Monitoring the Environmental Impact Natural-technogenic Province of the Min-Kush (Kyrgyzstan)

The results of scientific and practical works in the uranium natural-technogenic province of Min-Kush in the high-mountainous territory of Kyrgyzstan are presented. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are very rich in various types of minerals, more than 10 thousand mineral deposits are known, of which 1000 are considered promising. Mining of uranium ores on the territory of the republic started in the middle of the last year (1952) and was stopped in 1969. However, there is still a huge amount of uranium waste in the republic, a total of 20 mining and processing enterprises were closed, including 4 enterprises for mining and processing of uranium raw materials. In general, on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic there is a large number of radioactive sources (about 1200), including 31 tailing pits and 25 dumps - uranium production waste with the volume of 51.83 million m3.

Radioecological works were carried out in the Min-Kush uranium natural-technogenic province during and after remediation at the production site and tailings. Analysis of vertical profiles of gamma radiation exposure dose rate and the results of determining the specific activity of U-238, Ra-226 and Pb-210 in tailing material samples are presented. The results of radionuclide analysis in water samples from the Tuyuk-Su River and mine water in Min-Kush are presented. The radioecological assessment after covering (reclamation work) is given and a site map is made.