The measuring methodology of excess radioactive load caused by coal mining in the vicinity of Pécs (Mecsek Mts.- Hungary)

Beside several other harmful effects of coal mining on the environment (destroying landscape, dust and noise pollution), we must lay a great emphasis on dealing with its excess radioactive load as well, since it is widely known that some coal types'have a remarkably high radioactive element content. In Hungary the coal of the Tatabánya Coalfield (ZETHNER, 1958), the Cretaceous coal of Ajka (BODROGI ET AL., 1959) and the Liassic coal of the Mecsek Mts. are of that character. It is getting to be necessary to develop a measuring methodology that can be authoritative in land reclamation plans, environmental geological surveys on other Hungarian territories with similar problems and that corresponds to the directives of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). This measuring system involves "in situ" and laboratory analyses, and as a result of this, beside the actual environmental impact analysis it provides further information on the geological setting of the territory. With an informative purpose we also publish the preliminary results of the measurements that are performed on the coalfields of the Mecsek Mts