Natural Radionuclides in Soils of Natural-Technogenic Landscapes in the Impact Zone of Potassium Salt Mining

Abstract

This study considers the contents of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in the soils of natural–technogenic landscapes in the Verkhnekamskoe potassium–magnesium salt deposit (Perm Krai, Russia). The purpose of the study is to assess the lateral activity distribution of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in the soils of natural–technogenic landscapes of the mining areas on the territory of the Berezniki–Solikamsk industrial hub. Seventy-five soil samples from depths of 0–0.4 m are examined. The specific activities of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the soil samples are measured using gamma spectrometry. The average values of the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are 11.78 Bq/kg, 8.11 Bq/kg, and 246.9 Bq/kg, respectively. A gamma survey is conducted using the MKS/SRP-08A search dosimeter–radiometer over a control point framework covering 50,000 hectares. The research shows that the migration of the studied natural radionuclides is limited to a radius of 10 km. The results of the gamma-radiation measurements in the study area fall within a range of 0.06–0.25 µSv/h, which does not exceed the permissible limits. According to the findings, there is an increase in the concentration of natural radionuclides in transit supra-floodplain terrace landscapes and accumulative floodplain landscapes in the area affected by potash mining.