No 3 (2025)

This study is devoted to assessing the environmental impacts of coal mine liquidation in the Arctic zone of Russia, with a special emphasis on the Pechora coal basin. In the context of accelerating industrial development of the North and growing anthropogenic impact, the problem of restoring disturbed territories is becoming extremely relevant. Numerous environmental threats are recorded: flooding of mine workings, pollution of surface and groundwater by mine waters, release of methane and carbon dioxide, deformation of the earth's surface, as well as soil pollution with heavy metals and oil products. All this creates risks not only for the environment, but also for the lives of the population of former mining settlements. The study is aimed at forming scientifically based solutions to minimize the effects of man-made pollution, ensure environmental safety and sustainable nature management in the Arctic regions of Russia. The research methodology is based on complex environmental monitoring, including hydrogeological, gas geochemical and geodynamic analysis, remote sensing, water, soil and air sampling, as well as laboratory methods for determining pollutant concentrations. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the complex assessment of the state of the environment in the territories of liquidated coal mines in the Arctic, including the quantitative characteristics of pollution and natural deformations. Data were obtained on the degree of water pollution with heavy metals (Fe up to 75 mg/l, Mn up to 18 mg/l), the level of methane emissions (up to 8.5%) and the scale of disturbed lands (up to 7000 ha). It was established that the existing pollution poses a direct threat to public health and requires urgent environmental protection measures. As a result, a set of proposals was developed for reclamation, purification of mine waters, degassing of mine workings and the creation of an effective monitoring system. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of replicating the proposed solutions in other regions of the Arctic, which will ensure increased environmental sustainability and a reduction in man-made pressure in the conditions of the Far North.

Data on ecological-geological systems (EGS) of the Bovanenkovo and South Tambey fields have been summarized. The Bovanenkovo EGS is located in the central part of the Yamal Peninsula within a flat accumulative-abrasive plain, which is heavily lake-dotted and marshy. A continuous and monolithic distribution of permafrost deposits is observed across the area. The zero isotherm above the gas dome of the Bovanenkovo EGS likely lies at a depth of 170-220 m, and up to 300 m on its periphery. The continuity of the permafrost is disrupted at the surface by non-through thawing areas, and within the profile by lenses of cryopegs and cooled soils. The South Tambey EGS is located in the northeast of the Yamal Peninsula within a flat accumulative plain. Here, a continuous and monolithic distribution of permafrost deposits is recorded. The zero isotherm above the gas dome of the South Tambey EGS likely lies at a depth of 380 m, and up to 440 m on its periphery. Large accumulations of massive ice are extremely widespread in the Bovanenkovo EGS area. The maximum thickness of massive ice here is 28.5 m, and the average thickness is 8 m. The ice masses in the permafrost soils of the Bovanenkovo EGS are so significant that their wide use as underground storage chambers for long-term storage of gas condensate is even planned. The massive ice, ice wedge in the exposures of the ridges and the first lagoon-marine terrace of the South Tambey EGS near the village of Sabetta at various depths, sometimes forming a 2-4 tier ice complex, noticeably complicates the engineering-geological conditions of the area. The thickness of the massive ice, revealed by boreholes, varies from 0.2 to 5.7 m, with an average value of 1.5 m. In August 1978, the author measured the temperatures of frozen soils in boreholes drilled in the floodplain of the Tambey River and compared them with temperatures in boreholes drilled in 2013 on the ridge of the Ob Bay near the village of Sabetta. This comparison showed a significant increase in average annual temperatures over 35 years, amounting to more than 5°C. The data characterizing the features of the techno-ecotope, techno-microbial community, techno-phytocenosis, and techno-zoocenosis of the Bovanenkovo and South Tambey EGS and their technogenic transformation have been summarized. The technogenic transformation of the Bovanenkovo and South Tambey EGS is generally negative, but some components of the EGS show positive trends: a). The territories of the Bovanenkovo and South Tambey EGS are represented by a lithotope of permafrost rocks, consisting of hard-frozen, plastically frozen and cooled soils containing large massive ice, ice wedges, as well as negative-temperature groundwater with high mineralization – cryopegs; b). The experience of developing and operating the Bovanenkovo and South Tambey EGS deposits indicates that, despite attempts to minimize the technogenic impact on the natural environment, the development of fields, as a rule, is accompanied by a relatively rapid and profound change in the geocryological conditions of the territory. Due to strong man-made impacts, a radical change in the thermal state of the soils often occurs - usually their long-term thawing and melting even in areas of low-temperature permafrost development, threatening the stability of the foundations of gas production facilities; 3. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the snow cover of the South Tambey and Bovanenkovo EGS increases to 2–5 ng/mg. Low-molecular PAHs in the snow of the South Tambey EGS are 0.3–3.9 ng/mg, Bovanenkovo EGS – 1.7 ng/mg, high-molecular PAHs in the snow of the South Tambey EGS are 0.2–1.5 ng/mg, Bovanenkovo EGS – 0.7 ng/mg. The appearance of high concentrations of phenanthrene and anthracene in the PAHs is typical for the snow cover of the recently developed South Tambey and Bovanenkovo EGS. Here, the snow cover reflects the increased industrial load against the background of the overall low level of pollution of the snow cover of the region and the proximity of populated areas. At the same time, the common features for these EGSs are their remoteness from sources of intensive emissions of economic activity in the central region of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and fuel and energy complex facilities; d). Man-made transformation of the edaphotope is mainly expressed in the fact that the construction of main linear systems: pipelines, water mains, heating mains is accompanied by the complete destruction of soils in the corridor of the route; e). The total area of agricultural land withdrawn for the technological facilities of the Bovanenkovo EGS exceeds 5 thousand hectares, i.e. during the period of development of the field, the area of withdrawn lands increased 5 times, and the total area involved in construction, taking into account areas disturbed to varying degrees, increased 20 times. The largest area of withdrawal and disturbance in absolute terms falls on sphagnum and lowland bogs and floodplain willowsж; f). The number of some bird species increases, since in the process of field development the area of suitable habitats expands and additional food sources appear; g}. Uncontrolled fishing as a food product for the sharply increased number of construction workers and gas producers can lead to the depletion of fish stocks; h). Man-made transformation of the zoocenosis due to the creation of the Yamal LNG terminal in the port, and the almost constant open water in the Gulf of Ob, which changed the microclimate that contributes to the formation of an ice shell on the snow, resulted in the fact that the reindeer in the northern part of the Yamal Peninsula cannot break the ice crust with their hooves and get to the lichen, the lack of food for wild and domestic reindeer began to lead to the death of animals; i). Embankments of roads and railways blocking the natural paths of water flows contribute to the formation of swamps, this leads to a reduction in agricultural lands, and also serves as an additional obstacle to the traditional migration of reindeer herds.

This publication is the second part of an article in which, based on an analysis of available data in scientific literature, the significant role of the cryogenic factor in the preparation of pneumatic explosions within permafrost rock layers is demonstrated. The subject of the research is local cryogenic gas-dynamic geosystems, the development of which leads to pneumatic explosions and the formation of gas emission craters. The focus of the study is the morphology and structure of cryogenic formations in frozen rocks that compose the gas emission craters found in northern Western Siberia. The authors discuss aspects of the topic in detail, such as the analysis and generalization of data on the cryogenic structure of various elements of gas emission craters. Special attention is paid to the examination of cryogenic formations associated with plastic deformations in the upper part of frozen layers and the formation of sub-vertically oriented structures outside the craters, related to the pressurized impact of gas. The primary method used in this article is the analysis of materials from scientific publications on the topic as well as data from laboratory modeling conducted by the authors. The synthesis of the analyzed materials was carried out based on a geosystemic approach. Significant interest is raised by the discovery of ring structures in several craters associated with shear deformations in the edge parts of gas-saturated stocks. The particular interest and novelty of the research lie in the study of cellular ice. These ices and the processes forming them have not been previously considered in geomcryology. They are traced in a narrow zone along the walls of the crater from its bottom to the upper edge of the narrowing part, significantly deformed and separated from the other rocks in the crater by fractures. In the upper part of the crater, the zone of cellular ice integrates into the layered ice-soil mass, forming a stiffness core in the shape of an ice block. Cryogenic formations in the form of cellular ice indicate the forceful impact of rising gas from below on the frozen host rocks. The main conclusion of the second part of the article is as follows: the local gas-dynamic geosystem preparing a pneumatic explosion consists of paragenetically related dynamic cryogenic subsystems, each possessing its own specific cryogenic structure.

The aim of the work is to present the results of the forecast of the UV-promising quasi-elliptical pre-Paleozoic plume-asthenospheric geomorphological structures in the western sector of the Russian Arctic. The subject of the study is digital data of satellite and deep geophysical parameters, such as magnetic anomalies, heat flow, and geomorphological features of the crust and lithosphere. The data of geophysical maps of the thickness of the crust, lithosphere, sedimentary layer, and heat flow have been digitized within the location of 45 identified quasi-elliptical pre-Paleozoic plume-asthenospheric geomorphological structures of the western sector of the Russian Arctic. Stochastic methods were used to determine the most promising structures. Histograms are calculated, distribution densities are determined according to the Kolmogorov criterion, probabilities for different types of crust, lithosphere located under the continental slope, shelf, lowlands, platforms. The analysis showed that the data on the sedimentary layer thickness, the thickness of the crust, lithosphere, and heat flow correspond to the Gauss distribution. The main conclusions of the study are that, according to anomalies of thermal, magnetic fields, and seismic surveys measured in the western sector of the Russian Arctic, quasi-elliptical pre-Paleozoic plume-asthenospheric geomorphological structures with a diameter of 100-300 kilometers were identified for the first time. New patterns have been established showing that hydrocarbon deposits (Prirazlomnoye-Shtokmanovskoye, Admiralteyskoye-Andreevskoye), which are part of quasi-elliptical pre-Paleozoic plume-asthenospheric geomorphological structures, in the western sector of the Russian Arctic are also located along linear zones connected to two (SE-NW, SW-SW) tectonic fault systems.The scope of application of the results obtained lies in the fact that the studies carried out made it possible to predict oil and gas prospects, to outline the sequence of geological exploration within the quasi-elliptical pre-Paleozoic plume-asthenospheric geomorphological structures in the waters of the western sector of the Russian Arctic.

The reduction of permafrost top and the increase in ground temperature lead to the risk of gas manifestations from thawing permafrost. Gas-saturated epigenetic marine permafrost deposits, as well as certain types of ground ice in Yamal, pose a potential danger of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. A study of the genesis of ground ice in the Vaskiny Dachi geocryological research station was conducted from 2019 to 2021. Four types of ground ice were studied in the sediments of the III plain in Central Yamal – relict ice, pseudomorphs, lens ice and massive ice. The work aims to investigate the genesis of ground ice and its relationship with host deposits in the context of climate change. Based on data on the patterns of ice occurrence in natural outcrops, the lithological composition of the host deposits, and the petrological characteristics of the ice in thin sections, the authors propose to identify geochemical markers indicating the genesis of the ice. The cryolithological structure was established, the lithological composition of the deposits was determined using a laser granulator, and the ionic composition of the ice and deposits was defined using ionometric titration, titrimetry, atomic absorption, atomic emission, turbidimetry, and ionometry methods. The structure and texture of the ice, as well as its ionic and elemental composition, were studied using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A relationship was established between the chemical composition, texture, and structure of relict, lens-shaped, massive ice, and host deposits. In the upper part of the section at the boundary of the lake sediment layer, continental salinization was identified, whereas in the lower part, the chemical composition indicates coastal-marine conditions. The ionic composition confirms the coastal-marine genesis of the massive ice; a saline pseudomorph was distinguished, differing in structure and texture of the ice and chemical composition from relict ice. The distribution of rare earth elements allowed for the determination of the conditions of ice formation. Lens-shaped ice and pseudomorphs exhibit negative cerium and positive europium anomalies, unlike relict ice. It was established that freezing occurs in water-saturated conditions for massive, lens-shaped ice, and pseudomorphs. The applicability of geochemical markers for clarifying the conditions of ground ice formation and the genesis of deposits, taking into account the cryolithological structure of the sections, was justified.