Technogenic Systems Research Articles

A Ranking Analysis of Geological and Engineering Factors of Historical Monuments’ Stability Response: A Case Study of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine

The historical monuments of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” play an important role in the context of preserving the UNESCO World Heritage. The scientific understanding of the buildings and structures safety management the priority of conducting repair and restoration works, the organization of their technical condition monitoring, and changes in the components of the geological environment in their locations is crucial. The purpose of this study is to identify potentially hazardous areas on the territory of the Lavra for the operation of structures by conducting a point-based integral assessment of the stability potential of the natural and technogenic system with the integration of geospatial methods and to rank the structures using the analytical hierarchy process. According to the modeling results by 17 stability factors and using ArcGIS, 37% (8.7 ha) of the Lavra territory is located in the zone of moderate hazard, 23% (5.4 ha) in the zone of potential hazard, where the manifestation and conditions of more than five dangerous engineering and geological processes intersect, and 40% (9.4 ha) in the zone of relative safety. In each zone, 10 representative structures were selected for ranking according to the stability of natural and technogenic operating conditions and their current technical condition, which is determined by nine criteria. The analysis using two methods identified the areas most at risk from seasonal fluctuations and possible military impacts and allowed us to scientifically substantiate the priority of repair and restoration work and the possibility of properly planning management measures for the selected structures, as well as to offer recommendations for improving the monitoring of the geological environment of the Lavra.

Geoelectric Zoning and Chemical Composition of the Molybdenum Deposit Tailings (Village of Vershino-Shakhtaminsky, Trans-Baikal Territory)

A study of the Shakhtaminskoe tailings dump of the molybdenum deposit (village of Vershino-Shakhtaminsky, Trans-Baikal Territory) was carried out using the electrical tomography method with verification by geochemical testing. It has been shown that waste corresponds to a medium with a resistance of 1–300 Ohm·m. The location of the fault zone at the base of the storage facility has been clarified. The body of the technogenic system has been contoured, the resources of valuable and toxic elements are calculated.

The Influence of Technogenic Systems and Geological Periods on the Formation of Oil Radioactivity

The article describes the influence of technogenic systems and geological periods on the formation of radioactivity in oil. It is known that damage to equipment by natural radionuclides released during oil refining, processing, transportation has a significant impact on radioactivity in the oil deposit. The influence of the content of organoelements, hydrocarbons, sulfur in oil at different stages of geological development on radioactivity has been proven by scientists in their studies. The impact of metals, organoelement compounds, hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds contained in oil in studies of oil-contaminated soils, oil sludge of the Kumkol deposit is shown as a result of qualitative analysis with the mobile application «RD» and the spectrometer «Spectroscan mass». As a result of the study, it can be seen that high radioactivity is present in the sludge and soil with highly contaminated oil.

HIGHLIGHTING OF FOCAL LANDSCAPES ON THE EXAMPLE OF VALLEY-RIVER LANDSCAPE-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

River valleys are important in the structure of natural landscapes. They are the places of population concentration, ecological gutters and the landscape "framework" around which all other geocomplexes function. If the framework landscapes have been analyzed in detail by scientists, the focal landscapes are inflated beyond the attention of scientists.
 The purpose of the article is to analyze the structure of focal landscapes on the basis of the improved classification of anthropogenic landscapes by significance on the example of landscape-technical systems (LTchS) in the river valleys of the model region - the flat part of Right Bank Ukraine.
 Within the valley-river landscapes, the focal group includes road, mining, agricultural, and beligerative LTchS. Most modern road landscape technical systems belong to the category of "landscape technogenic systems". The destruction of man-made cover is associated with the excessive load on the road surface of motor vehicles, the weight of which often does not meet the established standards. As a result of mining and processing of minerals in river valleys, mining LTchS are formed. Active mining LTchS are formed by quarries, waste rock dumps and beneficiation or crushing and sorting plants and factories. The river valleys of the Right Bank of Ukraine are characterized by new anthropogenic types of areas that were formed after the extraction of minerals: areas of pit-peat wastelands and "rocky badlands". Valley-river agricultural LTchS are represented by water regulation and irrigation systems and vineyards. The lack of modernization and the use of outdated equipment and facilities do not allow the LTchS to fully function and produce the appropriate amount of crops. Beligerative landscape and man-made systems include complexes of defensive nodal structures "lines of defense" of the 20th century. Some critical remarks were made regarding the analysis of the structure of focal landscapes after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Right Bank Ukraine. It was concluded that in the context of the study of modern anthropogenic landscapes of Ukraine, the study of focal valley-river landscape-technical systems will contribute to a better understanding of their structure and the development of ways of optimization.

Урожайность и плодородие дерново-подзолистой почвы при различных системах удобрения сенокоса

Studies to determine the effectiveness of various intensification systems have shown that as a result of long-term use of agrophytocenosis without replanting, the composition of the grass stand is re-formed depending on the care systems and the mode of alienation of the overgrown mass. In the technogenic system without the use of fertilizers and against the background of PK and manure, a low-grass-forb herbage is formed with a predominance of grassroots grasses. The type of herbage desirable for haymaking is preserved when a complete mineral fertilizer is applied. At the same time, the yield increases from 3.2 t/ha of dry matter in the control (on average over the past 30 years) by 80–150%, depending on the level of intensification. Long-term use contributes to an increase in the accumulation of underground mass and the content of humus in the soil.

A Mathematical Model for Assessing the Impact of a Man-Made System on an Air Basin

The results of many years of research on the assessment of the impact on the air basin of the technogenic system – tailings dumps of highly toxic waste using methods of mathematical statistics is presented. The research was carried out within the boundaries of the Dalnegorsky Ore District of the Primorsky Territory of the Far Eastern Federal District (Far Eastern Federal District). It has been established that the main pollutant is dust containing elevated concentrations of heavy metal compounds, which is removed from the surface of tailings dumps by air flows. The spatial and temporal patterns of the distribution of the pollutants in the atmospheric air are revealed. It has been experimentally proved that contamination of the air basin with heavy metal compounds, sulfate ion aerosols, and dust is extremely high. The ways of reducing its negative impact on the air basin are proposed.

ANALYSIS OF RISK TERMINAL FLOWS IN TECHNOGENIC SYSTEMS ARISING IN THE PROCESS OF THREAT IMPACT

Context. The analysis of the risk terminal flows in technogenic systems is carried out, which arise in the process of the impact of informational and cognitive threats in the automated document management system as part of the hierarchical production system.
 The object of the research is the process of functioning of complex systems with a hierarchical structure, in which automated document management systems with a high level of data flow protection for decision-making are used to provide the information quality control of technological processes.
 The subjects of the research are the methods and means of constructing an information protection system to ensure the reliable functioning of automated document management systems and making targeted decisions in hierarchical structures with minimal risk of exposure to external threats and attacks.
 Objective is to develop a complex model for assessing the risk of the document management system failure as part of a hierarchical production system under the active threats.
 Method. For the first time, the cause-and-effect diagram of the event formation with the active action of threat factors and attacks is substantiated and developed, the interpretation of risk in a technogenic system is defined, and the risk in the space of states is presented as a change in the trajectory in the system transitions to the limit operation mode. For the first time, a category diagram of the structure of risk generation under the threat factors and a system-category diagram of interaction in the system risk ↔ emergencyactive nature is constructed, a system-category scheme of risk formation under the active threat factors is suggested. For the first time, a cognitive diagram for assessing losses in the event of a risk situation arising from incorrect actions of the personnel is substantiated.
 Results. As a result of the research, a system-category diagram of the impact of a set of threats on the system functioning mode and process is constructed, a method is developed for calculating the level of system strategic security of energy-active hierarchical systems in the process of attacks and threats, and a complex model for assessing the risk of a system functioning failure under active threats is suggested.
 Conclusions. Under the action of active obstacles, cognitive and system factors at the operational and strategic levels of the control hierarchy, due to wrong decisions and informational disorientation, emergency situations and risks of the system function loss and its target-orientation arise. The analysis of a set of risks and the suggested category diagram of the risk generation structure under the impact of threat factors form the basis of the development of the probability structure of the risk concept based on the attack ↔ consequence model, as well as the construction of a system-category diagram of the interaction in the game active factor ↔ accident risk. This, in turn, makes it possible to construct a system-category scheme for the formation of risk terminal flows in technogenic systems that arise in the process of threat impact. A complex model for assessing the risk of system failure under threats can be used to construct protection systems for any hierarchical control structures of technogenic systems.

Graphodynamic System with Information Entropy Control as a Means of Control of Production Systems

Ensuring the quality of products and increasing the level of safety in the operation of production systems are the main tasks of all industries. The second task is the most relevant for technogenic systems of increased danger, which include, among other things, the production systems of the oil and gas industry. The management of production systems and the solution of selected tasks is carried out by the decision maker, using the parameters obtained during the diagnosis and monitoring of the system. The formation of a complex of diagnostic parameters of the production system is implemented by the decision maker, taking into account the loss of information, characterized by incomplete control of the parameters. When identifying the state of the production system, the decision maker must take into account not only the values of diagnostic parameters, but also the value of the information entropy of the system that they form, since "entropy characterizes the uncertainty of control, i.e. its management quality". Thus, the identification of the state of the production system and its management are only possible with the mandatory control of the information entropy of the system by the decision maker. The latter confirms the relevance of the synthesis of control systems with control of the state of their information entropy. Consider the production system as a graphodynamic system. The data characterizing its input, output, internal state and control action will be presented in the form of graphs. Through the analysis of diagnostic parameters, the decision maker identifies the state of the production system. A certain time is spent on obtaining and analyzing diagnostic parameters, which in some cases can be significant and lead to an increase in the value of the information entropy of the controlled system, which leads to a mismatch between the actual state of the system and its image processed by the decision maker. In the conditions of big production systems, taking into account funding constraints or other reasons, the frequency of monitoring the diagnostic parameters of the system may be violated. This leads to a significant increase in the information entropy of the controlled system and, accordingly, to a low quality of its control. The proposed method for controlling a collector-beam system for collecting products from a gas condensate field makes it possible to improve the quality of its control by implementing control of its state of information entropy. The developed graph-dynamic model of data storage of a collector-beam system for collecting gas condensate field products allows the decision maker to analyze its state in any period of operation.

Cохранение и восстановление продуктивности нарушенных золотодобычей земель с использованием инновационного подхода

The article summarizes the long-term experience of research conducted on the development of nature-like technologies on toxic technogenic formations of placer gold mining using a comprehensive assessment of the state of environmental objects and an innovative approach. A large amount of waste from the processing of gold deposits located in productive areas withdrawn from the forest lands fund has a negative impact on the components of the ecosphere. In this regard, the purpose of the study was to create a nature-like technology that allows preserving and restoring the productivity of disturbed gold mining lands to ensure their environmental safety. The object of the study was a technogenic system within the boundaries of the infl uence of the ceased to exist mining enterprise “Kerbinsky mine” of the P. Osipenko district (P. Briakan) of the Khabarovsk Territory. The research uses generally accepted methods, as well as remote sensing of the Earth (remote sensing), GIS technologies and mathematical apparatus. Remote sensing made it possible to identify disturbed territories on various geo-substrates, on multispectral combined images and NDVI index image. Using the QGIS program, an analysis of the dynamics of the transformation of disturbed lands was carried out and their area was calculated. It has been established that toxic waste from the enrichment of gold deposits of the second hazard class is a source of pollution of the habitat. Pollutants, migrating from the waste of processing into the components of the biosphere, lead to their large-scale technogenic pollution. Thus, the upper horizon of technogenic soils accumulates the maximum amount of toxic elements (mg/kg): Cu – 454, Zn – 1241, Pb – 934, which is signifi cantly higher than the background values from 3 to 9 or more times. The calculations of the value of the vegetation index NDVI showed that the study area can be classifi ed as highly toxic, belonging to the I category of environmental risks. The NDVI value in the technogenic territory ranged from 0.034 to 0.063, which indicates a weak degree of restoration of forest vegetation. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, new technological solutions are proposed, confi rmed by Patents of the Russian Federation.

System simulation of environmental safety in Russian regions with developed railway infrastructure

The article presents the results of research on simulation of objects and processes in order to predict environmental safety in Russian regions with a developed railway network. It is shown that sources of environmental pollution form a complex technogenic system that initiates the development of qualitatively new negative processes that significantly affect the living conditions of the population. The complex structure and ecological impacts have determined the development of innovative methods for analysis of environmental safety in the territories under consideration. The objective of the studies outlined was to develop a rational set of simulation procedures to provide reliable forecast as an informational basis for making effective decisions on managing the ecological condition of the regional environment. The problem was solved by joint use of mathematical methods of analysis, synthesis and synthesis of the received materials.

TECHNOSPHERE: PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS, DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGES

The global technological environment, which mediates the interaction of mankind with the biosphere, carries technogenic and environmental hazards and serious anthropological and social risks. Today there is a tendency in which every improvement of the technogenic system ultimately increases its negative impact on nature on the principle of negative feedback. In such a situation, an objective assessment of the technosphere’s characteristics is necessary for timely harmonization in the relationship “Human – Natural Environment”.
 The purpose of the article is to conceptualize ideas about the technogenic path of human development and to introduce the concept of “ecological technosphere” as a new stage of coevolutionary relations between nature and technogenic civilization.
 The research is carried out within the framework of the concept of post-classical science, a structural and functional approach, postphenomenology, actor-network theory.
 In the article, based on the concepts of “technique”, “technology”, “technocenosis”, “technological environment”, an ontological analysis of the concept of “technosphere” is proposed, its essential characteristics and risky scenarios of development are highlighted.
 The article was carried out within the framework of the project “Socio-ecological monitoring of the technical environment of the region: a socio-cultural approach” (RFBR Grant 20-311-90060 Graduate students)

Formation of mine drainage in the Far Eastern region and its impact on the ecosphere and public health

The long-term development of the mining industry in the Komsomolsky, Kavalerovsky and Dalnegorsky districts of the Far East of Russia caused origination of large-scale mining technogenic systems. During the period of socalled “perestroika”, mining production in the region was suspended, while mine workings (pits, adits) and tailings dumps were not subjected to any kind of preservation or reclamation. Only the boron and lead-zinc mining sectors in the Dalnegorsk district are currently in operation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the composition of mine waters, reveal the conditions of their formation, the presence of various aqueous species (coordination compounds and ions) of different elements and establish the parameters of precipitation of a number of hypergenic natural and technogenic minerals from these waters. This paper provides the hydrochemical characteristics of mine waters in the mining technogenic systems of tin-sulfide, copper-tin, tin-polymetallic, and polymetallic deposits, indicates the conditions of their formation and describes the adverse impact on the hydrosphere, as well as on human health in these districts. The studies of sulfide oxidation and mine water formation processes were carried out by the method of physicochemical simulation involving the use of the Selektor software package. The Eh–pH parameters of solutions, their composition with respect to stable aqueous species (complex compounds and simple ions), paragenetic associations (paragenesis) of precipitating hypergenic minerals with respect to the primary composition of ores and host rocks were established in a wide temperature range (from −25 to +45 °С). It has been established that the simulated micropore solutions participating in the formation of mine waters exhibit a wide range of Eh–pH parameters: Eh from 0.55 to 1.24 V and pH from 0.3 to 13.8. The technogenic minerals Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Sb belonging to oxide and hydroxide, sulphate, and arsenate classes are precipitated from them. Mine waters of high concentration, prior to and after the precipitation of technogenic minerals (weight of which reaches the hundreds of grams), are released into the hydrosphere. The simulated solutions contain all the elements of sulfide ores: Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe, Ag, As, Sb and S, whereas their concentrations in the form of aqueous species reach the tens of grams, while under cryogenic conditions the concentrations are by one or two orders of magnitude higher as a result of ice formation. The forms of migration of the elements depend on the temperature conditions. The negative impact of mine waters on the region hydrosphere and human health was demonstrated. In the districts under consideration, obvious trend of increasing morbidity (for almost all types of diseases) by 2 times both in adults and in children as compared to other Far Eastern regions was revealed. In addition, the morbidity of the child population for almost all the diseases under consideration proved much higher than in adults.

Optimization variations of valley-river landscape-technical systems of the Right Bank zone of Ukraine


 
 
 The aim of the research was to develop areas for optimization of valley-river landscape-technical systems (LTchS) on the example of the model region – the Right Bank of Ukraine. The research was based on the materials of the long-term field observations which were carried out in the context of the studies of F.M. Milkov about anthropogenic landscapes. The use of expeditionary and stationary research techniques made it possible to receive the required material for the development of the optimization options of valley-river landscape-technical systems. Six options/practices for the optimization of valley-river LTchS on the example of the Right Bank zone of Ukraine are suggested. Option A does not envisage a control regain over landscape-technogenic systems (LTS); it can be used locally. Option B1 is directed towards a partial restoration of the previous func- tions of the system and an episodic/occasional control over a technical block of LTS. Option B2 implies a total change of the economic purpose of LTchS with the aim of recreation. Option B3 consists in making a nature reserve of some landscape technogenic systems,in perspective the range/habitat of unique species of flora and fauna can be saved or restored on these territories. The restoration of a landscape-techno-genic system to the «operation» stage with previous functions is achieved when option C1 is used. Option C2 requires substantial capital investments, as it implies the creation of an absolutely new landscape-engineering system. For this option, projects have been developed to restore sections in the valleys of the Sob River (Gaisyn city, Vinnytsia region) and the Hirskyi Tikych River (Buky town, Cherkasy region). A layout of the optimized valley-river LTchS on the territory of the Right Bank of Ukraine was suggest- ed. The conclusion has been made that the use of one of the suggested options will not help improve the condition of all valley-river landscape-technogenic systems of the model region. Each river valley requires an individual approach in which the combination of all the above-mentioned directions will be used. The valley-river landscapes optimized with help of the presented scheme will form the image of nature of a present-day European state which will favour the establishment of the concept of well-balanced development.
 
 

К природо- и ресурсосберегающим технологиям подземной разработки месторождений сложной структуры

The results of long-term scientific and practical studies of the completeness of the use of mineral resources and the safety of miners in the underground mining of rock type ore deposits are presented. The goal is to improve the technologies for the extraction and processing of resources on the principles of nature and resource conservation in the context of a reduction in the mineral reserves, the use of poor metal-containing raw materials and mining tailings. Proposals are developed to improve the management of the state of ore-bearing massifs. The regularities of their behavior under conditions of volumetric compression and geomechanical balance of elements of the natural and technogenic system are considered. Recommendations are given to improve the parameters for managing the state of massifs adjusted for the geomechanical and seismic conditions and structural features of the deposits. Promising directions for further research of the problem are outlined. Their efficiency was assessed by comparing the options for the development of the situation considering the costs of redistributing and protecting the population in the zone of mining facilities influence. The role is established concerning the structures made of destroyed rocks in natural massifs in optimizing the normative strength of artificial massifs created in the developed space. There is a tendency towards stricter requirements for environmental protection and occupational safety in the mining industry. It is shown that the optimization of mining technology based on the geomechanical factors increases the safety of production and reduces the negative impact on the environment and the population of the mining region. An assessment is given of the prospects for expanding the scope of application of low-cost technologies for managing the state of rock masses in the underground development of complexly structured deposits.

Mining and environmental problems of Dalnegorsk, Primorye territory, and ways to solve them

Intensive development of deposits in the Primorsky Territory has led to the accumulation of a large amount of waste from the processing of mineral raw materials, which has a negative impact on the environment. The environmental situation is aggravated by the fact that tailings, where processing waste is stored, located near settlements (for example, Dalnegorsk). The protection of the ecosphere is an urgent geoecological problem. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to study the mining and environmental problems of ensuring the environmental safety of the technogenic system. The methodological basis of the study was the teaching of Academician V.I. Vernadsky about the biosphere and noosphere and the main provisions of B.P. Kolesnikov and A.V. Motorin, set out in the program and methodology for the study of technogenic ecosystems. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the complex geoecological assessment of environmental objects using mathematical methods. The patterns of migration of heavy metal compounds and arsenic from tailings to the components of the ecosphere are revealed. Methods for reducing the negative impact of mountain systems on the environment are substantiated using the capabilities of biological systems, the novelty of which is confirmed by patents of the Russian Federation.

Модель формирования структуры безопасности электроустановок на основе системного подхода

Process of ensuring the electrical installations operation in the sectors of the of the Russian Federation economy is formed based on the implementation of measures being developed aimed at creating conditions for the technogenic safety system «human — electrical installation — environment». To justify the decisions made when choosing the best option from the existing ones, the theory of decision-making is used. Development of the promising options for building a safety system for the electrical installations, and the search for resources for the implementation of each of them is the main task of the study. With a significant number of criteria that determine the generalized indicator (integral risk), it is possible to get a best solution option. One of the stages of decision -making theory is to obtain predictive estimates. The forecast is carried out by analyzing the indicators of the human-machine system. When predicting the integral hazard risk of electrical installations, it is required to consider the sources of hazards in the system in question, such as: incorrect, erroneous actions of the operator; emergency modes with the consequences of the occurrence of technogenic hazard; an abnormal combination of the environmental parameters other than the normalized values. The analysis of dependences of the technogenic hazard risk reflects a certain set of electrical installations, during the operation of which the deviations from the normal modes may occur — hazardous situations accompanied by the accidents, fires, death of people, which leads to corresponding damage. When compiling scenario options, it is possible to determine the trend in the development of a hazardous situation. To perform scenario forecasting, an algorithm for predicting the risk of technogenic hazard was built, based on which a hypothetical model of predictive estimate is compiled. Based on the results of a quantitative assessment of the integral risk, it is possible to determine numerical indicators of the probability of a hazardous situation occurrence, and the damage from a real hazardous situation.

Improving the Efficiency of Forestry Measures for Carbon Storage by Reclamation and Phytomelioration of Lands Technogenically Contaminated with Toxic Tailing Wastes

The article presents the results of multi-year research on technogenic pollution of biosphere components with wastes of cassiterite-sulfide formation processing. The areas of mainly Far Eastern taiga and Priamurye-Primorye coniferous-broad-leaved forest in the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) of Russia have been withdrawn from the forest land fund for their development. As a result, large amounts of mining waste have been accumulated, with negative impact on forest ecosystems. In this regard, the aim of the study was to substantiate forestry measures for improving their efficiency by reclamation and phytomelioration of technogenically contaminated lands with toxic mineral processing waste to accumulate carbon stock. The analysis and systematization of the literature and patent search materials testify that the article is devoted to the actual problem of carbon stock accumulation within the impact boundaries of the technogenic system by reclamation and phytomelioration. These problemsr in the conditions of mining enterprises of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia are poorly studied. It is shown that the mineral development by the mining enterprises closed in the last century led to the large-scale destruction of forest communities. Methods of reproduction of productivity of technogenic polluted lands using bioremediation which novelty was confirmed by Patents of the Russian Federation are developed. By means of their reclamation and phytomelioration an increase in forestry measures and accumulation of carbon stocks in the reclaimed lands was achieved by more than 2.5 times in comparison with the nonreclaimed lands.

Mercury as an indicator of geological and environmental risks in the development of various mineral raw materials

Mercury is a highly toxic pollutant of the environment, and a quantitative assessment of its emission and migration in the technogenic transformation of mining regions is vital. The presented study focuses on the features of mercury concentration in the natural mineral raw materials, commercial products and processing waste by the example of mercury-containing copper pyrite deposits in the Urals. Mercury (its quantitative indicators) is used as a reliable element-tracer of the evolution of the technogenic system: mineral raw materials – subsurface use wastes – environmental components – food products – the human body. Such integrated approach is recommended for optimizing the forecasting, assessment and management of geological and environmental risks, as well as for the geological and environmental monitoring of the modern mining engineering system.

Chemical reactions and conditions of mineral formation at tailings storage facilities of the Russian Far East

Cassiterite-sulfide and polymetallic deposits of the Far Eastern Region (FER) were mined by both openpit and underground methods. This resulted in the emerging numerous mine workings and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) (abandoned without reclamation in latest decades) and the formation of mining technogenic mineralogical systems. Sulfide component of minerals in the mining technogenic system is subjected to hypergenic and technogenic processes (oxidation and hydrolysis reactions). As a result, highly concentrated technogenic solutions are formed, from which minerals of various classes precipitate. In this connection the purpose of this study was formulated as follows: to show the possibility of crystallization of technogenic minerals from micropore technogenic solutions. In achieving this goal the following tasks were solved: to demonstrate the possible reactions of oxidation and hydrolysis of technogenic minerals at the tailings storage facilities; to identify Eh-pH parameters of their precipitation from highly concentrated solutions; to determine their possible associations. The studies involved field observations and computations with the use of “Selector” software package. The study findings allow demonstrating possible chemical reactions and physico-chemical conditions of mineral formation for the following elements: Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sb, Mg, Al, and Ca, including the following classes of minerals: oxides and hydroxides, sulfates, carbonates, arsenates and silicates. The paper presented for the first time the crystallization reactions of secondary minerals (37 ones) and their physico-chemical conditions. It was found that secondary minerals: jarosite, pitticite, siderite, tenorite, poznyakite, antlerite and ktenasite crystallize in the interval of positive temperatures, while scorodite, chalcantite, broshantite, cerussite, starkeyite, epsomite and rostite originate in cryogenic conditions (below 0 oC). All other minerals, the possibility of precipitation of which was shown in the paper, crystallized in the whole considered temperature interval, from −25 oС to +45 oС. Field studies and modeling data on formation of technogenic waters (solutions) and crystallization of secondary minerals on the surface of and inside tailings at the tailings storage facilities of the Far East showed high intensity of technogenic processes. Since the tailings storage facilities were not reclaimed, the process of environmental pollution, including the hydrosphere, would last for many decades.

An integral method for assessing the impact of dredging on the ecological state of river water resources

The study is aimed at solving the urgent problem of the impact of dredging operations carried out in river channels on the hydroecological state of river sections as the most important water resource. Many different factors arising from man-made interventions radically change the hydrology and hydroecology of rift areas. Taking into account all kinds of changes during the design phase leads to both the creation of sustainable tracks and the minimum impact on the environment. The aim of the study is to develop an integral quantitative method for assessing dredging and channeling works on the hydroecological state of river sections. The proposed method is based on the formalization of influencing factors and an algorithm for their quantitative assessment. It has a number of properties that distinguish it from the calculations previously used for hydroecological assessment, describing the interaction of the channel, flow and technogenic systems, in particular, the ability to obtain integral quantitative data. The classification of factors is proposed: by the degree of the direction of impact, the size of the area of influence, by the time duration. The possibility of using this method to create artificial neural networks for the design of dredging is shown. The possibility of functioning of an artificial neural network of the perceptron type, consisting of several layers of neurons, has been demonstrated.