DUST CONTAMINATION OF UPLAND AREAS OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS BY MINES

Abstract

The features of dust pollution of the upland territories of the North Caucasus by polymetallic mines are revealed. The mechanism of dust scattering in the surface atmosphere, based on the manifestation of meteorological conditions (rose and the intensity of winds, the value of atmospheric pressure), relief factors (mountains and gorges), as well as the physical and mechanical properties of dust, has been substantiated. It is shown that the fallout of mineral dust from the surface atmosphere occurs due to gravitational (65%), electrodynamic (up to 10%), and turbulent (5%) deposition, as well as washout by rainfall and fog (up to 20%). It has been established that the geochemical patterns of dust pollution, presented in the form of the zonal structure of technogenic geochemical dispersion areas, are associated with individual industries or mining processes. The evolution of dust contamination of soils in the adjacent territories is analyzed, highlighting the role and characteristics of nanoparticles. The morphological properties of the emitted dust nanoparticles, which have a significant range of movement in the surface atmosphere, significantly increasing the area of contamination of adjacent territories by polymetallic mines, has been carried out.