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:
Received 9 June 2013; revised 9 July 2013; accepted 16 July 2013
Copyright © 2013 Tatyana Tsvetkova et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Li-
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)
(c) (d)
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
10
(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 11
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
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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
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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
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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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