Methodical features of preparation of water samples of mountain rivers with ultra-low concentration of uranium for alpha-spectrometric measurements

In order to develop non-traditional methods for studying the distribution of runoff in mountain rivers, an assessment was made of the possibility of applying the method of uranium concentration in field conditions on coal, followed by desorption in laboratory conditions and radiochemical preparation for alpha spectrometric measurements. The method is approved on the waters and ice of the mountain rivers of the Northern Tien Shan. In all the glacier waters analyzed, the uranium content (1-4 · 10-7 g / l) is ultra-low but reliably measurable by alpha spectrometry and the ratio of even isotopes is within the measurement error limits. The waters of the glacial zones of river flow formation are enriched with uranium with a different excess of ²³⁴U due to the dissolution and leaching of uranium from the water-bearing rocks. This makes it possible to estimate the proportions of the glacial and sub grade components during the formation of the runoff of mountain rivers. (author)