Radiological States around the Kraton-4 Underground Nuclear Explosion Site in Sakha

Abstract

A radiological survey around the site of Kraton-4, an underground nuclear explosion (Yield of 20 kt, depth of 560 m, 1978) in Sakha was carried out in March 1998. Gamma survey and in-situ spectroscopy on the ground exhibited quite normal levels: a dose rate of 0.022 μSv/h and Cs-137 surface contamination of less than 1.1 kBq/m² around the hypocenter. The results suggested no remarkable leakage of radioactivity from the epicenter to the ground surface at least not for non-rare gas elements as of 1998.