Variations in the volume activity of radon during technogenic and tectonic seismic events

the volumetric activity of soil radon (VAR) is quite often used as an informative criterion for changes in the stress-strain state of the upper part of the geological environment. Many researchers associate radon anomalies with seismic events. But when interpreting the results obtained, it must be taken into account that the mechanisms of the occurrence of anomalies in the volumetric activity of radon during man-made and tectonic seismic events differ significantly. This article presents the results of experimental field studies of the volumetric activity of soil radon carried out at the Isetsky gravel quarry (Sverdlovsk region) and the Yuzhno-Kurilsk geodynamic station (Kunashir island). To register the volumetric activity of soil radon, two measurement modes were used — diffusion (radon enters the detector due to the diffusion process) and forced convection mode (radon is delivered to the detector by a pump). Radon anomalies associated with technogenic events occur after a quarry explosion and do not make a significant contribution to the change in the structure of the fissure-pore space at a significant distance from the epicenter. The obtained statistically significant correlation dependences between the volumetric activity of soil radon and tectonic events indicate that radon anomalies appear before earthquakes and are associated with a change in the stressstrain state of the fissure-pore space of rocks. The time of manifestation of anomalies depends on the geological and tectonic conditions, magnitude and distance to the epicenter.

Keywords: radon, anomaly, fractured pore space, seismic event, explosion, earthquakes, experiment, geological environment.
For citation:

Kozlova I. A., Yurkov A. K., Biryulin S. V. Variations in the volume activity of radon during technogenic and tectonic seismic events. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2022;(5—1):119— 130. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_51_0_119.

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 5
Year: 2022
Page number: 119-130
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 551.21
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2022_51_0_119
Article receipt date: 01.11.2021
Date of review receipt: 16.03.2022
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.04.2022
About authors:

Kozlova I. A.1, Director, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), ORCID ID 0000-0002-0281-9218, ikozlova75@mail.ru;
Yurkov A. K.1, Head of the Geodynamics Laboratory, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), ORCID ID 0000-0002-6790-0340, akyurkov@mail.ru;
Biryulin S. V.1, Researcher, ORCID ID 0000-0003-4811-9185, serrega2009@gmail.com;
1 Bulashevich Institute of Geophysics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IGF UB RAS), Ekaterinburg, Russia, igfuroran@mail.ru;

 

For contacts:

Kozlova I. A., e-mail: ikozlova75@mail.ru.

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