Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment
The study of the influence of geological structure (e.g., faults) on radon emanations is usually applicable provided that there are conditionally background (control) territories with which radon indicators will be compared. In the presented study, we selected an area where pre-Cenozoic faults that...
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| author | Timofey Leshukov Konstantin Legoshchin Elizaveta Baranova Aleksey Larionov |
| author_facet | Timofey Leshukov Konstantin Legoshchin Elizaveta Baranova Aleksey Larionov |
| author_sort | Timofey Leshukov |
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| description | The study of the influence of geological structure (e.g., faults) on radon emanations is usually applicable provided that there are conditionally background (control) territories with which radon indicators will be compared. In the presented study, we selected an area where pre-Cenozoic faults that could potentially be associated with the radon hazard of the Kuznetsk coal basin were not identified. The cover deposits in the study area are represented by loamy and clayey strata overlying the Paleozoic sedimentary cycles. The radon field was estimated based on the radon flux density (RFD) and radon activity concentration (RAC) in the soil gas. The RAC was measured in two ways—by the sorption method on activated carbon and by the method of active sampling of soil gas from a borehole. At the same time, the role of meteorological conditions and the physical properties of the soil in the radon field was assessed. Our study shows that local variations in the physical properties of the soil are insignificant and do not have a significant effect on the RAC in the soil gas of the Kuznetsk coal basin, with the exception of soil moisture. High values of RAC in the territory considered as conditionally background, in the absence of pre-Cenozoic faults, suggest other causes (the presence of the latest Neogene–Quaternary faults, high concentrations of <sup>226</sup>Ra, or other insufficiently studied causes). Due to the absence of faults, it is possible to assume a diffusion type of radon transfer in the geological environment, which indicates a shallow source of radon in such high concentrations. Our results indicate that studies of the <sup>226</sup>Ra content and additional studies of the radon hazard of similar areas should also be carried out. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8b582c422f454673bd70c31cca4f12702025-01-24T13:34:09ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-01-011511410.3390/geosciences15010014Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard AssessmentTimofey Leshukov0Konstantin Legoshchin1Elizaveta Baranova2Aleksey Larionov3Department of Geology and Geography, Institute of Biology, Ecology and Natural Resources, Kemerovo State University, 6 Krasnaya Street, 650000 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Geology and Geography, Institute of Biology, Ecology and Natural Resources, Kemerovo State University, 6 Krasnaya Street, 650000 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Genetics and Fundamental Medicine, Institute of Biology, Ecology and Natural Resources, Kemerovo State University, 6 Krasnaya Street, 650000 Kemerovo, RussiaDepartment of Genetics and Fundamental Medicine, Institute of Biology, Ecology and Natural Resources, Kemerovo State University, 6 Krasnaya Street, 650000 Kemerovo, RussiaThe study of the influence of geological structure (e.g., faults) on radon emanations is usually applicable provided that there are conditionally background (control) territories with which radon indicators will be compared. In the presented study, we selected an area where pre-Cenozoic faults that could potentially be associated with the radon hazard of the Kuznetsk coal basin were not identified. The cover deposits in the study area are represented by loamy and clayey strata overlying the Paleozoic sedimentary cycles. The radon field was estimated based on the radon flux density (RFD) and radon activity concentration (RAC) in the soil gas. The RAC was measured in two ways—by the sorption method on activated carbon and by the method of active sampling of soil gas from a borehole. At the same time, the role of meteorological conditions and the physical properties of the soil in the radon field was assessed. Our study shows that local variations in the physical properties of the soil are insignificant and do not have a significant effect on the RAC in the soil gas of the Kuznetsk coal basin, with the exception of soil moisture. High values of RAC in the territory considered as conditionally background, in the absence of pre-Cenozoic faults, suggest other causes (the presence of the latest Neogene–Quaternary faults, high concentrations of <sup>226</sup>Ra, or other insufficiently studied causes). Due to the absence of faults, it is possible to assume a diffusion type of radon transfer in the geological environment, which indicates a shallow source of radon in such high concentrations. Our results indicate that studies of the <sup>226</sup>Ra content and additional studies of the radon hazard of similar areas should also be carried out.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/1/14soil radonradon flux densityRFDradon activity concentrationRACsoil properties |
| spellingShingle | Timofey Leshukov Konstantin Legoshchin Elizaveta Baranova Aleksey Larionov Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment Geosciences soil radon radon flux density RFD radon activity concentration RAC soil properties |
| title | Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment |
| title_full | Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment |
| title_short | Preliminary Results of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin Cover Deposits Radon Hazard Assessment |
| title_sort | preliminary results of the kuznetsk coal basin cover deposits radon hazard assessment |
| topic | soil radon radon flux density RFD radon activity concentration RAC soil properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/1/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timofeyleshukov preliminaryresultsofthekuznetskcoalbasincoverdepositsradonhazardassessment AT konstantinlegoshchin preliminaryresultsofthekuznetskcoalbasincoverdepositsradonhazardassessment AT elizavetabaranova preliminaryresultsofthekuznetskcoalbasincoverdepositsradonhazardassessment AT alekseylarionov preliminaryresultsofthekuznetskcoalbasincoverdepositsradonhazardassessment |