Buraeva E.A., Shiryaeva A.A., Bezuglova O.S.

Distribution of radionuclides in mountain soils (on the example of the Maikop region of the Republic of Adygea)

The paper presents the results of studies of the activity concentration of radionuclides in zonal and intrazonal mountain soils of the North Caucasus (on the example of the Maikop region of the Republic of Adygea). The radionuclide composition of brown forest, sod-silicate, sod-alluvial, and meadow soils was assessed. Soil sampling sites are located on various relief elements. It is shown that the maximum activity concentration of artificial ¹³⁷Cs are recorded in areas located in relief depressions. It has been established that in the absence of technogenic influence (adits, field development, etc.), the activity concentration of natural radionuclides is poorly differentiated depending on the type of soil and parent rocks and averages 25.0 Bq/kg, 30.3 Bq/kg and 425 .1 Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, respectively.

Keywords: NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES, ¹³⁷Cs, SOILS, ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION, DISTRIBUTION