Transformation of the radionuclides composition of river sediments in the area of the exploited Lomonosov diamond deposit (NW Russia).

The article is devoted to the study of the activity of the natural radionuclides 40K, 232Th, 226Ra and technogenic 137Cs radionuclide in the river sediments of watercourses around the Lomonosov diamond deposit (northwestern Russia). This is the only large diamond mining and beneficiation complex in Europe. Samples of river sediments and surface waters were taken from the Zolotitsa River and its tributaries in the area of the diamond deposit. Samples of rocks were taken from quarries. Samples of kimberlites used for enrichment and rocks entering the dumps were selected. Measurements of the activity of radionuclides in bottom sediments and rocks were conducted using the low-background semiconductor gamma spectrometry method. For measurements, a detector from high-purity germanium was used. The study of uranium isotopes in bottom sediments and waters was conducted using the alpha spectrometry method. The average activity of 137Cs, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 5.4, 9.0, 11.2, 318.8 Bq·kg-1 respectively. The impact of the development of the field on the change in the radioecological state of the bottom sediments was evaluated. Several patterns of radionuclide accumulation have been found depending on the physicochemical parameters of river sediments. These patterns are due to the technogenic influence of the mining and beneficiation complex. The performed studies present the first evaluation of the impact of diamond mining on natural radionuclides' distribution and accumulation in the river sediments within the adjacent territories.

Evolution of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the south-eastern White Sea area (NW Russia) using 14C and 234U-238U dating.

The specific objectives of the study are to clarify the sources and characteristics of groundwater in the aquifers along the coast of the White Sea in northwestern Russia, and on this basis to perform a broad 14C and 234U/238U dating of all their types, taking into account the mixing processes. Investigation of an evolution of the groundwater chemistry revealed that the main evolutionary trends are the following: (1) Mixing Late Pleistocene brackish water end member (brackish1) and Mikulino seawater end member with strongly brackish and salty water in the Vpd aquifer (salty Vpd) formation. Groundwater dating showed the "brackish1" residence time in the aquifer of 32.96±2.3ka. Recharge of "brackish1" could have occurred in MIS 3. (2) Mixing Late Pleistocene freshwater end member (fresh LP) and "salty Vpd" end member with brackish water (brackish2) formation. Groundwater dating showed the "brackish2" residence time in the aquifer from 25.1±0.7 to 39.2±6.3ka. Recharge of "fresh LP" could have occurred ~ in MIS 3 also. (3) Mixing Middle Pleistocene-Holocene freshwater of melting glaciers (fresh MP-H) end member and brine end member with the strongly brackish and salty water in Vmz aquifer (salty Vmz) formation. Recharge of "fresh MP-H" could have occurred in Middle Pleistocene-Holocene during MIS 12-MIS 1. As a result of intensive and rapid recharge after the glacial melting, glacial fluids have penetrated at depth to >200m. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the interrelationship of various groundwater flows near the coasts and contribute to a more justified and efficient use of them for drinking water supply in large cities, balneological treatment and industrial extraction of iodine waters. They also allow assessment of the risks of dumping saline drainage water into the environment.

Estimation of uranium migration parameters in sandstone aquifers.

The chemical composition and isotopes of carbon and uranium were investigated in groundwater samples that were collected from 16 wells and 2 sources in the Northern Dvina Basin, Northwest Russia. Across the dataset, the temperatures in the groundwater ranged from 3.6 to 6.9 °C, the pH ranged from 7.6 to 9.0, the Eh ranged from -137 to +128 mV, the total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 209 to 22,000 mg L(-1), and the dissolved oxygen (DO) ranged from 0 to 9.9 ppm. The (14)C activity ranged from 0 to 69.96 ± 0.69 percent modern carbon (pmC). The uranium content in the groundwater ranged from 0.006 to 16 ppb, and the (234)U:(238)U activity ratio ranged from 1.35 ± 0.21 to 8.61 ± 1.35. The uranium concentration and (234)U:(238)U activity ratio increased from the recharge area to the redox barrier; behind the barrier, the uranium content is minimal. The results were systematized by creating a conceptual model of the Northern Dvina Basin's hydrogeological system. The use of uranium isotope dating in conjunction with radiocarbon dating allowed the determination of important water-rock interaction parameters, such as the dissolution rate:recoil loss factor ratio Rd:p (a(-1)) and the uranium retardation factor:recoil loss factor ratio R:p in the aquifer. The (14)C age of the water was estimated to be between modern and >35,000 years. The (234)U-(238)U age of the water was estimated to be between 260 and 582,000 years. The Rd:p ratio decreases with increasing groundwater residence time in the aquifer from n × 10(-5) to n × 10(-7) a(-1). This finding is observed because the TDS increases in that direction from 0.2 to 9 g L(-1), and accordingly, the mineral saturation indices increase. Relatively high values of R:p (200-1000) characterize aquifers in sandy-clayey sediments from the Late Pleistocene and the deepest parts of the Vendian strata. In samples from the sandstones of the upper part of the Vendian strata, the R:p value is ∼ 24, i.e., sorption processes are expressed more weakly, and uranium is possibly desorbed from the sediments. Overall, these results provide a better understanding of the evolution of uranium isotopes in groundwater systems.