Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radioactive investigation of the impact the Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise on the radioecological state of adjacent areas, the Republic of Karelia, the Russian Federation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article presents the results of radioecological studies on the territory of the Kostomuksha iron ore deposit (the Republic of Karelia, the Russian Federation, 64°38′55.0″N 30°44′58.1″E). Solution of the geoecological issues caused by the environmental pollution during the development, extraction, and enrichment of iron ore in large quantities has been shown by the example of the Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise, one of the largest in northwest Russia. The task solution was based on radioisotope methods. It has been determined that the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes is within the abundance percentage across the entire Kostomuksha Deposit. We found that some ore types have an increased potassium concentration. In the process of ore enrichment, radiopotassium migrates to the tailings dam of the Lake of Kostomuksha, resulting in pollution of the Kenti–Kento lake system with potassium-enriched sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AMPLITUDE (2016) Method for measuring the activity of radionuclides using a scintillation gamma spectrometer with the “Progress” software. Scientific and Technical Center “AMPLITUDE”, Moscow

  • Atlasov PP (1993) Aerospace monitoring of geological environment in the mining and processing industries of Karelia (1990–1993). Aerogeology, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Avdonin VV, Boytsov VE, Grigoriev VM (1998) Deposits of metallic minerals. Geoinformmark, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronder L, Solokhina A, Verevkina E, Nikiforov V (2014) Report of the Bellona Association “Industrial pollution of territories of Russian part of the Barents region”. EOC Bellona, St. Petersburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalov PI (1991) Methodological guide to uranium-isotopic modeling of groundwater dynamics in conditions of active water exchange. Ilim, Bishkek

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedorets NG (2001) Soil local monitoring in zone of action of the Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise. Proc KRC RAS 2:75–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedorets NG, Solodovnikov AN (2013) Influence of emissions of the Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise on forest litter of pine forests in the North taiga subarea of Karelia. Proc KRC RAS 6:143–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedorets NG, Bakhmet ON, Medvedeva MV (2015) Heavy metals in soils of Karelia. KRC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorkin AP (2006) Kostomuksha iron ore deposit. Geography. Rosmen, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorkovets VY, Rayevskaya MB (1997) Geology of the Kostomuksha Nature Reserve. Finland Environment Institute, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorkovets VY, Sharov NV (2015) Kostomuksha ore region (geology, deep structure and mineralogy). KSC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorkovets VY, Maksimovish LA, Rayevskaya MB (2011) Kostomuksha—is the largest complex ore province of the Republic of Karelia. KSC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Grzymko TJ, Marcantonio BA, McKee CM (2007) Temporal variability of uranium concentrations and 234U/238U activity ratios in the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Chem Geol 243:344–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiselev GP (1999) Even isotopes of uranium in geosphere. UB RAS, Ekaterinburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiselev GP, Druzhinin SV, Bazhenov AV, Zykova EN, Kiseleva IM (2015) Radiological research in the Kostomukshsky Nature Reserve. Proc Kostomukshsky State Nat Reserve 1:172–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolomytsev VA, Shiltsova GV (1998) Integrated environmental monitoring in Karelia (concept, program, methods, results 1992–1996). Forest Institute, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Konstantinov AK, Mashkovtsev GA, Miguta AK (2010) Uranium of Russian interior. VIMS, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Krasilnikov PV (1995) Soil map of Karelia of medium scale: concept and methods. Ecol Geogr Soils Karelia 2:102–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Krutov VI (1997) Influence of gas-dust emissions the JSC “Karelsky Okatysh” on phytosanitary condition of pine forests. Probl For Phytopathol Mycol 1:41–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazareva NP, Kuchko AA, Kravchenko AB (1992) Influence of aerotechnogenic pollution on the state of pine forests of northern Karelia. KSC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Litinsky PY (1996) Assessment of forest degradation in the impact zone of Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise emissions by remote methods. KSC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo S, Ku T, Roback R (2000) In-situ radionuclide transport and preferential groundwater flows at INEEL (Idaho): decay-series disequilibrium studies. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64(5):867–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maher K, DePaolo JC, Christensen JN (2006) U-Sr isotopic speedometer: fluid flow and chemical weathering rates in aquifers. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 70:4417–4435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malov AI, Kiselev GP (2008) Uranium in underground waters of the Mezen syneclise. UB RAS, Ekaterinburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Nature Management and Ecology of the Karelia Republic (2015) State report on the environment of the Karelia Republic in 2014. Verso, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Novikov SG (2015) Heavy metals in the soils of Karelia. KSC RAS, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Novikov SG (2016) The content of heavy metals in soils of Kostomuksha city. Mod Probl Sci Educ 5:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Opekunova MG, Senkin OV (2001) Ecological monitoring of the Kostomukshsky Reserve and adjacent territories. SPBU, St. Petersburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Osmond JK, Rydell HS, Kaufman MI (1968) Uranium disequilibrium in groundwater: an isotope dilution approach in hydrologic investigations. Science 162:997–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panteleeva YG (2006a) Assessment of environment state of Kostomuksha region of Karelia Republic on the basis of ecological and geochemical research. Notes Min Inst 1:26–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Panteleeva YG (2006b) Environmentally hazardous elements and minerals in raw materials, products and wastes of JSC Karelsky Okatysh and levels of accumulation of pollutants in environment. Geol Miner Geoecol North-West Russia 1:236–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Panteleeva YG (2007) Geochemical research of the influence of the iron-ore mining company “Karelsky Okatysh” on environment. Freib Forsch 516:68–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Panteleeva YG (2009a) Ecological and geochemical monitoring in the zone of action of the iron ore enterprise «Karelsky Okatysh». SPBU, St. Petersburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Panteleeva YG (2009b) Geochemical changes in environment in zone of influence of the JSC Karelsky Okatysh mining complex (Kostomuksha, Karelia Republic). PhD Thesis, St. Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg

  • Perelman AI (1989) Geochemistry. High School, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Potakhin SB (2007) Atlas of Karelian ASSR. PETRSU, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Riotte J, Chabaux F (1999) 234U/238U activity ratios in freshwaters as tracers of hydrological processes: the Strengbach Watershed (Vosges, France). Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63(9):1263–1275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roback RC, Johnson TM, McLing TL (2001) Uranium isotopic evidence for groundwater chemical evolution and flow patterns in the Eastern Snake River plain aquifer, Idaho. Geol Soc Am Bull 9:1133–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RSI (2016) RS-700 Mobile Radiation Monitoring System. Radiation Solutions Inc., Ontario, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • SanPiN 2.6.1.2523-09 (2009) Norms of radiation safety NRB-99/2009. Moscow

  • Sapozhnikov YA, Aliev RA, Kalmykov SN (2006) Radioactivity of environment. Theory and practice, BINOM, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharov NV (2014) Opening and exploration of the Kostomuksha iron ore deposit. PETRSU Publishing house, Petrozavodsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyslov AA (1974) Uranium and thorium in the Earth’s crust. Nedra, Liningrad

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyslov AA, Moiseenko UI, Chadovich TZ (1979) Thermal regime and radioactivity of the Earth. Nedra, Liningrad

    Google Scholar 

  • Tikhonov AI (2009) Nonequilibrium uranium in conditions of active water exchange and its use in geology and hydrogeology. Naumov Publishing House, Cheboksary

    Google Scholar 

  • VIMS (2013) Method for measuring the volumetric activity of uranium isotopes (238U, 234U, 235U) in samples of natural (fresh and mineralized), process and waste water using alpha-spectrometric method with radiochemical preparation. VIMS, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakovlev EY (2016) The use of isotope-radiogeochemical methods for diamond deposits prospecting in Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province. PhD Thesis, MGRI-RGGRU, Moscow

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by Russian Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 0409-2014-0132).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Georgy P. Kiselev: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research (FCIARctic), Severnoy, Dviny Emb., 23, Arkhangelsk, Russia, 163000

    Georgy P. Kiselev, Evgeny Y. Yakovlev, Sergey V. Druzhinin, Sergey B. Zykov, Irina M. Kiseleva & Alexander V. Bagenov

Authors
  1. Georgy P. Kiselev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Evgeny Y. Yakovlev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sergey V. Druzhinin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sergey B. Zykov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Irina M. Kiseleva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alexander V. Bagenov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evgeny Y. Yakovlev.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kiselev, G.P., Yakovlev, E.Y., Druzhinin, S.V. et al. Radioactive investigation of the impact the Kostomuksha Mining Enterprise on the radioecological state of adjacent areas, the Republic of Karelia, the Russian Federation. Environ Earth Sci 77, 264 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7432-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7432-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation