Texture of the Bureya River bottom sediments in the area of the Lower Bureya HPP

Abstract

The texture of bottom sediments of the Bureya River and its tributaries in the region of the Lower Bureya HPP is studied by sieve analysis, laser diffractometry, optical microscopy, and X-ray fluorimetry. It is found that the texture of sediments in the studied area varies from pebble to silt. Sediments of the Bureya River tributaries mainly consist of fine earth (particle diameter <2 mm). Fine earth in the Bureya River is more transformed, sorted, and represented by significantly smaller particles than in the tributaries. In contrast to bottom sediments, suspension sediments are similar in particle size. The studies reveal that the bottom sediment composition corresponds to the genesis of the river basin rocks, although differences in the bulk composition of sediments are not observed on the texture level.