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Russian Geology and Geophysics

2002 year, number 2

RADON ANOMALIES AS EVIDENCE FOR ACTIVITY OF THE WEST SAYAN FAULT IN NORTHERN LAKE TELETSKOE (Gorny Altai)

B. Dehandshutter, V. A. Bobrov, R. Hus, N. E. Astakhov, N. V. Androsova, and Yu. P. Popov
Keywords: Radon, fault, neotectonics, vertical migration, gas geochemistry, Lake Teletskoe
Pages: 128-142

Abstract

Lake Teletskoe, a major neotectonic unit of Gorny Altai, is a complexly structured graben formed during reactivation of Late Paleozoic fault zones. The formation of the graben in the northern part of the lake has been controlled by the West Sayan fault.
The ongoing activity of the fault is evidenced by radon and mercury anomalies whose behavior was investigated by measurements along profiles perpendicular to active fault segments by various methods. Radon flux observed in activated charcoal showed anomalies over faults. Radon emanation in the soil-gas system was measured by scintillation and electric detectors that enable detection of anomalies in soil gas over fault zones. The concentration of radon measured in springs marked faults infiltrated with radon water. Enhanced concentrations of mercury measured in soil and water along the fault zone revealed an open fissure system channeling gas fluids. Therefore, the West Sayan fault zone is an active structure that provides vertical migration of radon and mercury.