The hypothesis on accumulation mechanism of natural radionuclides in coal fields in Southeastern Transbaikalia

The relevance of the research is shown in terms of the ecological safety of regions with predominantly coal-fired power generation, in particular, when coal has high content of natural radionuclides. The hypothesis on the accumulation mechanism of radioactive elements in brown coals of Transbaikalia was put forward by the present study authors a few years ago. The hypothesis is presented as the crystalline basement rocks → sedimentary rocks → coal chain. All subsequent studies in brown coal fields of Transbaikalia were aimed to prove the hypotheses. This article informs on the geological structure and occurrence conditions of typical coal deposits with high content of natural radionuclides—Kutinsky and Pogranichny. The scope of field operations and logging data per wells in the Pogranichny deposit are presented. The zones of increased activity of natural radionuclides in the deposits are identified. The data on the intensity of gamma radiation from coal, sedimentary rocks and basement rocks, including trench samples, are presented. The laboratory test data on the level of radionuclides in rock and coal samples are given. The increased content of 40K is observed in the host and interbedded rocks, which is explained by the presence of the microcline and orthoclase mixture in the basement rocks and by the clay component in the overburden rocks, and which confirms the hypothesis.

Keywords: fossil coal, Transbaikal region, natural radionuclides, laboratory sample, field and laboratory research, hypothesis, forecast, mechanism of accumulation of natural radionuclides.
For citation:

Sidorova G. P., Yakimov A. A., Ovcharenko N. V., Gushhina T. O. The hypothesis on accumulation mechanism of natural radionuclides in coal fields in Southeastern Transbaikalia. MIAB.MiningInf.Anal.Bull.2021;(3-2):143-152.[InRuss].DOI:10.25018/0236_1493_2021_32_0_143.

Acknowledgements:

The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, No. 18-05-00397.

Issue number: 3
Year: 2021
Page number: 143-152
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 662.33
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_32_0_143
Article receipt date: 20.11.2020
Date of review receipt: 23.12.2020
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.02.2021
About authors:

Sidorova G.P.1, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, e-mail: druja@inbox.ru;
Yakimov A.A.1, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, e-mail: yaa76@yandex.ru;
Ovcharenko N.V.2, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), geologist, e-mail: nataovharenko@mail.ru;
Gushhina T.O.3, Graduate Student;
1 Transbaikal State University, Chita, Russia;
2 Coal mine «Urtuysky», Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union, Krasnokamensk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia;
3 National research technological University “MISIS”, Moscow, Russia.

 

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