The Unalskoye tailing dump is a decommissioned mining and processing facility located in the mountainous territories of the Republic of North Ossetia—Alania. In the twentieth century, waste from the lead-zinc combine was stored here, then reclaimed in the 21st century, but systematic comprehensive monitoring of such facilities is necessary to preserve environmental safety.

Scientists from the Southern Federal University conducted an expedition to North Ossetia to study decommissioned tailings dumps of mining and processing enterprises. Within the framework of a project supported by the Russian Science Foundation (publication No. RNF/23-37-GL). The purpose of the expedition was to test express methods for monitoring man-made soil pollution. This work included the development and testing of innovative approaches to environmental assessment.

A key element of the expedition was the integrated use of the Alfarad Plus R radon radiometer, the DR4040 seismic station and the Sokol M-1 weather station for scientific research, which received positive feedback during discussions with leading experts of the VNC RAS, which allowed us to investigate the influence of mountain valley winds on the spread of radon.

The study performed by high-precision 3D surveys of the surface of the tailing ponds using leveling allowed us to capture the slightest relief associated with internal geodynamic processes. In addition to instrumental methods, samples of soil, water and vegetation were taken with precise geo-positioning. According to the researchers, these samples have been sent to the N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences for in-depth mass spectral and spectroscopic analysis.

"The data obtained allowed us to create a reasonable hypothesis about the formation of radon fields, taking into account aerogasodynamic processes. This work lays the foundation for a new line of research on radon monitoring in mountainous and foothill areas, and also opens up prospects for monitoring radon in coastal and shelf clusters in the near future," emphasizes Senior Researcher Vladimir Fomenko.

The results of previous expeditions were presented at the II International Conference "Sustainable Development of the soil cover of mountainous and Lowland territories" and published in the peer-reviewed journals SCOPUS Q2.

"The grant support of the Russian Science Foundation has made it possible to significantly upgrade the branch's instrument base with the most modern equipment of domestic production, which has a positive effect on the practical training of students in a competent approach to education," said Andrey Sokolov, Head of the department.

During the expedition, the inventors Sokolov A.A., Fomenko V.A., Aksenova M.A., a utility model for measuring radon in the ground, "A portable pit for placing a radon content meter in the ground, "successfully tested. Utility model patent RU 224703 U1, 04/02/2024. Application dated 11/30/2023." The invention of scientists has significantly increased the efficiency of measurements in conditions of mountain and valley winds. The research results are published in the journal "Mining Information and Analytical Bulletin".