The Kola Peninsula: Geography, History and Resources

The Kola Peninsula in northwest Russia is one of the most important economic regions in the circumpolar North. The region contains valuable natural resources, including a wide variety of mineral and fish resources, and is proximate to the large gas fields of the Barents Sea. A large population, industrial complexes, and military infrastructure are also characteristic of the region. The Kola Peninsula developed rapidly during the Soviet period (1917-92) under the principles of socialist development policy. This policy favoured extensive resource extraction and industrialization and resulted in increased northern settlement, much of it involuntary. Soviet development policy prompted the opening of new mines and the construction of smelters and refining facilities, while Soviet military policy necessitated the establishment of large military basing operations. Resource development and processing have led to severe environmental damage in the region and beyond. This paper describes the geographical features of the Kola Peninsula and the region's development history and contains data on natural and labour resources.Key words: Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Region, Murmansk, Russian Arctic, Soviet Arctic, natural resources, economic development, militarizationLa presqu'île de Kola dans le nord-ouest de la Russie est l'une des plus importantes zones économiques du Grand Nord circumpolaire. La région contient de précieuses ressources naturelles, y compris une grande variété de ressources minières et de poisson, et elle est proche des champs gaziers de la mer de Barents. Cette région se caractérise aussi par une forte population, ainsi que par la présence de complexes industriels et d'une infrastructure militaire. La presqu'île de Kola s'est développée rapidement au cours de l'ère soviétique (1917-1992), selon les principes des politiques socialistes de développement. Ces dernières, qui mettaient l'accent sur une intensification de l'exploitation des ressources et de l'industrialisation, ont accru la colonisation - en grande partie forcée - dans le Nord. Les politiques soviétiques de développement ont amené l'ouverture de nouvelles mines et la construction de fours de fusion et de raffineries, tandis que les politiques militaires soviétiques ont rendu nécessaire l'édification d'importantes installations pour des bases militaires. L'exploitation et le traitement des ressources ont causé dans la région immédiate et au-delà de sérieux dommages écologiques. Cet article décrit les caractéristiques géographiques de la presqu'île de Kola et l'histoire du développement de la région, et il présente des données sur les ressources naturelles et en main-d'oeuvre.Mots clés : presqu’île de Kola, région de Mourmansk. Mourmansk, Arctique russe, Arctique sovibtique, ressources naturelles, développement économique, militarisatio

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

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Unexpected Room Temperature Ferromagnetism of a Ball-Milled Graphene Oxide—Melamine Mixture

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterial (NDCNM) was synthesized by grinding a mixture of graphene oxide and melamine in a planetary mill with both balls and milling chamber of zirconium dioxide. In the electron spin resonance spectrum of NDCNM, a broad signal with g = 2.08 was observed in addition to a narrow signal at g = 2.0034. In the study using a vibrating-sample magnetometer, the synthesized material is presumably a ferromagnet with a coercive force of 100 Oe. The specific magnetization at 10,000 Oe is approximately 0.020 and 0.055 emu/g at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature, respectively

Electrical Conductivity of Films Formed by Few-Layer Graphene Structures Obtained by Plasma-Assisted Electrochemical Exfoliation of Graphite

Current-voltage characteristics of few-layer graphene structures (FLGS) obtained by plasma-assisted electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in Na2SO4 solution were measured. FLGS are shown to possess electronic conductivity, which indicates the predominant functionalization of the edges of graphene planes and the preservation of the structure of basal planes in obtained nanostructures as in the source graphite. The effect of humidity on the conductivity of FLGS films was studied. The resistance of films was found to increase with an increase in the relative humidity of the environment due to the shielding of FLGS flakes by a film of water. The effect of different solvents on the current-voltage characteristics of FLGS was analyzed. The conductivity of films significantly decreased in vapors of polar protic solvents, while there was a minor effect of nonpolar aprotic solvents on the conductivity of FLGS films

USE UNDERGROUND MINES FOR DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE OF THE 3RD AND 4TH CLASSES

Link for citation: Gorin N.V., Kuchinov V.P., Usanov S.V., Vasiliev A.P. Use of underground mines for disposal of radioactive waste of the 3rd and 4th classes. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 9, рр. 128-136. In Rus. Relevance. Searching for the sites for radioactive waste disposal was carried out during the Soviet times and slowed down after the breakup of the USSR. It is proposed to return to the achieved results in this area and to get back to work on radioactive waste disposal site selection, since the disposal facilities for radioactive waste of the 3rd and 4th classes under construction will not be able to cope with the predicted amount of radioactive waste. Purpose: to offer as one of possible solutions, to use the free space of exhausted mines for the disposal of radioactive waste of the 3rd and 4th classes, including exhausted mines at the existing mining enterprises, and to consider the conditions of their use; to pay special attention to promoting public awareness, since public opinion may prevail over all other arguments. Subjects: exhausted and operating mines, accumulated amount of radioactive waste in the world and in Russia, selection of reliable sources of information, domestic experience of nuclear waste disposal in exhausted mines. Methods. The paper considers the possibilities of nuclear waste disposal from the viewpoint of current regulations and mine operation experience. Results. It is shown that waste handling necessitates public consultations and informing the population. Reliable sources of information on the amount of radioactive waste of different classes generated in the Russian Federation, as well as on their distribution by region and major enterprises are provided. It is noted that the amount of radioactive waste is two orders of magnitude less than that of municipal solid waste, but radioactive waste attracts more public attention in the media, and this should be taken into account when handling it, and organizing its storage and disposal

Microstructural analysis for predicting the morphology and spatial arrangement of chromite bodies

Shortage of chromite raw materials in Russia at present time encouraged the use of methods, which have not been previously used in exploration and prediction of ore bodies. Chromite deposits of the Urals are characterized by a very complex structure. For prediction of the declination of ore bodies it is possible to use the observed relationship between the structural elements of ultrabasites and the preferential orientation of the axes of the optical indicatrix of olivine. In the majority of cases the Ngaxis of the indicatrix are parallel statistically to the linearity of chromespinelide. An important structural element is the linearity, which is presented by subparallel chains of isometric grains of chromespinelide or elongated grains of chromespinelide oriented in the same direction. The results of microstructural analysis of the enclosing rocks and measurements of the preferential orientation axes of the optical indicatrix of olivine on Yujnopogureyskoe deposit has allowed to predict the decline of the ore bodies. Information about the spatial position and morphology of the ore bodies allows effective planning of the exploration work