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Russian Geology and Geophysics

2007 year, number 4

RESULTS OF RESEARCH INTO HOLOCENE SEDIMENTS OF THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL BASINS OF LAKE BAIKAL (BDP-97 and short cores)

E.G. Vologina a , S.A. Kashik a , M. Sturm b , S.S. Vorob'eva c , T.K. Lomonosova a ,I.A. Kalashnikova a , T.I. Khramtsova a , S.Yu. Toshchakova
a Institute of the Earth's Crust, Siberian Branch of the RAS, 128 ul. Lermontova, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
b EAWAG, CH-8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
c Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the RAS, POB 4199, 3 ul. Ulanbatorskaya, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
Keywords: Bottom sediments; turbidites; minerals; diatoms; grain size; magnetic susceptibility; Lake Baikal
Pages: 312-322

Abstract

Results of investigations of Baikal bottom sediments from a long core (BDP-97) and several short (0-1 m) cores are presented. It has been shown that the Holocene sediments in the Baikal basins consist of biogenic-terrigenous muds, accumulated under calm sedimentation conditions, and of turbidites, formed during catastrophic events. The turbidites can be distinguished from the host sediments by their enrichment in heavy minerals and thus their high magnetic susceptibility. Often, Pliocene and Pleistocene diatom species observed in the Holocene sediments (mainly in the turbidites) point to redeposition of ancient offshore sediments. Our results indicate that deltas, littoral zones, and continental slopes are the source areas of turbidites. The fact that the turbidites occur far from their sources confirms the existence of high-energy turbidity currents responsible for long-distance lateral-sediment transport to the deep basin planes of the lake.