Vol 56, No 4 (2018)

The geodynamic nature of the Late Neoproterozoic island-arc dacites (691 ± 8.8 Ma) and rift basalts (572 ± 6.5 Ma) of the Kiselikhinskaya Formation, Kutukasskaya Group, in the Isakovskii terrane is inferred from geochemical data and U–Pb zircon (SHRIMP-II) dates. The volcanic rocks were produced during the late evolutionary history of the Yenisei Range, starting at the origin of oceanic crustal fragments and their accretion to the Siberian craton to the postaccretionary crustal extension and the onset of the Caledonian orogenesis. The reproduced sequence of geological processes marks the early evolution of the Paleo- Asian Ocean in its junction zone with the Siberian craton. The data refine the composition and age of volcanic rocks in the trans-Angara part of the Yenisei Range and specifics of the Neoproterozoic evolution of the Sayan–Yenisei accretionary belt.

Specific responses of plants and animals to changes in the contents of microelements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Se, etc.) in abiotic environmental components of the Ardon River Basin (North Ossetia) were studied by new biogeochemical indication methods. In comparison to background areas, a local increase in the Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and As contents in soils and organisms occurs under the impact of natural and technogenic factors. The heavy metal contents in Ardon River water are generally within hygienic norms. Activation of sulfurcontaining synthesis in the leaves of willow, sea buckthorn, and coltsfoot was revealed for the maximum heavy metal content in soils. On plots adjacent to the Unal tailing dump, the contents of pigments and their proportions in leaves of coltsfoot, dandelion, and willow do not differ from those in less contaminated areas. On technogenic plots, the species richness of plants decreases, as well as the mowed biomass and projective cover of herbaceous plants (to 40%); inhibition of plant growth, chlorosis, necrosis, and lamina deformation are observed. A new metallophyte species (Cladochaeta candidissima M. Bieb.) was revealed. The increase in lead and arsenic contents in soils and plants of the Ardon floodplain is accompanied by an increase in their concentrations in the blood and hair of animals.

Organogenic sediments (sapropels) in lakes are characterized by a reduced type of diagenesis, during which organic compounds are decomposed, the chemical composition of the pore waters is modified, and authigenic minerals (first of all, pyrite) are formed. Pyrolysis data indicate that organic matter undergoes radical transformatons already in the uppermost sapropel layers, and the composition of this organic matter is principally different from the composition of the organic matter of the its producers. The sapropels contain kerogen, whose macromolecular structure starts to develop during the very early stages of diagenesis, in the horizon of unconsolidated sediment (0–5 cm). The main role in the diagenetic transformations of organic matter in sediments is played by various physiological groups of microorganisms, first of all, heterotrophic, which amonifying, and sulfate-reducing bacteria. SO₄²⁻ and Fe²⁺ concentrations in the pore waters of the sediments are determined to decrease (because of bacterial sulfate reduction), while concentrations of reduced Fe and S species (pyrite) in the solid phase of the sediment, conversely, increase. Comparative analysis shows that, unlike sapropels in lakes in the Baikal area, sapropels in southern West Siberia are affected by more active sulfate reduction, which can depend on both the composition of the organic matter and the SO₄²⁻ concentration in the pore waters.

This paper reports the results of chemical study of bottom sediments of the Zeya and Selemdzha rivers, the largest water streams of the Amur River basin. It was established that the bottom sediments are depleted in practically all analyzed major and trace elements as compared to the upper continental crust (UCC) and Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS). It is shown that the bottom sediments of the studied rivers are chemically close to those of the Northeastern China rivers, which is related to the similar geographical and climatic environments. Examination of major-component proportions and trace-element variations suggests that the bottom sediments of the middle reaches of the Zeya River were formed from chemically reworked sources. In contrast, the bottom sediments of the lower reaches of the Zeya and Selemdzha rivers are dominated by physically reworked rather than chemically reworked materials. It is suggested that the bottom sediments of the Zeya River downstream the mouth of the Selemdzha River were formed from material, which was supplied by the Selemdzha River and determined the main geochemical characteristics of the bottom sediments of the lower reaches of the Zeya River. This is presumably related to the fact that the upper reaches of the Selemdzha River is located mainly within the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt, the complexes of which experienced intense tectonic shearing and brecciation. For this reason, the bottom sediments of the Selemdzha River are mainly dominated by physically reworked rather than by chemically reworked material.