RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY OF SURFACE WATER BODIES LOCATED NEAR RECULTIVATED URANIUM DEPOSITS IN THE AKMOLA REGION

<jats:p>The article presents data from a reconnaissance (preliminary) survey of natural surface and technogenic water bodies located near recultivated and conserved uranium deposits in the Akmola region. Gamma radiation dose rates indicate no radiation hazard for the population when present in these areas; exceptions are sites near mine shafts and during descent into quarries, where gamma dose rates reach 1.0 µSv/h. Alpha activity in natural surface waters exceeds the screening levels established for drinking water by factors ranging from 3.3 in the Kutunguz River to 12.5 in Lake Koksor. In technogenic quarry water bodies, the exceedance ranges from 22.5 times in the Balkashin Quarry to 49 times in Mine No. 9, Quarry No. 5. Based on the results of the reconnaissance (preliminary) survey of natural waters near recultivated uranium deposits, the following were selected for detailed study (including isotopic composition determination, analysis of forms of occurrence, etc.): Kutungguz River and the downstream rivers Zhabay and Zhylandy, Balkashin quarry, Koksor and Tastykol lakes, and quarry No. 5 of shaft No. 9 (Tastykol deposit).</jats:p>