[en] In a search for fresh groundwater reserves in the northwestern Negev Desert of Israel, the Nizzana-1 water well drilled into the Judea Group aquifer encountered water that exhibits an anomalously high ²²⁶Ra activity of 2.4 Bq/l, along with 133 Bq/l ²²²Rn. The exploited well water is a mixture of the original Judea Group aquifer water and the underlying more saline artesian water of the Kurnub Group (or Nubian Sandstone) aquifer that is currently intruding via faults. Both aquifers elsewhere contain intrinsically low radioactivity. A study of the sedimentary sequence transected by the borehole revealed that much of the bituminous sequence of the Mount Scopus Group of Upper Cretaceous age is substantially depleted in ²²⁶Ra. During its ascent, the Nubian Sandstone water flushes the moderately uranium enriched bituminous sediments, selectively leaching radium and/or receiving alpha-recoil additions of radium. These bituminous chalks and marls are regionally widespread. It is thus suggested that radium should be monitored where faulting allows for inter-aquiferial connections across uranium enriched bituminous sections

[en] The mineralogy of secondary uranium minerals in the Judean Desert (central Israel) and in the northern Negev is discussed and summarized. Their occurrence is of two types: type a, uranium mineralization in the Hatrurim Formation ('Mottled Zone'); and type b, uranium mineralization in soils. In both types the uranium minerals are associated with gypsum layers, crusts and veins. Uranium minerals identified were carnotite, meta-autunite, metatyuyamunite, tyuyamunite, bayleyite, saleeite, rauvite, zellerite, autunite and phosphuranylite(?). Most of these minerals had not been previously identified in the region. The source rocks for the U-bearing minerals were phosphorites and metamorphosed phosphorites and bituminous chalks and marls of Senonian to Paleocene age that are widespread in this area. It is postulated that U was leached out of these rocks by meteoric waters and migrated towards the Dead Sea Rift Valley where it was concentrated by evaporation under oxidizing arid conditions. The most prominent concentration of U was observed in the margins of the Hatrurim syncline. 19 refs.; 2 figs.; 1 plate

[en] Abstract only

[en] Through K/Ar dating of basalt implements from two Mount Carmel late Epipalaeolithic sites and samples of locally occurring basalts, it was possible to demonstrate clearly that the prehistoric inhabitants of these sites did not utilize the locally available Upper Cretaceous (88-77 My) basalts. The dates of the basalt implements are of Tertiary-Quaternary age (3.7-<0.250 My) which suggests the exploitation of basalt exposures at least 60 km east of the sites. This is the first direct evidence for long-distance exchange/trade of an essential raw material in the Levant as early as 13 000 BP. (Author)

No abstract available

[en] Very intense gamma-ray emissions produced by nuclides in the ²³⁸U-decay series were measured in active and relict spring deposits along the Dea Sea coast. Precipitates of Ra near sites of modern springs provide a local source of Rn to coexisting waters. Relict spring deposits, representing prior Dead Sea levels, contain high concentrations of Ra. The Ra in both cases has been derived from the Dead Sea waters (or from the Dead Sea in combination with a Ra component from the primary spring water) and coprecipitated with hydrous oxides of Mn and Fe. The metal oxides precipitated in response to the mixing of the fresher spring waters with the Dead Sea brine. (author)

[en] Uranium-series nuclides are responsible for the γ-ray anomalies associated with iron veins in Israel; Th and K contributions are negligible. The U content in hand samples is as high as 2000 ppm. Uranium, like a variety of other trace metals encountered, is disseminated within the Fe phases and does not form independent minerals even at high concentrations. The richest U content is found in hematite. Goethite, derived from the alteration of hematite, contains less U, but still considerably more than the U-poor marine carbonate host rocks, generally of Cretaceous age. Uranium, unlike the other associated trace metals, is geographically confined to those iron veins found within the phosphorite province of the Negev, whereas Fe and other trace metals, which are believed to be derived from hydrothermal solutions rising from depth, are also found along fault zones elsewhere. Uranium is believed to be scavenged from Cenomanian aquifer groundwaters enriched in U which were leached through weathering of Senonian phosphorites. The iron veins enriched in U and other trace metals are located along structural elements which were activated after the Miocene, developing up to subrecent times. 19 refs.; 7 figs.; 2 tabs

[en] Situated within the Jordan Rift Valley, along the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) which serves as the national water reservoir of Israel, are saline hot springs that are notable for their enrichment in radon and radium. Though the anomalous radioactivity has been known for almost half a century, the source of the radioactive anomalies has been a subject of conjecture. Radiometric analysis of a rock core drilled through Mt. Arbel, situated to the west of the lake, reveals that the oil shale sequence of the Senonian En Zetim and Ghareb formations is strikingly deficient in radium. Mt. Arbel has been cut by Rift Valley related faults that serve as conduits for ascending brines. The organic matter enriched sequence is encountered in the subsurface at elevations lower than the water level of the nearby radioactive enriched hot springs. It is thus concluded that hot ascending brines underlying the lake flush through the organic matter enriched sequence and remove a substantial percentage of ²²⁶Ra from the uranium enriched organic material, before draining to the outlets of the springs. Saline springs that are in contact with organic matter enriched sequence show excess of radium and radon, while fresh water springs in the same stratigraphic position show only excess of radon