SOME ASPECTS OF THE INFLUENCE OF URANIUM EXPLOITATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Gamma-ray spectrometric measurements of samples of riverbed sediments and soil samples taken along the valley of a river, which runs very close to a uranium mine retaining dam are performed. The content of 238U, 226Ra, 210 Pb, 232Th, and 40K is analyzed. Up to a distance of about 6 km away from the retaining dam, 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb have high concentrations and the content in the sediments samples is consistently higher than the content in the soil samples. In the same interval are observed considerable fluctuations in the contents related to the swamping of the river. Receding at a greater distance from the retaining dam, the concentration of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb decreases and has values close to the average ones. A very close correlation is established between the contents of the three radioactive nuclides. Regarding 232Th and 40К, the distribution characteristics along the profile are different in comparison with those of the 238U family members. The performed research contributes to the estimate of the radioactive contamination in a specific area situated in the vicinity of a uranium deposit exploited through underground mining