I A Komogortseva¹

¹ Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 16a, Nedorezova, Chita, 672002, Russia

Abstract

The results of the research on the water mineralization, the mineral composition, ash content, and organic matter content of bottom sediments of stagnant saline lakes in Southeastern Transbaikalia are presented. It has been established that various ratios of feldspar, quartz, hydroxyl compounds, and carbonate minerals are universally found in the sediments. Sediments on the bottom contain a small amount of organic matter, which classifies them as highly siliceous, consisting mainly of sand and clay minerals. Changes in the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of bottom sediments at different depths indicate changes in the hydrological regime of the studied lakes and water mineralization in these lakes over time.