Russian Journal of Earth Sciences Russian Journal of Earth Sciences Russian Journal of Earth Sciences 1681-1208 81167 10.2205/2025ES001028 jycogr ОРИГИНАЛЬНЫЕ СТАТЬИ ORIGINAL ARTICLES ОРИГИНАЛЬНЫЕ СТАТЬИ Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Organic-Mineral Bottom Sediment of Small Lakes in the Middle Mountains of the Russian Altai: A Case Study of the Chibitka Lake System Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Organic-Mineral Bottom Sediment of Small Lakes in the Middle Mountains of the Russian Altai: A Case Study of the Chibitka Lake System https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4920-8860 Овдина Екатерина Андреевна Ovdina Ekaterina Andreevna ovdina@igm.nsc.ru

кандидат геолого-минералогических наук;

candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences;

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1350-2045 Страховенко Вера Дмитриевна Strakhovenko Vera Dmitrievna strahova@igm.nsc.ru

доктор геолого-минералогических наук;

doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences;

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4150-4171 Малов Георгий Игоревич Malov Georgy Igorevich malovgi@igm.nsc.ru https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2175-3971 Малов Виктор Игоревич Malov Viktor Igorevich malov@igm.nsc.ru

кандидат геолого-минералогических наук;

candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences;

 Институт геологии и минералогии им. В.С.Соболева СО РАН Новосибирск Россия Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk Russian Federation Институт геологии и минералогии им. В.С.Соболева СО РАН Новосибирск Россия Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk Russian Federation Институт геологии и минералогии им. В.С.Соболева СО РАН Новосибирск Россия Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk Russian Federation Институт геологии и минералогии им. В.С.Соболева СО РАН Новосибирск Россия Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk Russian Federation 24 10 2025 24 10 2025 25 5 ES5017 11 04 2024 04 06 2025 https://rjes.ru/en/nauka/article/81167/view

The article introduces the first geochemical and mineralogical data regarding the organicmineral bottom sediment in the small middle mountain lakes (Chibitka Lake system, Russian Altai). The lacustrine sediments are sapropel and mineral silt, which are formed in the nival type of lithogenesis (cryolithogenesis). Sapropel is categorized into three types based on ash content (A, %): organic-mineral (42–46), mineral-organic (66), and mineralized (81) and primarily belongs to the silicon class and macrophytic species. The bottom sediment geochemistry is impacted by cryolithogenesis processes, reflecting the composition of the soil-forming substrate and the soils within the catchment area. Based on an initial assessment of heavy metals (mg/kg) – Cd (0.044–0.159), Pb (7–34), Hg (0.047–0.197), trace elements (mg/kg) – Cu (26–71), Mn (0.03–0.04), Cr (56–83), Co (7–13), Ni (34–52), technogenic 137Cs (32–154 Bq/kg) and the total effective specific activity of natural radionuclides (Ac – 5.5–14.8 Bq/kg), sapropels belong to the first class of suitability in accordance with GOST (the Russian interstate system of technical standards). The presence of authigenic low-Mg calcite, gypsum, and halite has been identified in the bottom sediment of freshwater Lake Biryuzovoe. The formation of these minerals is a result of various factors influenced by the cryolithogenesis, such as shallow depth, ice thickness, cryogenic concentration, and HCO3 – Ca water composition with a high SO4 content.

The article introduces the first geochemical and mineralogical data regarding the organicmineral bottom sediment in the small middle mountain lakes (Chibitka Lake system, Russian Altai). The lacustrine sediments are sapropel and mineral silt, which are formed in the nival type of lithogenesis (cryolithogenesis). Sapropel is categorized into three types based on ash content (A, %): organic-mineral (42–46), mineral-organic (66), and mineralized (81) and primarily belongs to the silicon class and macrophytic species. The bottom sediment geochemistry is impacted by cryolithogenesis processes, reflecting the composition of the soil-forming substrate and the soils within the catchment area. Based on an initial assessment of heavy metals (mg/kg) – Cd (0.044–0.159), Pb (7–34), Hg (0.047–0.197), trace elements (mg/kg) – Cu (26–71), Mn (0.03–0.04), Cr (56–83), Co (7–13), Ni (34–52), technogenic 137Cs (32–154 Bq/kg) and the total effective specific activity of natural radionuclides (Ac – 5.5–14.8 Bq/kg), sapropels belong to the first class of suitability in accordance with GOST (the Russian interstate system of technical standards). The presence of authigenic low-Mg calcite, gypsum, and halite has been identified in the bottom sediment of freshwater Lake Biryuzovoe. The formation of these minerals is a result of various factors influenced by the cryolithogenesis, such as shallow depth, ice thickness, cryogenic concentration, and HCO3 – Ca water composition with a high SO4 content.

 sapropel small lakes nival type of lithogenesis authigenic minerals Russian Altai sapropel small lakes nival type of lithogenesis authigenic minerals Russian Altai The authors express profound appreciation to the researchers and analysts at the V. S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS, for their contributions to the expedition and analytical work. We also appreciate the anonymous Reviewers' thorough review of the manuscript and valuable feedback. Furthermore, we thank the responsible secretary, N. Kareva, for the highly professional assistance throughout this process. Work is done with financial support from the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23- 27-00111 (completed) and on state assignment of IGM SB RAS (No. 122041400193-7) with financial support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. The authors express profound appreciation to the researchers and analysts at the V. S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS, for their contributions to the expedition and analytical work. We also appreciate the anonymous Reviewers' thorough review of the manuscript and valuable feedback. Furthermore, we thank the responsible secretary, N. Kareva, for the highly professional assistance throughout this process. Work is done with financial support from the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-27-00111 (completed) and on state assignment of IGM SB RAS (No. 122041400193-7) with financial support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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