Formation of Biogeochemical Anomalies in the Baksan River Basin

Ermakov, V. V.; Tyutikov, S. F.; Degtyarev, A. N.; Danilova, V. N.; Gulyaeva, Uliana; Dogadkin, D. N.

doi:10.1134/s0016702920100067

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Transfer of sediments affects the pollution status of soils at the nearest foothill areas, where in our case the concentrations of some trace elements show mostly moderate contamination, decreasing when moving away from the glaciers. It was noted [26] that the highest concentration of Cu in water in this region was found in the mouth of the Baksan river and this trace element is accumulated downstream in Entisols. Our results revealed that KB4 study point, which is the nearest to the Garabashi glacier, shows the highest contamination level among soils while it decreases at more remote KB5 study point.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

et al. 2021

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Determination of geochemical and microbiological properties of the cryoconite, related types of sediments and periglacial soils is essential to investigate impact of glaciers on terrains development at the Central Caucasus region. The studied sediments were sampled at the Garabashi and Skhelda glaciers as well as in vertical sections of local soils at the Baksan gorge. Sampled materials were investigated in terms of physicochemical parameters and nutritional state. The trace elements concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd) were also evaluated in samples selected. The data obtained shows much higher content of organic carbon in soils (up to 7.82%) in comparison with cryoconite (max. 1.63%) due to the effect of superficial vegetation cover, however, rates of microbial activity were similar between some samples of sediments and soils. The analysis of the particle size distribution shows a similarity of the studied materials: in almost all samples, there is a dominance of the sand fraction. Cryoconite sediments on both of the above-mentioned glaciers are found as enriched with phosphorus, essential values of potassium (298 mg/kg in K2O units) and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4 - max. 247 mg*kg) are identified at Garabashi glacier which could be a result of long-distant transfer and anthropogenic activity. The highest content among trace elements was identified for Zn (62 mg*kg for cryoconite and 60.5 mg*kg for soils), the most contaminated materials were sediments from Garabashi glacier and Entisols, up to moderate level, which is mostly associated with anthropogenic activity. Thus, development of tourism in the Central Caucasus, which is mostly associated with construction and transport, affects the pollution status of supraglacial sediments and periglacial soils as well as their agrochemical and microbiological features.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

et al. 2021

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“…On the other hand, contaminated cryoconite material is transferred to local soils through water streams. It was noted (Ermakov et al 2020) that the highest concentration of Cu in water in this region was found in the mouth of the Baksan river and this trace element is accumulated downstream in Entisols. Our results revealed that KB4 study point, which was the nearest to Garabashi glacier, shows the highest contamination level among soils while it decreases at more remote KB5 study point.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Geochemistry of cryoconite and soils in the Central Caucasus region and its environmental implications

et al. 2021

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“…The fundamental statistical analyses provide a quantitative method for hydrogeochemical process identification. A review of the scientific literature (e.g., [11][12][13], etc.) showed that most chemical analyses of waters contain fragmentary data (do not contain pH, Eh, TDS, HCO 3 , W, and Mo).…”

Section: Geochemical Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the past few decades, a lot of isotope-geochemical data has been accumulated on both surface and underground waters of the Elbrus region and the Greater Caucasus. The ecological problems of the Baksan River and the spread of soil pollution by mining and processing waste were studied by many authors (e.g., [2,[11][12][13][14]). Elevated concentrations of trace elements were also pointed out in the CO 2 -rich mineral springs [15][16][17], which are widespread within the area and inflow into the Baksan River.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxic Element Contamination Sources in the Surface and Groundwater of the Elbrus Region: Geochemistry and Health Risks

Chelnokov,

Lavrushin,

Ermakov

et al. 2024

Water

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The region surrounding the Elbrus volcano in the Great Caucasus is a popular tourist destination, home to native people and an area of the richest ore mineral resources. Based on the chemical composition of surface water, mineral, and groundwater in the Elbrus area, as well as statistical and thermodynamic calculations, waters with high concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Ba, W, Pb, and As were identified, possible mineral phases that may lead to these metal concentrations in water were estimated, and risks to human health were assessed. Two main sources of surface water pollution have been identified: (1) water from tailings that are enriched due to oxidation of sulfide minerals is considered a source of As (181 µg/L) and Mo (2070 µg/L) pollution in the area of the Tyrnyauz W-Mo deposit; and (2) CO2-rich waters of deep horizons discharge on the earth surface with high concentrations of As (828 µg/L) and W (504 µg/L). It has been shown that compared to all toxic elements studied, only Mo and As have adverse non-carcinogenic effects on adult health. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As in the mine area was 1.7 × 10−3 and exceeded the generally accepted range of 10−4 to 10−6. In order to minimize the health risks, regular monitoring of water quality is required when mining activities on the Tyrnyauz W-Mo deposit are renewed.

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Formation of Biogeochemical Anomalies in the Baksan River Basin

Cited by 8 publications

References 7 publications

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

Geochemistry of cryoconite and soils in the Central Caucasus region and its environmental implications

Toxic Element Contamination Sources in the Surface and Groundwater of the Elbrus Region: Geochemistry and Health Risks

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