Shallow geophysics in assessing the state of the geological environment of industrial areas (based on the example of the solid waste landfill of the Gomel chemical plant)

Abstract

Introduction: The goal of the research is the development and testing of a shallow geophysics complex for assessing the state of the geological environment of an industrial area based on the example of a solid waste landfill of the Gomel chemical plant. The problems to be solved are the following: diagnostics of the pollution of the aeration zone of the chemical waste landfill, identification of the polluted water leakage from the canals, and the search for buried technogenic structures. Methodology: The geophysical studies were conducted using the methods of electrical resistance profiling, vertical electrical resistance sensing, natural electric field method, and geomagnetic survey. We used the following technical equipment: ERA-MAX electrical exploration equipment and GeometricsG-857 and MPP-203 proton magnetometers. Results and discussion: We considered the use of the shallow geophysics complex in assessing the state of the geological environment in the area affected by the solid waste landfill of the Gomel chemical plant. Electrical profiling on the AB =3 m spacing allowed identifying the area of high chemical pollution of the soil (apparent resistivity less than 10 Ohm•m). According to the data from vertical electrical resistance sensing, the chemical pollution in the area of the waste pile expressed in the region of anomalously low apparent resistivity influences not only the soil but also the ground sources and intermorainic aquifers (approximately to the depth of 10–20 m). Using profiling with a set of methods along the drainage canal, we determined the areas of polluted water leakage diagnosed by negative gradient anomalies of the natural electric field potential (with the amplitude of 30–40 mV). The use of a geomagnetic survey combined with electrical profiling allowed identifying the buried basement. Conclusion. The suggested shallow geophysics complex allows solving a wide range of problems related to the diagnostics of the geological environment of industrial areas.