Efficiency of Applying the Electrical Methods in Permafrost Areas under the High Technogenic Load

The process of developing the primary diamond deposits in Western Yakutia is closely linked with the operation of hydraulic structures. Tailings storage facilities have the greatest technogenic load on the environment. This fact requires the organization of continuous monitoring, which should cover not only the dam itself and its adjoining areas, but also the bed itself. With this approach, the area requires the organization of systematic observations of the state of the geological environment on 15-20 km2 only within a single tailings storage facility. Carrying out such volumetric monitoring allows controlling the process of interaction between the object of technogenic load and the geological environment, taking into account the specifics of continuous permafrost distribution. As part of the study, geophysical work was carried out using electrical methods: TDEM, covering the upper pool of the tailings storage facility and ERT, covering the dam, as well as the left and right slopes of the watershed of the adjoining dam of the tailings storage facility. Based on the results of the work, sections and maps of the distribution of apparent resistivity were compiled. A joint analysis of the obtained data made it possible to perform a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the current state of the facility, highlighting anomalous zones that require additional attention. The pilot drilling confirmed the reliability of the obtained results of geophysical methods. The use of electrical exploration methods is a relevant and promising way to study the cryohydrogeological situation within the areas of direct impact of the tailings storage facility on the adjacent territory.