Some results of geochemical research in the Western Caucasus during the regional earthquakes

doi:10.4236/ns.2013.58A1002

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Vol.5, No.8A1, 8-17 (2013) Natural Science

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ns.2013.58A1002

Some results of geochemical research in the

Western Caucasus during the regional earthquakes

Tatyana Tsvetkova, Igor Nevinsky*, Victor Nevinsky

Private Establishment Research Centre of Natural Radioactivity, Krasnodar, Russia;

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

Received 9 June 2013; revised 9 July 2013; accepted 16 July 2013

cense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Results of geochemical researches in the Wes-

tern Caucasus (South Russia) during the re-

gional earthquakes are described. Monthly soil

Rn data do not correlate with earthquakes. Daily

concentrations of Rn in galleries, caves, mud

volcanoes and faults increase before earth-

quakes and decrease after them. “Splashes”

about 9 days before earthquakes in the hourly

Rn data are found out. Similar “splashes” were

observed in the data of a gamma background in

galleries and the Earth’s surface. Concentration

of CO2 in underground water was increasing

more of ten a f ter an ear thquake. Conc entration of

Rn in the water was increasing before earthp-

quake. Strong sine wave daily variations of the

soil H2 decreased during earthquakes. Concen-

tration of some chemical elements in under-

ground w aters changed similarly Rn data before

earthquakes.

Keyw ords: Earthquake; Monitoring; Radon;

Gamma Background; Chemical Eleme nts

1. INTRODUCTION

Geochemical environmental monitoring has the big

importance for various researches, for example, in ecol-

ogy, engineering geology, seismology.

Seismological application of continuous measurement

of radioactive (basically 222Rn (radon) and 220Tn (thoron))

and stable chemical elements in different geological ob-

jects (soil, natural water, air) are basically connected

with the research of harbingers of earthquakes (e.g.,

[1,2]). Much attention is paid to these researches in the

Caucasus as a seismically active region. Therefore, since

1990, the task to investigate variations of various envi-

ronmental isotopes during increase of regional seismic

activity was put before us. Rn and low level gamma ra-

diation were continuously measured in galleries, caves,

mud volcanoes, faults and landslips. Later these re-

searches have been expanded by measurements of some

stable chemical elements. More than 20 years of re-

searches have shown some regularities of change of en-

vironmental chemical elements during earthquakes.

Some obtained results of complex researches are shortly

described here first.

2. REGION OF INVESTIGATION

Variation in the background gamma radiation levels in

various galleries and caves in the Caucasus have been

investigation since 1987 (e.g., [3]). Since 1990 these

researches were continued in the Western Caucasus

(Krasnodar region, Figure 1(a)). While large-scale meas-

urements of soil Rn in the galleries, caves and at the

Earth’s surface in the Western Caucasus began later

(since 1997). The primary seismic zones are located in

the southern part of the Krasnodar region. The southern

area was therefore chosen to research changes in soil Rn

concentration during earthquakes.

Gamma background was measured in the galleries of

the Sakhalin (Sa) mercury deposit (depth 50 m, near the

settlement of Kholmsky (Kh)), in galleries of the city of

Novorossiysk (depth 70 m (N1) and 250 m (N2)) and the

set of Abrau (depth 30 m, (Ab)). Soil Rn under the

ground in the same galleries and in the karstic cave

Azishskaya (depth 30 m, (Az)) was measured (Figure

1(b)). Tsvetkova et al. have shortly described researched

galleries and cave [4]. Localization of points of meas-

urement of soil Rn at the Earth’s surface is shown in

Figure 1(a). Except this, measurements of soil Rn were

carried out in mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes in the

Krasnodar region are located in the territory of the Ta-

man Peninsula. The majority of measurements were per-

formed in the volcanoes “Miska”, “Shugo”, “Golubit-

skaya” and “Shapshugsky”. The typical mud hill (mud

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17 9

(a) (b)

Figure 1. Region of researches: (a) A map of the region. In the map of Russia (above) the Krasnodar region is shown by a circle.

In the map of the Krasnodar region black squares show points of measurement of water radon in the set of Kholmsky, in the city

of Krasnodar, in the coast of the Black Sea and in the northern and eastern parts of the region. Black triangles show mud vol-

canoes of the Taman Peninsula. Volcanoes “Shapshugsky”, “Shugo”, “Miska” (in the city of Temruk), “Golubitskaya” and

“Akhtanizovsky” are located from the east to the west. White squares designate galleries in the city of Novorossisks and at the

distance of 20 km to the west gallery in the set of Abrau. The gallery “Sakhalin” is located to the south of the set of Kholmsky

and the cave “Azishskaya” is located in the east of the region. Black circles show points of measurement of soil Rn; (b) Stalac-

tite of the cave Azishskaya near which soil Rn was measured; (c) Measurement of CO2 in the mud hill of the volcano Shugo; (d)

One of the gryphones of the mud volcano Shugo in which water sampling was carried out.

volcano “Shugo”) is shown in Figure 1(c). One of active

gryphones is shown in Figure 1(d). There is brief de-

scription of mud volcanoes of the Taman' Peninsula in

[5]. Faults, in which soil Rn was measured, are located in

the coast of the Black sea and near to it the Caucasian

mountains.

Measurements of water Rn were begun since 2010.

Water sampling was carried out from wells and springs.

Mud extraction was investigated too.

Short geographical and geological descriptions of re-

gion of researches are given in (e.g., [6]). Strong earth-

quakes in the Western Caucasus seldom take place. But,

as the part of the Big Caucasus, the Krasnodar region

regards a seismically active zone.

3. INSTRUMENTATION AND METHODS

For soil Rn measurements detectors with photodiodes

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17

(CLIPPERTON II) and ZnS scintillators were applied.

The data were recorded in the “memory” of the device

every hour (for photodiodes) or every 5 min (for ZnS

scintillator). And Rn detectors were placed in dry cellars

with stable temperatures. The influence of meteorologi-

cal factors (change of air temperature, humidity, atmos-

pheric precipitations and pressure) on Rn data when

compared with seismic processes was there minimal.

Water Rn was measured by degassing of samples and

by scintillation measurement of the alpha activity of the

allocated gas. The minimal activity of water 0.1 Bq/l was

achieved at 30 min of degassing and 30 min of meas-

urement of alpha activity. CO2 was simultaneously

measured in the allocated gas. Infra-red detector PGA-7

(Russia) was used. 4 wells at the depth of 30, 180, 280

and 270 m were investigated in the set of Kholmsky. The

depth of the wells in other settlements was 10 - 30 m.

Water samples of 0.5l were selected from all the wells

each day at 9-00 GMT. Only from the well at 30 m depth

in the set of Kholmsky water samples were selected three

times a day at 4-00, 9-00 and 15-00.

Low level radiation was measured with low back-

ground gamma spectrometer consists of scintillation

crystal in the metal screen. In the galleries NaI (Tl) in the

size 90 mm × 90 mm in dia. with the photomultiplier in

dia. of 80 cm was applied. At the Earth’s surface in the

set of Kholmsky big crystal CsI (Tl) 150 mm × 200 mm

in dia. and the photomultiplier in dia. of 170 mm for the

continuous monitoring of gamma background was ap-

plied. From the photomultiplier pulses after amplification

get in the 128-channel amplitude-digital converter. After

processing the quantity of pulses in all 128 channels re-

corded in the “memory” of the device each 5 minutes.

The metal screen of the device was collected from

pig-iron rings in external dia of 750 mm and internal dia.

570 mm. The height of the screen is 1600 mm. Outside

pig-iron rings are closed by Pb sheets in the thickness of

5 sm. Inside of the pig-iron the crystals cover from an

external background by layers of the “old” Pb (it is made

till 1940, thickness of 50 mm) and W (30 mm).

Tritium (T) was measured in water samples in the

volume 0.5l. Electrolytic procedure was used. The device

SL-4000 measured further beta activity of the rest. Con-

centrations of some chemical elements were measured in

water samples in the chemical laboratory by standard

analytical devices.

4. RESULTS

4.1. Soil Rn in the Galleries and Cave

Tsvetkova et al. have shown monthly, daily and hourly

changes of soil Rn concentration in galleries and caves

[4]. Changes in the monthly data exceeded the changes

in regional seismicity for 3 - 4 months. This analysis was

based on the seismic catalogue of the Central Experi-

mental Expedition (CEE) of the Geophysical Service of

the Russian Academy of Sciences (GS RAS)).

The choice of earthquakes for the analysis was made

by criteria [6,7]. Monthly Rn data in the gallery “Sa-

chalin” are shown in [4]. Similar results were obtained in

the galleries “Novorossiysk” (N1, N2) and “Abrau” (Ab).

The monthly Rn data in the air of galleries varied in de-

pendence on a season (Figure 2(a)). Factor of the corre-

lation with regional earthquakes was 48% (N1); 23%

(N2); 22% (Ab). Monthly Rn data in the air of galleries

with intensive ventilation can not be used for seismol-

ogical application. The daily concentration of soil Rn

increased several days prior to the earthquakes. In Fig-

ure 2(b), the daily underground Rn data as an example

are shown. Regional earthquakes are shown in the same

place. The concentration of Rn began to decrease before

the earthquakes had occurred. This process occurred in

the all galleries. Changes of Rn data were sometimes

observed even without earthquakes only in “Novorossi-

ysk 1”. It may be explained by strong meteorological

influence on Rn data in this gallery. Gallery N1 has

length of 50 m, big diameter (5 m) and an open entrance.

Because of change of external atmospheric temperature

very strong processes of hashing of air are observed in

the gallery. Probably, it is another reason of strong

changes of concentration of soil Rn. Some Rn “splashes”

coincided with strong meteorological processes (e.g.,

hurricanes and tornados, as shown in Figure 2(b)—(last

Rn “splash” in N1)). Connection between atmospheric

pressure and daily underground Rn data is not found out

[4]. Connection of changes in the cave of daily concen-

trations of soil Rn with earthquakes is also not found out

yet.

The first Fourier harmonic was allocated in all the

daily Rn data. Hourly “splash” for 9  1 days before re-

gional earthquakes (up to 200 km of distance) were ob-

served in all the galleries and cave. “Splashes” were ob-

served above mistakes 2



a smooth daily curve (Figures

2(c), (d)).

4.2. Soil Rn at the Earth’s Surface

Tsvetkova et al. have shown monthly, daily and hourly

changes of soil Rn concentration in faults and mud vol-

canoes in the Western Caucasus [7]. The factor of corre-

lation of the monthly Rn activity in faults with the

monthly number of earthquakes within a radius of 2000

km was equal to 40%. The earthquake quantity data (for

research forecasting the seismicity) concerning the

monthly Rn concentrations were retrospectively dis-

placed at monthly intervals from 1 to 6 months. A sig-

nificant correlation for any interval of displacement was

not found. The factor of correlation of Rn data in mud

volcanoes with the number of earthquakes father than

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17

Figure 2. Results of Rn measurements: (a) Monthly Rn data in the air in differ-

ent galleries. The gallery “Novorossiysk” with the depth of 70 m is designated as

N1, “Novorossiysk” 250 m depth—N2, “Abrau” 30 m depth—Ab, “K” designates

quantity of earthquakes in the distance up 2000 km; (b) The daily soil Rn data in

different galleries and the cave Azishskaya (Az). Earthquakes of different mag-

nitude M are shown by vertical lines (a dashed line—up 500 km, a gray

line—up 1000 km); (c) An example of the first daily Fourier harmonics of soil

Rn data with simultaneous “splashes” (black circles) in the gallery Abrau and the

cave Azishskaya before close earthquake on September 8, 2002; (d) An example

of the first daily Fourier harmonics of soil Rn data with simultaneous “splashes”

(black circles) in the galleries Abrau and Novorossiysk 1 before close earthquake

on July 13, 2004; (e) Changes of concentrations of soil Rn in the fault (Rn Kr)

near the city of Krasnodar and in the mud volcano Miska (Rn Te) near the city of

Temruk. Magnitudes (M) and dates of close earthquakes (<200 km) are shown

by lines; (f) An example of changes of concentration of soil Rn in the fault (Rn

Kh) near the set of Kholmsky. A black vertical line shows the earthquake at the

distance from the detector up 500 km. Earthquake in the distance up 1500 km a

grey line shows. Circles designate dates of strong far earthquakes; (g) An exam-

ple of the “splash” (a black circle) in a daily curve of the Rn data in the mud

volcano Miska before earthquake on January 20, 2001, Caucasus.

OPEN A CCESS

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17

2000 km from the detector in each month was approxi-

mately 52%. The greatest factor of correlation was ob-

tained for a 3-month displacement (to similarly under-

ground data)

The hourly soil Rn data in the fault near the city of

Krasnodar and in the mud volcano Miska (city of Temruk)

as example in Figure 2(e) are shown. In the absence of

regional earthquakes changes in the Rn concentration in

the faults were not significant. The Rn concentration

before the earthquakes increased and then decreased

(Figure 2(f)). In the mud volcanoes the greatest connec-

tion of changes in the soil Rn concentration with seismic

activity was observed for detectors located at distance of

tens of meters from gryphones and hills. Similar to the

data observed in the faults, strong increases of the Rn

concentration (up to 300%) were observed before an

earthquake for distances up to 2000 km from a detector.

Hourly “splashes” greater then 2



above the first daily

Fourier harmonic in faults and in mud volcanoes cannot

predict an earthquake. But analyses of a small “splashes”

of Rn data in mud volcanoes greater than 3



demonstrate

their coincidence 9  1 days before the earthquakes

(within a 1000 km radius of the volcanoes) with an ap-

proximate probability of 65% (Figure 2(g)).

The movement of Rn “fields” in the large territory of

the Earth was obtained simultaneously from all the Rn

detectors (Figure 1(a)). When using maps of average

daily Rn data, a stable daily picture and smooth move-

ment of the increased data within several days were ob-

served [7]. These increased values were moving to a

zone of an epicenter of earthquake some day’s prior to

earthquake. Such movement was observed for all the

earthquakes with epicenters in the territory of the Rn

network during large-scale measurements of Rn. There

were four earthquakes in the territory of the Rn-network

during the measurement (2004 year). When earthquakes

occurred outside the network, but not far from its borders,

an increase of Rn concentration near the border of the

network was observed in dependence of the direction

from the epicenter.

4.3. Water Rn

Different concentration and different changes of the

water Rn concentrations in different wells and springs

were found in the Western Caucasus. The example of

changes of water Rn data in the well of the set of

Kholmsky (in the depth of 30 m) and atmospheric pres-

sure is shown in Figure 3(a). The maximal factor of cor-

relations for these data is 10%. Changes of Rn concen-

tration in water in many wells during earthquakes were

identical (Figure 3(b)) and similar to changes of concen-

tration of soil Rn under the ground. The daily concentra-

tion of soil Rn increased two days prior to the earth-

quakes and then Rn concentration began to decrease one

day prior to the earthquakes. But sometimes changes of

Rn concentration in water were observed after earth-

quake (Figure 3(b-III)). Such changes were in the water

of wells from which much water was constantly selected.

For example, six m3 of water were pumped out from the

well Kh 280 m each 2 hours. Changes of Rn concentra-

tions in natural sources in the area of mud volcanoes and

in the mountains were similar to changes in the well Kh

180 m.

4.4. Water CO2

Concentration (in volumetric %) dissolved CO2 to-

gether with Rn in water samples was measured. Changes

of concentration of Rn and CO2 were various (Figur e

4(a)). The greatest factor of correlation of Rn and CO2

data for all the researched wells was 33%. Connection of

variations of CO2 with atmospheric pressure is also not

found out. During regional earthquakes CO2 concentra-

tion in water of many wells increased after the earth-

quake (Figure 4(b-I)). Sometimes the “splashes” oc-

curred before and after earthquake (Figure 4(b-II)),

sometimes CO2 concentration was decreasing during the

earthquake (Figure 4(b-III)). Some close earthquakes

had not any CO2 changes in any well in general. But

more often (about 60%) changes of CO2 concentrations

in underground waters looked like as it is shown in Fig-

ure 4(b), to the left. These results are similar with data

obtained in the East Caucasus and described in [8].

4.5. Low Background Radiation under the

Ground

Measurements of a gamma rays background in the

Western Caucasus were carried out in 1990 - 1992 in the

gallery Sakhalin (the set of Kholmsky) and in 1997 -

2004 in other galleries. Quantities of the pulses typed in

different ranges of energy of gamma rays, as example,

(2.50 - 3.40) MeV, (1.70 - 2.00) MeV, (1.35 - 1.55) MeV,

in the crystal NaI(Tl) were recorded each 5 minutes. Re-

sults of monitoring were compared with regional earth-

quakes, with the meteorological data, activity of a 222Rn

daughters and capacity of dozes of a gamma background

outdoor of galleries. Annual, seasonal and daily changes

of a background of low background gamma spectrometer

were observed [9]. Correlation of the gamma data for all

the galleries with temperature of air and soil of galleries

and atmospheric pressure was not found out. As an ex-

ample, factor of correlation of 3% between count rate of

gamma spectrometer in an interval of energy of gamma

rays (1.70 - 2.00) MeV and soil temperature was ob-

tained in the gallery Novorossiysk 2. The example of the

daily data of gamma background in Novorossiysk 1 is

shown in Figure 5(a). The monthly and daily data of the

different energy of gamma rays do not correlate with the

same seismic data.

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17 13

Figure 3. Changes of Rn concentration in water: (a) An example of

changes of Rn concentration in water in the well with the depth of 30 m

(Rn Kh 30 m) in the set of Kholmsky and atmospheric pressure. Sampling

was 3 times a day; (b) Examples of changes of Rn concentration in water of

the wells of the city of Krasnodar (Kr, the depth of 30 m) and set Kholmsky

(Kh, the depth of 180 m) and (Kh, the depth of 280 m). Earthquake with M

= 4 was on November 15, 2012, 43.94N 39.25E.

Figure 4. Changes of CO2 concentration of water: (a) An example of changes

of CO2 and Rn concentration in water in the well with the depth of 30 m (Rn

Kh 30 m) in the set of Kholmsky; (b) Examples of changes of CO2 concentra-

tion in water of the well of the city of Krasnodar (Kr, the depth of 30 m) and

the set of Kholmsky (Kh, the depth of 180 m) and (Kh, the depth of 280 m).

Earthquake with M = 4 was on November 15, 2012, 43.94N 39.25E.

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17

In the first Fourier daily harmonics ”splashes” of hour

duration has more than 2



for 9  1 day before regional

earthquakes were observed (Figure 5(b)). Hour “splash”

developed of the small increased 5-min gamma data. The

greatest probability (87%) of the concurrences of the

“splashes” with the subsequent earthquakes was received

in the interval of gamma rays energy (1.70 - 2.00) MeV.

The example of the “splash” of the gamma data in the

gallery Novorossiysk 1 is shown in Figure 5(b). Such

“splashes” were observed in all the researched galleries

[9].

4.6. Low Background Radiation at the

Earth’s Surface

Continuous measurements of the gamma radiation at

the Earth’s surface in the Western Caucasus were begun

since 2004 in the laboratory in the set of Kholmsky

(Figure 1(a)). Quantities of the pulses typed in different

ranges of energy of gamma rays in crystal CsI(Tl) were

recorded each 5 minutes. Annual, seasonal (monthly),

daily and hour changes of a gamma background in dif-

ferent intervals of energy of the gamma rays were re-

ceived. Dependence of the count rate of the gamma

spectrometer on meteorological factors was found out.

But monthly and daily gamma data did not correlate with

the seismic data. As an example, the daily data in an in-

terval (1.70 - 2.00) MeV are shown in Figure 5(c).

“Splashes” of hour duration more a 3



for 9  1 day

before regional earthquakes were observed at the analy-

sis of the first daily Fourier harmonics. The greatest

probability (90%) of concurrences of the “splashes” with

the subsequent earthquakes in an interval of energy of

gamma rays (1.70 - 2.00) MeV was received. As an ex-

ample, hourly “splash” before regional earthquake is

shown in Figure 5(d).

Figure 5. Results of gamma ray measurements: (a) An example of the daily gamma

data in the interval of energy of gamma rays (1.7 - 2.0) MeV in the gallery Novorossi-

ysk 1; (b) An example of two “splashes” ((1.7 - 2.0) MeV) in the gallery Novorossiysk

1 before two earthquakes on April 28, 2004 (M4.5, 45.50N41.56E and M3.8,

38.55N21.42E); (c) An example of the Earth’s surface daily gamma data in the interval

of energy of gamma rays (1.7 - 2.0) MeV. Earthquakes closer than 200 km are shown

by grey lines; (d) First daily Fourier harmonics of the gamma ray ((1.7 - 2.0) MeV)

data with “splashes” (black circles) before close earthquake on January 6, 2012 (M 2.5,

42.45 N 41.06 E, Western Caucasus); (e) Distributions of earthquakes over time inter-

vals preceding and following gamma ray background “splashes” measured in the gal-

lery Novorossiysk; (f) Distributions of earthquakes over time intervals preceding and

following gamma ray background “splashes” measured in the set of Kholmsky.

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17 15

The choice of the 9-day interval is supported by the

analysis of the distributions of earthquake time interval

before and after gamma ray background “splashes”. Each

“splash” was specified by the numbers of earthquakes

that occurred 1, 2, etc., days before and after the “splash”.

The results were summed over all “splashes” recorded in

the observation period. Figure 5 presents an example of

such a distribution characterizing the Novorossiysk 1

observation (Figure 5(e)) and Kholmsky observations

(Figure 5(f)). All the distributions show that the maxi-

mum of earthquakes postdates an ‘splash” by 9  1 days.

4.7. Soil H2

In 2002 soil H2 was measured near the mud volcano

Golubitsky and in 2003-2004 in the gallery Novorossiysk

1. The connection of H2 monthly data with the seismicс

data is not found out. The factor of correlation of the H2

data with atmospheric pressure was 62%. The hourly H2

data varied strongly each day, and the daily wave was

always sine wave. However during near (500 km)

earthquakes the sine change of hour data was ceasing

about 1 day before and 1 day after earthquakes (Figure

6(a)). This effect was observed for all the earthquakes

during measurement of the soil H2 in 2002.

Similar daily sine wave changes of the H2 data were

obtained in the gallery (Figure 6(b)). Decrease of am-

plitudes of daily H2 waves during the earthquakes in 73%

of cases was obtained in 2003 - 2004.

“Splashes” similar to Rn data were found out in the

underground hourly H2 data. Such “splashes’ coincided

with the “splashes” of gamma and Rn data with accuracy

 1 day. Examples of hourly H2 “slashes” before some

earthquakes are shown in Fi gu res 6(c)-(e).

Figure 6. Results of soil H2 measurements: (a) An example of the daily sine

waves of the hourly H2 data in the soil near the mud volcano Golubitsky.

Earthquake on September 8, 2002 (M 4.0, 43.90N 38.90E, in the Black Sea)

is shown by a pointer; (b) Sine wave daily changes of the hour soil H2 data

in the gallery Novorossiysk 1 during the absence of close (500 km) earth-

quakes; (c) “Splash” in the daily H2 wave (gallery N1) before the earthquake

on January 30, 2004, М = 3.2, in the Black Sea; (d) “Splash” in the daily H2

wave (gallery N1) before the earthquake on December 19, 2003, М = 4.6, in

the Mediterranean Sea; (e) “Splash” in the daily H2 wave (gallery N1) be-

fore the earthquake on December 27, 2003, М = 4.4, Greece.

T. Tsvetkova et al. / Natural Science 5 (2013) 8-17

Figure 7. Results of some chemical element measurements in

natural water: (a) Change of 3T concentration in gryphon’s

(volcano Shugo) water during the change of gryphon’s activity.

A pointer shows day of increase of gryphon’s activity; (b)

Change of Hg concentration in water (volcano Shapsugsky)

during the change of its activity. Day of increase of volcano

activity is shown by a pointer; (c)-(f) Change of some chemical

element concentration in the underground water in the gallery

Sakhalin (1) and in water (2) in the well Kholmsky, the depth

of 30 m. Dates of the regional earthquakes in 2000 are shown

by a pointers.

4.8. The Chemical Elements and Tritium in

Water

In 2000-2003 water samples one time a day (9-00

GMT) were selected incidentally in the sources of mud

volcanoes, in wells and in underground water from gal-

leries. Because of rare measurements the periods of the

daily sampling only 4 times have coincided with dates of

regional earthquakes. Time of 3T measurement in the

water of gryphon near mud volcano Shugo has coincided

with daily increase of activity of a volcano (Figure 7(a)).

The activity of gryphon was determined by quantity of

gas and a liquid leaving gryphon. In the day shown in

Figure 7(a) by a pointer, quantity of gas and liquid has

increased almost in 2 times. The time of sampling from

volcano Shapsugsky has also coincided with increase of

volcano activity at the measurement in water Hg (Figure

7(b)).

Changes of concentration of some chemical elements

in water were identical in all the cases of concurrence of

sampling time with the dates of earthquakes. Changes of

concentration of some chemical elements in underground

water in gallery Sakhalin and in the well Kholmsky 30 m

during regional earthquakes are shown in Figures 7(c)-

(f).

5. CONCLUSION

So, geochemical researches show strong changes of

environmental radioactivity and concentration of chemi-

cal elements in the Northern Caucasus during regional

earthquakes. Long continuous monitoring of radioiso-

topes and stable elements in more different geological

objects in others regions is necessary for obtain reliable

regularities. This is necessary to compare results not only

with the seismic data, but also with the meteorological

data and sun-lunar processes. Some authors (e.g., [10,11])

explain isotope changes in the environment by physical

and chemical processes in the Earth during the prepara-

tion of earthquakes. Other authors explain a connection

of the seismic data with processes in distant space and

with changes of streams of cosmic rays doing search

(e.g., [12]). Therefore radiation researches in the Western

Caucasus will be added by measurements of streams of

cosmic rays in the big area. All the received data will

allow moving further in the research of the processes of

preparation of earthquakes and their reasons.

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