Hydrothermal activity in the Baikal rift zone: Recent hot springs and deposits of paleothermal waters

Study of the distribution of elements between a cyanobacterial community and a carbonate body of a hot spring via synchrotron XRF analysis

“…The hot springs within this zone are concentrated in the N E trending zone [3] where there are deposits of paleothermal waters [4]. The large present carbonate body is now only forming at the Garga spring (Barguzin Valley) and is traditionally called a "travertine" [5], although some researchers consider that the cyanobacterial community plays a determinant role in the formation of the body [6].…”

Late Quaternary high-temperature geyserites in the Ol’khon area, Baikal rift zone: Petrography, mineralogy, chemical composition, and genesis

“…The geyserites in the Ol'khon area are a dense fine grained siliceous (opal like) rocks, whose color ranges from various hues of brown to whitish (Sklyarov et al, 2004(Sklyarov et al, , 2007. More than 100 geyserite outcrops are now known in the Ol'khon area (Fig.…”

“…1). Recently geyserites of Late Quaternary age were also found in the Ol'khon area (Sklyarov et al, 2004(Sklyarov et al, , 2007.…”

Mineralogy and crystal chemistry of carbonates in modern sediments of shallow lakes of Olkhon area (Baikal region)

“…Olkhon area is an elevated stony plateau separated from the continent by the Primorskii Ridge, which, being a natural barrier in the path of western cyclones, stimulates the high aridity of the climate in the region and the formation of a steppe landscape (Tazheran steppe). Numerous closed Tazheran lakes have a tec tonic nature and are located within the tensile struc tures controlled by displacements (pull apart disloca tions) formed at the early stages of the Baikal rift evo lution [8,9]. Such structures drain deep crustal horizons and provide a favorable, relatively long term feeding with underground waters to lakes.…”

“…The studied lakes located compactly within the stony plateau under arid conditions are characterized by a single geological-geochemical landscape and the same feeding source [8,9]. The variability in the hydrogeochemistry of lake waters (Table 1) is basically controlled by the processes of metamorphization of feeding underground waters, because the composition of rocks in the water drainage basins is almost the same for all lakes.…”