Geochemical Characteristics of the Snow Cover of the Western Territory of the Far North of Russia – The Example of the Kola Peninsula and Karelian Coast

The results of in situ studies of the geochemical characteristics of snow cover in the Russian Far North are summarized. Enrichment of the insoluble phase of snow with heavy metals in the background areas of the study area is of mixed, natural-anthropogenic origin for Ni, Cu, As, Sb, Pb, and Bi (10 < EER < 100) and mainly anthropogenic for Cd (EER > 100); the level of contamination by As, Bi, and Cd (Kc > 6) is very high. In the impact areas, the highest enrichment of the insoluble phase of snow with Co, Ni, Cu, As, Sb, and Bi (EER > 100) was determined in Monchegorsk where the geochemical transformation of the snow has a medium-moderate and very high level of polyelement (Co, Ni, Cu, As, Bi) technogenic pollution. The geochemical composition of the snow cover in the background areas is formed mainly due to soluble and in the impact areas insoluble forms of elements. A characteristic feature of REEs in solid snow sediment in the background and impact areas is the fractionation of REEs with enrichment of light REEs relative to heavy REEs and negative Eu and Ce anomalies, which indicates the absence of technogenic impact on the composition of REEs. The degrees of concentration and dispersion of U and Th and the Th/U ratio in the solid phase of snow correspond to the mixed nature of radioactivity. Chemical composition of the snow cover of background areas is formed mainly due to long-range transport of matter, and that of impact areas under the influence of local contamination sources.