Climatic changes and alluvial-sedimentation settings in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle-Late Holocene (by the example of the Ilya floodplain)

Climatic changes in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle and Late Holocene and their influence on alluvial sedimentation environments are reconstructed from the results of study of the Ilya floodplain sediments (Alkhanai National Park). At the beginning of the Subboreal period, the regional climate became more arid, which led to a significant increase in steppe species communities in the landscapes. Intense climate aridization also took place at the beginning and at the end of the Subatlantic period of the Holocene. The alluvial-sedimentation rate increased during the weakening of aridization and decreased during cooling and the intensification of aridization. The obtained regional data are compared with data on the adjacent areas and the global climatic changes in the Northern Hemisphere.     

Zircon–quartz–calcite segregations in carbonate–alkaline metasomatic rocks of the western Baikal region and their petrogenetic implications

Fine-grained segregations up to 5 mm in size composed of graphic intergrowths of zircon, quartz, calcite and containing up to 0.8 wt % SrO have been found in albite–riebeckite and dolomite–biotite metasomatic rocks formed after alaskite granite. They contain magnetite, titanomagnetite (25.4 wt % TiO₂), cerite-(Ce,Nd), rutile (up to 1.2 wt % Nb₂O₅), as well as rare micrograins of monazite-(Ce), bastnaesite-(Ce), and barite (up to 5.7 wt % SrO). The fine-grained structure of mineral aggregates suggests a metacolloidal nature. It is assumed that the zircon–quartz–calcite assemblage was formed due to exchange decomposition reaction between the salt phase of hydrothermal solution with predominant Na₂CO₃, elevated Zr and, to a lesser extent, Fe, Ti, LREE, Nb contents and dissolved calcium and silica compounds of a Na₂SiO₃ type.     

Holocene overbank deposition in the drainage basin of Lake Khanka

Overbank deposits in the Komissarovka River valley consist of alternating silt, clay silt, sand, and soils produced by lacustrine, alluvial, and aeolian deposition and by soil formation. Silt and sand layers in the lower part of the section correlate with the events of Early Holocene transgression and Middle Holocene regression of Lake Khanka. Deposition in the lowermost reaches of the Komissarovka River provides a faithful record of local Holocene landscapes controlled by level changes in Lake Khanka.     

The ecosystem of Lake Kenon: past and present (Transbaikal Territory,Russia)

Present-day conditions of the Lake Kenon ecosystem are determined by a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors.We have estimated the effects of a complex of factors on the condition of the abiotic environment and on specific biological components in the lake ecosystem.Change in biogenic load has caused an increase in the role of phytoplankton in the general balance of organic matter during the high-water period.Charophytes are the main dominants of bottom vegetation.Anthropogenic load has caused a decrease in both fish species and fish capacity.The lake application as a water reservoir-cooler has influenced the average annual water mineralization(from 420 mg/L to 530.0 mg/L with a maximum 654 mg/L in 1993) and fluctuations in its hydrochemical composition.The present composition of the lake is sulfate-hydrocarbonate-chloride calcium-sodic-magnesium in character.SO 4 – content is twice as much as the maximum permissible concentration in fishery waters.Water drainage from an ash disposal area to the lake has caused an increase in chemical-element concentrations including the heavy metals.Hg concentration in Perca fluviatilis muscles is 0.5 μg/g dry wt.Thus,understanding directions in the ecosystem of the water reservoir-cooler under changing hydrological conditions will let us forecast the consequences of new combined heat and power plant operation.     

The level of living of the population on adjacent boundary territories of Buryatia and Mongolia

Presented are the results from a sociological investigation into the level of living of the population in boundary areas of Russia (Buryatia) and Mongolia. The study revealed transboundary differences in the structure and relationship of incomes and expenditures of the population, and in property stratification. The implications of residence in border areas for the life activity of the population are explored.     

The Early Proterozoic Primorskii complex of rapakivi granites (western Cisbaikalia): geochemistry,crystallization conditions,and ore potential

The Primorskii complex in western Cisbaikalia, which formed in the Early Proterozoic at the postcollisional stage in the Siberian craton evolution, comprises rapakivi granites, equigranular biotitic and leucocratic granites, and alaskites. It is a K-rich granitoid assemblage with a medium and high alkalinity, whose F, Ba, Pb, REE, Zr, Th, and Zn contents exceed the clarkes. The complex consists of three plutons: Bugul’deika–Anga, Ulan-Khan, and Trekhgolovyi, which formed in two intrusive stages. The evolution of the main-stage composition was marked by an increase in silica content, with a similtaneous increase in agpaite and Fe contents and a decrease in Na₂O/K₂O. The Bugul’deika–Anga and Trekhgolovyi plutons are the most contrasting in composition and crystallization conditions. The former originated from a weakly differentiated water-undersaturated melt, which crystallized at medium depths (P_tot = 3–4 kbar). The crystallization was unaccompanied by considerable accumulation of granitophile elements (the concentration index (CI) of granitophile elements is ~3) in the leucogranites, except the alaskites, which crystallized in the upper part of the magma chamber (CI = 5). The Trekhgolovyi pluton originated from a leucogranitic melt enriched in Cs, Li, Rb, and Sn, which crystallized at a low P_tot (~2 kbar). The average contents of some elements in the leucogranites are higher than their clarkes in Ca-poor granites: by a factor of 4 for Sn, 3.8 for Th, 2.7 for Rb, 2.5 for Cs, and 2 for F (CI ≈ 9). The final-stage granites in the Trekhgolovyi pluton are associated with quartz-muscovitic (±topaz, fluorite) greisens, which contain cassiterite, columbite, ilmenorutile, wolframite, bismuthinite, and other minerals. The data suggest that the Trekhgolovyi pluton has a Sn potential.     

Epigenetic Graphitization in the Basement of the Siberian Craton as Evidence of the Migration of Hydrocarbon-enriched Fluids in the Paleoproterozoic

Doklady Earth Sciences - This paper reports on diagnostic and structural studies that were first carried out for carbonaceous material of quartz–muscovite dynamoschists from the schistosity...     

Accessory minerals from the Primorsky rapakivi granite complex, West Baikal Region

The composition of accessory minerals from granites of the second phase, quartz-muscovite (+fluorite), and quartz-muscovite-topaz greisens from the Primorsky rapakivi granite complex, West Baikal region, were studied using backscattered scanning electron microscopy. Ilmenite from granites contains inclusions of cassiterite, titanocolumbite, fergusonite-(Y), polycrase-(Y), and betafite. Allanite-(Ce), bastnaesite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y), Y- and Zr-thorite, zircon, and cyrtolite have been identified in granites. Greisens contain cassiterite, ferrocolumbite (Ta/Nb = 0.02−0.06), pyrochlore-group minerals, ilmenorutile, rutile, wolframite, polycrase-(Y), monazite-(Ce), fluocerite-(Ce), bastnaesite-(Ce), cerphosphorhuttonite, thorite, and other minerals. The ferrocolumbite + ilmenorutile assemblage is typical of quartz-muscovite greisen, whereas the rutile + ilmenorutile + wolframite + W-columbite assemblage is contained in the quartzmuscovite-topaz greisen as a result of an increase in Eh and decrease in pH and potassium activity of solution in the back zone. The compositions of Th- and REE-bearing minerals indicate the important role of phosphate and fluorine complexes in the transport of these elements.     

Variation of the Lake Khanka level in the late Holocene,primorye

New data on the evolution of Lake Khanka and the formation of onshore bars at its western coast in the late Holocene are discussed in the paper. The late Subatlantic age of the bars and climatic conditions of their formation have been established. In the middle Holocene (SA II), the climate was warm and Lake Khanka was in the transgressive phase. Its level was 0.8–1 m higher than at present. At the end of the Subatlantic period (SA III), when the climatic conditions were cooler, regression of the lake began and continues up to now. The spore-pollen samples of different genesis taken near the studied section were examined for the more reliable interpretation of paleoclimatic events.     

Holocene Dynamics of the East-Asian Monsoon in the Lower Amur Area

The spatial and temporal dynamics of monsoon in the Holocene has been reconstructed for the Lower Amur area. Four stages of cooling are determined (10300–10800, 8000–8300, 4200–4600 and 2500 yrs. ago). During these periods the intensity of the summer monsoon was weakest. The conventional northern boundary of monsoon influence moved from 54 to 48o N. Two retrospective scenarios of the interaction versions of interaction of seasonal atmospheric centers are suggested, which had influence on the dynamics of the cyclone process over the southern part of the Far East in the Holocene. The cyclones attenuated as a result of frequently recurring long-lasting periods of an increase in pressure in the region of the summer Far-Eastern and Asian depressions, and a decrease in pressure over the Sea of Okhotsk as well as the displacement of the center of the Okhotsk anticyclone toward southern latitudes, which was often in a quasi-stationary state blocking the passage of cyclones to the southern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. In either case, the cyclones were forced away to lower latitudes and intensified over northern and eastern regions of China. The two scenarios could work both synchronously and metachronously.