On the territory of the Northern industrial zone of Pavlodar in the area of the industrial wastewater reservoir «Bylkyldak» in some areas of the earth there is soil contamination with mercury, exceeding the MPC for mercury (2.1 mg/kg) by 500 times. The total mass of mercury dispersed in the surface layer of soils is 2.8 tons. The mass of contaminated soil is approximately 208,000 tons. Pollution of the territory is historical. The purpose of the article is to determine the efficiency of chemical binding (immobilization) of mercury in the soil with the Japanese drug Denite® in real field conditions of the territory of mercury contamination in the Northern industrial zone of Pavlodar using an experimental study; to determine the stability of insoluble mercury compounds formed by the preparation at extreme winter and summer temperatures and seasonal fluctuations in open ground. Soil samples were taken for the study at 11 points in the centers of mercury pollution. Laboratory studies were carried out in an accredited analytical laboratory of the Testing Center of JSC Caustic. Soil samples were treated with Denite®, the preparations obtained were stabilized, and water extracts were prepared. The content of mercury in soils, extracts from them, and plants was determined by the atomic absorption method on a RA-915+ spectrometer equipped with RP-91 and RP-91S attachments. As a result of research, the effectiveness of Denite® in the chemical binding of mercury in the soil has been proven and its optimal dosages have been determined. As a result of the positive tests of the technology of chemical immobilization of mercury, the prospect of a practical solution to the issue of demercurization of mercury-contaminated soil on the territory of the Northern industrial zone appeared.

Main problem: Monitoring the reliability of the foundation of roads, buildings and engineering structures is an important aspect of geophysical research. Modeling of geological heterogeneities is relevant. Moreover, the use of computer modeling in this problem is associated with computational costs. Purpose: Analysis of the vertical electrical sounding (VES) method for modeling the physical properties of soil and their changes when exposed to elastic vibrations. Methods: To achieve the goal, the vertical electrical sounding (VES) method was used, using a one-dimensional model of the geological environment. The direct VES problem was solved by calculating the Hankel integral. Results and their significance: The study made it possible to model a large number of soil layers using the VES method. The results obtained make it possible to determine the parameters of detected objects and changes in the characteristics of the controlled environment when exposed to elastic vibrations. The significance of the results lies in the possibility of improving the method for modeling the physical properties of soil and taking into account their changes under the influence of elastic vibrations, which helps to increase the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring the reliability of the foundation.