METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF GEODYNAMIC ZONING OF A ROCK MASSIF BY USING RADONOMETRY

Abstract

The article presents the results of analytical studies aimed at improving the methodology of geodynamic zoning of a rock mass with using radonometry. The methodology bases on the proposition that current geodynamic activity takes part in the formation of a field of radon emanations in the soil air. But in addition to current geodynamic activity, a number of other factors are involved in the formation of the distribution of the values of radon emanations in the soil air, which are not related to the modern movements of the blocks composing the rock mass. To determine only the geodynamic component of the formation of the values of the radon emanation field, normalization is used. Based on the analysis of the experience of performing experimental studies on geodynamic zoning of a rock mass using radonometry and of scientific publications, we determined changes in the methodology of geody-namic zoning in terms of modifying the criteria compo-sition for dividing the studied territory into areas with a characteristic, sustained factor in the formation of a field of radon emanations, not related with current geodynamic activity. We established that the main pro-cess leading to an increase in the intensity of radon release by rocks is physical and chemical weathering, which leads to the destruction of primary minerals composing igneous and metamorphic rocks, and their gradual transformation into hypergenic finely dis-persed highly porous formations. At the same time, based on the multifactorial nature of the formation of the values of the diffusion coefficient in rocks, when performing geodynamic zoning using radonometry, it is unnecessarily labor intensive to carry out research on the differentiation of the studied area according to this criterion and therefore impractical in the method-ology under consideration.