“Yakutniproalmaz” Institute (Mirnyy, Russia):

Drozdov A.V., Head of Laboratory, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, email: drozdovav@alrosa.ru

North-Eastern Federal University named after M. K. Ammosov (Yakutsk, Russia):

Popov V. F., Acting Head of Chair, email: pvf_grf@rambler.ru

Northern Russian regions have a thick series of permafrost rocks, which possess the screening properties from the zone of intensive water exchange, and play the role of a peculiar “casing”. Development of this thick series makes it possible to apply this natural factor in environmental protection trends. During the selection of natural underground reservoir of industrial wastes, the significance of cryogenic series can be considered from the different positions. From the one hand, frozen rocks possess the screening properties, which separate the vital activity zone from deep levels, where liquid wastes can be disposed. From the other hand, at certain sites, the permafrost rocks themselves possess the increased filtrationcapacitive properties. That is why, on this basis, the grounds for drainage brines burying were built and are being operated at the mining enterprises of “ALROSA” JSC. According to the results of analysis of the existing materials on the burial grounds and proper investigations experience, one of the authors developed a search criteria complex of the favourable structures in cryogenic horizons for the industrial wastes disposal. The qualitative attributes of natural reservoirs distinguishing were used in this complex. According to this, the investigation results allowed to make some conclusions. As a rule, the most favourable site or geological object (ground) for underground industrial wastes burial in cryolite zone must possess a complete complex of the following specific indications:

increased filtrationcapacitive properties of rocks;

complicated structural and tectonic constitution;
negative, positive or other structures with associated anomalies of geophysical (gravity, magnetic, temperature and others) and chemical (geochemical, hydrochemical, atmochemical) fields.
The foregoing site or object must also have a maximum thickness and low temperature of the overlying series of permafrost rocks. Each of these criteria has its physical basis, that is, directly or indirectly, related with the filtrationcapacitive properties of definite cryogeological environment at a single target. The data about the applied geosystem components of one or another territory, may be represented in a quantitative form. The article describes the peculiarities of the performed factorial distribution. According to value, in this distribution, the characteristic elements of generalized attributes system are reduced with their quantification. A set of applied geological criteria (indications) determines the prospect of one or another natural object on the discussed territory and makes it possible to perform its zoning by each attribute with the subsequent cartographic imaging. This approach to division into districts with valuable separation and subsequent delineation of sites for each criterion and further, according to overall index, sufficiently decreases the efforts on prospecting works and increases the efficiency of the proposed method of cryogeological structures assessment.

This research work was held with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation, within the project No. 201021801001 “Creation of complex innovation environmentally safe technology of extraction and processing of diamondiferous ores in the Far North”, which is being held with the participation of NorthEastern Federal University named after M. K. Ammosov and “ALROSA” JSC.

1. Goldberg V. M., Skvortsov N. P., Lukyanchikova L. G. Podzemnoe zakhoronenie promyshlennykh stochnykh vod (Underground burial of industrial sewages). Moscow : Nedra, 1994, 282 p.