Formation conditions of thermal springs in the Barguzin-Baikal area: Evidence from trace element and isotopic composition

Based on the relations between the chemical properties of elements, the formation conditions of thermal springs, and the geologic structure of the area, the main factors controlling the geochemistry of local fissure-vein waters were determined. Our results suggest that the most important factors are the temperature gradient and intensity of water exchange, which exert a fluctuating influence on the chemical composition of waters from different parts of the area. The chemical composition of hydrothermal waters provides insight into the geologic evolution of the region and conditions of water-rock interaction. It was shown that hydrochemical parameters can be used to refine the temperature of water heating, to rank springs by the duration of water-rock interaction, to establish the relative age and depth of faults that served as pathways for thermal water discharge, and to determine the geochemical conditions of water migration. The data reported in this paper demonstrate that fault-related mineralization formed during intense volcanic activity at the early stage of Baikal rift development affected the chemical composition of thermal springs.