments and nature of Fe–Ti oxide intergrowths, in addition to some non-opaque heavy minerals, indicate multiple provenances with contributions from a variety of Neoproterozoic mafic to felsic intrusions. Appreciable amounts of heavy minerals are derived from schists that belong to the so-called Wadi Kid volcano-sedimentary group. Owing to the considerable contribution of the felsic intrusions represented by within-plate granites, the sediments are enriched in REE-bearing minerals (e.g., monazite, cerianite, La-cerianite and allanite), V-bearing thorite, zircon, and a ZrO 2 phase. The majority of Fe–Ti oxides are derived from the mafic intrusions, and they show evidence of pre-, syn- and post-depositional phases of alteration and formation of intergrowths. As to the geochemical signature of the bulk silt fraction, there is remarkable enrichment of LREEs with distinct negative Eu anomaly, and this supports dominance of a provenance dominated by felsic intrusions (i.e., the A-type within-plate granite and associated pegmatites). Also, the felsic provenance is responsible for slight abnormality of ∑U + Th content (up to ~ 37 ppm) and few anomalous samples bear uraniferous zircon and Ce-type monazite. The present paper sheds light on the fertility of the Dahab stream sediments in some economic minerals for possible future exploitation, not for gold only, but for potential REE-bearing minerals that are needed for a wide spectrum of modern technological industries.