28.2 MAIN FACTORS OF URANIUM CONTAMINATION OF SURFACE AND WELL WATERS AT DEVELOPMENT OF URANIUM DEPOSITS OF NOVOKONSTANTINIVSKE ORE FIELD

УДК 553. 495 (504.55.054:622) • Issue 28 / 2019 • 22-32 pages

V. Verkhovtsev, N. Semenyuk, A. Vaylo, A. Ganevich, A. Studzinska

V. Verkhovsev Doctor of Geology, Senior Research Fellow, Head of department State Institution «Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine», verkhovtsev@ukr.net.

N. Semenyuk Candidate of Geological and Mineral Sciences., leading researcher State Institution «Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine», semenuk205@gmail.com

A. Vaylo Candidate of Geological Sciences, Senior Researcher State Institution «Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine», alexv54@ukr.net

A. Ganevich Researcher State Institution «Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine», 19ganevich@gmail.com

A. Studzinska Junior Research Fellow State Institution «Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine», anna.studz88@ukr.net

Abstract

Based on the results of monitoring of water contaminated by uranium ore excavation at Novokostiantynivske ore field, which started in 2009, natural and purely technogenic factors of uranium contamination have been determined. Novokostiantynivske ore field comprises Novokostiantynivske sodium-uranium formation itself and similar by genesis and time of formation Lisove, Litnie, Dokuchaievske deposits and some mineral occurrences which after further investigation can get the status of deposits. When testing the uranium content in the surface and well waters of the Novokostiantynivske uranium ore field and adjacent territories, anomalies with an elevated background value were established. The obtained data testify to the direct impact of uranium ore mining by the mining enterprise (GTP) Novokostiantynivske Mine on this phenomenon in relation to surface waters. Anomalies with a high uranium content in well waters are interpreted as due to its leaching in the deposits and ore occurrences by fractured waters. The promising industrial exploitation of neighboring deposits (Lisove, Litnie and Dokuchaievske) using the main gangway and raising the rock mass to the surface of the technological platform of the GTP Novokostiantynivske Mine will substantially increase the uranium supply to the surface waters and the first horizon of groundwater infiltration. Monitoring of uranium contamination of surface and groundwater in the specified territory will make it possible to develop recommendations for taking preventive measures to minimize this man-made phenomenon and to ensure an allowable radiation load on the local population that uses these waters in economic and recreational activities.

Key words: uranium content, surface and well waters, water sample, mine waters, watershed, river basin, flow direction, anomaly, infiltration, uranium ore field, radiation load.

 

Article



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