We characterize apatite from the Slyudyanka deposit (Central Asian Orogenic Belt near the southern end of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia) for use as a new apatite reference material for elemental microanalysis. This apatite (SlyudAP) is a gem-quality crystal, with high concentrations of Sr, Th, and As, and intermediate concentrations of rare earth elements (REE). The following analytical methods were used for the characterization of the apatite sample: wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) for major elements, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after digestion and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry for trace elements, and isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) for U/Pb dating. Spatial homogeneity of SlyudAP was confirmed for major elements by SEM-EDS with RSD < 7% and for trace elements at the mu m scale by LA-ICP-MS mapping with combined spatial uncertainty Uc< 8% for most elements. Some minor inclusions of barite, which are located along cracks and can be simply avoided, have been found by SEM-EDS in only one of the eleven crystals. A comprehensive ANOVA performed on key elements (Sr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Th, U, Pb) from bulk analysis of multiple fragments showed p-values >0.05 for all elements except Th, indicating no statistically significant evidence of between-fragment heterogeneity at the 95% confidence level. Interlaboratory LA-ICP-MS tests by six laboratories demonstrated good convergence. Based on comprehensive homogeneity testing and interlaboratory comparison, SlyudAP demonstrates sufficient homogeneity for use as a matrix-matched secondary standard for LA-ICP-MS analysis. Suggested and recommended values for SlyudAP are provided.

New constraints on local geology, geochemistry, and geochronology (LA-ICP-MS U-Pb detrital zircon ages) have been obtained for metamorphic clastic rocks assigned previously to the Khargitui Formation, presumably the oldest clastic rocks in the Sarma segment of the Akitkan orogenic belt in the southern Siberian craton. The new data reveal three units of rocks formed at different stages of the Akitkan orogen evolution. Unit 1 includes mainly leucocratic gneisses derived from 2.7-2.5 Ga polymictic sandstones or graywackes. These sediments were deposited upon the basement of the Sarma terrane composed of 2.88 Ga TTG granitoids that became the source of clastic material. Unit 2 consists of quartzite and schists produced by metamorphism of quartz and polymictic sandstones and siltstones. Judging by the ages of detrital zircons from mica-quartz schists, along with the age of metamorphism, the deposition of the sedimentary protoliths lasted from 2.15 to 1.95 Ga. It was maintained by destruction of felsic rocks within the Sarma terrane prior to the collisional event that led to the formation of the Akitkan orogen. Unit 3 likewise includes quartzites and schists but those derived from more mature sediments. The clastic material predominantly originated from 1.88-1.84 Ga rocks of the South Siberian magmatic belt and was deposited in intracontinental basins between 1.00 and 0.72 Ga, after the assembly of the Siberian craton. Synthesis of new and published data for the Sarma rocks allow tracing the Archean-Proterozoic history of the Akitkan orogen, including the pre-and post-orogenic stages of its development.

Apatite is a key indicator mineral whose chemical signature can reveal the genesis and evolution of ore-forming systems. However, correctly interpreting these signatures requires a robust discrimination between apatite types formed by different geological processes, such as metamorphism and hydrothermal activity. This study aims to chemically characterize and genetically classify apatite samples from the Slyudyanka deposit (Siberia, Russia) to establish discriminative geochemical fingerprints for metamorphic and hydrothermal apatite types. We analyzed 80 samples of apatite using total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The geochemical data were processed using principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means cluster analysis to objectively discriminate the apatite types. Our analysis reveals three distinct geochemical groups. Metamorphic veinlet apatite is defined by high U and Pb, low REE, Sr, and Th, and suprachondritic Y/Ho ratios. Massive metamorphic apatite from silicate–carbonate rocks shows extreme REE enrichment and chondritic Y/Ho ratios. Hydrothermal–metasomatic apatite features high Sr, Th, and As, with intermediate REE concentrations and chondritic Y/Ho ratios. Furthermore, we validated the critical and anomalous Y concentrations in the metamorphic veinlet apatite by cross-referencing TXRF and ICP-MS data, confirming the reliability of our measurements for this monoisotopic element. We successfully established diagnostic geochemical fingerprints that distinguish apatite formed in different geological environments at Slyudyanka. The anomalous Y/Ho ratio in metamorphic veinlet apatite serves as a key discriminant and provides insight into specific fractionation processes that occurred during the formation of phosphorites in oceanic environments, which later transformed to apatites during high-grade metamorphism without a change in the Y/Ho ratio. This work underscores the importance of multi-method analytical validation for accurate geochemical classification.

The Vitim volcanic field, comprising Cenozoic basaltic lava flows associated with the Baikal Rift volcanism, contains abundant mantle xenoliths that offer insights into the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the region. This study investigates the mineralogical and geochemical compositions of these mantle xenoliths, entrained in Miocene and Pleistocene basalts. The xenoliths, predominantly garnet-, spinel-, and garnet-spinel-bearing lherzolites, exhibit high modal content of clinopyroxene and low fosterite content of olivine, suggesting a relatively fertile SCLM. Distinct variations in CaO and Al2O3 observed in spongy rims and cores of clinopyroxenes likely result from decompression-induced partial melting. Trace element patterns of clinopyroxene reveal three types: light rare-earth elements (LREE) depleted, LREE enriched, and transitional LREE types. Whole-rock trace element compositions of the four Vitim lherzolites showing flat to LREE and large ion lithophile elements enrichments are entirely consistent with those of their clinopyroxenes. The LREE depleted type indicates that these lherzolites were residual mantle after melt extraction, whereas the LREE enriched type suggests that they were metasomatized after residual mantle formed by partial melting. The transitional LREE type showing in-between features among the above two end-members could represent that those lherzolite underwent less or incomplete metasomatism, thus clinopyroxene cores still retain primary depleted LREE type feature of residual mantle. Most Vitim lherzolites were affected by cryptic metasomatism with less stealth metasomatism, whereas only those with secondary amphibole and apatite could be influenced by modal metasomatism. The lithospheric mantle beath the Vitim volcanic field representing by these lherzolites was metasomatized predominantly by hydrous fluids with minor silicate melts. Using the clinopyroxene melting model, it was found that most Vitim lherzolites have experienced <10% partial melting. Geothermal gradients estimated from mineral geothermobarometry indicate that lherzolites in the Pleistocene basalts equilibrated at shallower depths with higher temperatures compared to those in the Miocene basalts with deeper depths and lower temperatures. SrNd isotopic ratios, combined with previous results (Ionov et al., 2005), demonstrate that the Miocene lherzolites have a broader range from depleted to enriched components, whereas lherzolites in the Pleistocene basalts show lesser enrichment. It is proposed that the Pleistocene basalts captured shallower SCLM lherzolites experienced less degrees of melt metasomatism than those deeper SCLM lherzolites hosted by Miocene basalts. Considering the deeper SCLM is more vulnerable to metasomatism by ascending melts, such temporal and geochemical variation further emphasizes progressive asthenosphere upwelling beneath the Vitim region from the Miocene to Pleistocene time.

The study was aimed at dating of Au ores from the Yubileinoe, Irokinda and Uryakh deposits located in the Baikal-Muya fold belt and Pb-Zn ores from the Ozernoe deposit in the Barguzin-Vitim super-terrain (Transbaikalia, Russia). The 40Ar/39Ar ages on pyrite-encapsulated sericite of gold-bearing quartz sampled from veins in the Yubileinoe, Irokinda and Uryakh deposits are 265 ± 33 Ma, 276 ± 13 Ma and 287 ± 7 Ma, respectively. The age of disseminated mineralisation in the Ozernoe deposit is 329 ± 19 Ma. The results of this study and previously published data suggest two stages of ore mineralisation at Transbaikalia: 330–320 Ma for the disseminated mineralisation and 290–270 Ma for the vein mineralisation. Irrespective of the location and the nature of the host rocks, the former and the latter mineralisation are transiently associated with the initial and final stages of the emplacement of the Angara-Vitim granitic batholith. The granitoids provided heat and possibly fluids, while Au, Pb and Zn were sourced from the host rocks. Gold deposits to the north and south of the batholith are generally older and younger, respectively, and were formed by different geological processes.

It is frequently proposed that large bolide impacts and voluminous volcanic eruptions may be responsible for environmental catastrophes. In the conventional approach, the potential causes and consequences are matched using an age-versus-age plot, with preferential ages selected for comparison. This approach inevitably results in a one-to-one correlation, which may be misleading. To address this issue, a novel statistical metric, named concordance, has been proposed which accounts for the possibility of age coincidence resulting from random processes (i.e. bad luck coincidence). The available and updated geochronological datasets of bolide impacts, large igneous provinces, CO2-concentration peaks in the atmosphere, mass extinctions, ocean anoxic events, and climatic optima and thermal highs were subjected to a comparison in terms of their concordance. The most significant discovery is the correlation between the ages of mass extinctions and those of giant bolide impacts (crater diameter >40 km), as well as volcanism of continental large igneous provinces and CO2-concentration peaks in the atmosphere. The severity of mass extinctions appears to be dependent upon the number of simultaneously occurring causes. The most pronounced Late Maastrichtian ( 66 Ma) and Changhsingian ( 252 Ma) mass extinctions were likely caused by a combination of factors, including the simultaneous occurrence of volcanism of continental large igneous provinces, giant bolide impact and CO2-concentration rise in the atmosphere. Conversely, the ages of large igneous provinces, bolide impacts and CO2-concentration peaks are not correlated, indicating that these three causes were not interdependent.

The impact of environmental change is intensively studied in the marine realm, whereby only few studies focus on continental sediment archives. Precise correlation of marine and continental sediment archives is complicated, but essential to understand early Toarcian environmental dynamics. The early Toarcian global warming was accompanied by broad volcanism, major marine transgression, and oxygen deficiency in the ocean. The environmental change impacted marine and continental ecosystems. Correlation of marine and continental sections from Western Siberia is based on coeval changes in the microfauna, palynomorphs, and macroflora during the early Toarcian. In Kuznetsk, Kansk, and Irkutsk continental coal-bearing basins of the Siberian realm, the stratigraphic position of the early Toarcian climatic optimum is debated. Thermophilic palynomorphs from palynozone 6 do not correlate with macroflora composition, which does not reflect environmental changes. The Toarcian warming is well expressed in palynomorph assemblages, but not in the macroflora. However, the general evolutionary trends of the Siberian groups of spore plants and gymnosperms (Coniopteris, Ginkgoales, and Leptostrobales) allow us to correlate the palynological and palaeobotanical assemblages from the Prisayan Formation of the Irkutsk Basin to the stratigraphic scheme of Western Siberia. This study may be useful for interregional correlations between the Jurassic continental deposits of the Irkutsk, Kuznetsk, and Kansk basins.

The relative contributions of asthenospheric mantle, lithospheric mantle, and continental crust in the genesis of the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province (ST-LIP) remain poorly constrained. Most models invoke partial melting of asthenospheric mantle within a mantle plume with an inventory of recycled crustal material, with or without melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and crustal contamination during ascend through the continental lithosphere. A greater understanding of this topic is of fundamental importance because the ST-LIP basalts are associated with the large Permian-Triassic extinction and the world's largest magmatic Ni-Cu-platinum group element sulfide resources (Ni-Cu-PGE), the Norilsk-Talnakh mining camp. The similar to 250 +/- 2 Ma Siberian Traps at Norilsk contain a classic sequence of basaltic rocks that provide a spatial and stratigraphic context for changing chemistry of the eruptive products. We present a detailed geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf-Mo isotopic investigation of ST-LIP volcanic rocks and associated sedimentary rocks, including coal and anhydrite, from the Norilsk area. The Mo-98/Mo-95 isotope ratios (reported as delta Mo-98 ratio relative to NIST SRM 3134) vary significantly from -0.62 to 0.07 parts per thousand for the older basalt formations and -0.41 to 0.03 parts per thousand for the younger basalt formations. The range of delta Mo-98 and its correlation with the other geochemical tracers cannot be explained by post-magmatic alteration, magmatic differentiation, or sulfide fractionation as Mo behaves as a lithophile element under these magmatic conditions. We suggest that the delta Mo-98 range can be explained by interaction of the plume with subcontinental lithospheric mantle modified by subduction processes. This is particularly prominent in the earlier Ivakinsky to Gudchikhinsky formations where light delta Mo-98 values coupled with low Mo/Ce can be explained by contributions from a dehydrated eclogitic component, whereas more rare heavy delta Mo-98 values and high Mo/Ce likely require contributions from a fluid metasomatized mantle source. Later magmas of the Nadezhdinsky formation show clear evidence of crustal contamination in their combined Mo-Sr-Nd-Hf isotope and trace element systematics, while the later more voluminous Morongovsky type magmas are shallower, large degree melts with limited crustal interaction. Our data shows the usefulness of Mo isotopes in deciphering magma sources of large igneous provinces eruptions.

The Early Cretaceous topographic evolution of Transbaikalia was largely governed by the tectonic evolution of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogen. The collapse of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogen triggered the formation of metamorphic core complexes and associated extensional basins, widespread throughout Transbaikalia, North Mongolia, and North China. Numerous lithofacies and biostratigraphic studies have been carried out from the sedimentary deposits of the Transbaikalia basins. However, the absence of absolute ages for the sedimentary series, as well as sediment source-to-sink analysis do not allow to accurately characterize the regional topographic evolution. We focused our study on the Gusinoozersk Basin of Western Transbaikalia, where extensive sedimentary sections of Lower Cretaceous deposits have been preserved. We provide new U/Pb (LA-ICP-MS) data on detrital zircons from sedimentary series and 40Ar/39Ar data on intruding rocks. We review the paleontological data to clarify the age of the paleogeographic events associated with the collapse of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogen, as well as to correct the age of faunal complexes in Western Transbaikalia. Our geochronological results show that the formation of the Cretaceous basins of Transbaikalia began around 136–130 Ma, accompanying the main episode of extension associated with the exhumation of the metamorphic core complexes. The lowest coarse-clastic formation characterizes the rapid subsidence and the predominance of proximal sediment sources. Distal provinces also made a contribution to sedimentation indicating the rise of a positive topography characterizing the exhumation of the metamorphic core complexes. Overlying fine-grained formations indicate a significant smoothing of the topography, suggesting that from middle Aptian, Western Transbaikalia developed in a relatively calm tectonic regime. We also show that the basins of Transbaikalia were formed both in conjunction with the exhumation of metamorphic cores complexes and reactivated structural sutures. Revised data on dinosaur fauna and palynology, together with the dating of host deposits, provide insights on the Early Cretaceous paleoenvironmental evolution.

We present the first systematic results of U-Pb LA-ICP-MS dating of detrital zircons from 12 samples representing different stratigraphic levels of 5 sections of the Permian-Triassic rocks, located within the eastern part of the Moscow basin (syneclise) – Zhukov ravine, Astashikha, Nedubrovo, Balebikha and Klykovo. It is shown that the accumulation of the Upper Permian and Lower Triassic terrigenous complexes occurred under the influence of competing sources with two contrasting provenance signals with Neoproterozoic (Vendian)-Paleozoic and Paleo-Mesoproterozoic ages. The identified provenance signal patterns were used to detail the correlation and stratigraphic subdivision of the Permian-Triassic terrigenous complex of the Moscow basin. Raman spectroscopy of detrital zircon, first applied to the Permian-Triassic rocks of the East European platform, made it possible to identify sedimentary complexes of a relatively older terrigenous basin as a separate source of zircons, which experienced superimposed thermal impact in the VendianCambrian time (~500–600 Ma).

Continental rifting is usually viewed in terms of two contrasting models of active and passive extension. The origin of the Baikal Rift, adjacent to the southern part of the Siberian Craton, has been described by both models in the past. It is expected that basaltic magmatism in an active model scenario should be primarily sourced from a mantle plume or plume-fed asthenosphere, whereas melting of the lithospheric mantle is expected to be a predominant source for magmatism in the passive model. In this paper, we focus on the Miocene volcanic rocks sampled along two 60-km-long profiles that cross the boundary between the Neoproterozoic Tuva-Mongolian massif and the Archean-Paleoproterozoic Siberian Craton. Most of the samples studied are trachybasalts. In terms of trace element concentrations normalised to primitive mantle, the lavas mimic oceanic island basalt-like patterns with troughs at Rb, Th-U, Pb, and Y, and peaks at Ba, Nb, Ta, K, and Sr. Moreover, similar trace element patterns to the studied samples are also observed for Miocene and Quaternary lavas located in the southwestern of the Baikal Rift, and adjacent regions of non-rifted Mongolia. According to the ratio of CaO to MgO, and TiO2/Al2O3 to SiO2, the compositions of the studied lavas coincide with experimental melts derived from mafic lithologies. Trace element data of samples suggest that garnet was a residual phase during partial melting. The Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics of the studied lavas are Sr-87/Sr-86 0.70427-0.70469 and 1(43)Nd/Nd-144 0.51267-0.51284. They are identical to the coeval Miocene lavas of neighbouring volcanic fields, but they differ from the Quaternary lavas that extend to lower Sr-87/Sr-86 (0.7038-0.7044) with near identical Nd-143/Nd-144. Isotopes of Hf for studied samples show values epsilon Hf = 6.0-7.7, except for the two samples taken within the boundary between two lithospheric blocks with epsilon Hf 4.6 and 4.8. The delta O-18 of olivine from lava samples is everywhere higher than that of the asthenospheric mantle and ranges from 5.5 to 6.4 parts per thousand. Variations of delta O-18 versus Mg#, Sr-87/Sr-86 and epsilon Hf in the studied samples do not correlate, but do unequivocally rule out crustal assimilation. The isotopic variations are consistent with recycling of mafic crustal lithologies at mantle depths. Lavas from the Tuva-Mongolian massif and the Siberian Craton differ in lead isotopes by lower values of Pb-206/Pb-204 (< 17.785) and higher values of Delta 8/4Pb (61-75) for on-cratonic samples and the reverse relationship for off-cratonic lava (> 17.785 and 55-61), respectively. The equation for Delta 8/4Pb = [Pb-208/Pb-204-(1.209*(Pb-206/Pb-204) +15.627)] *100 is from Hart (Nature, 309, 753-757, 1984). The correlation of lead isotopes with the mafic recycled component, the sharp change of lead isotopic values at the cratonic boundary and decoupling of lead isotope ratios from other isotopic ratios lead us to suggest that the values of Pb-206/Pb-204 and Delta 8/4Pb are associated with an ancient accessory mineral phase such as sulphide confined within the lithospheric mantle. The predominant role of the lithospheric sources in the formation of the Miocene volcanic rocks indicate that the volcanism of the Baikal Rift was caused by a passive tectonic process, rather than active rifting.

The isotopic data showed that there are two stages distinguished in the Cenozoic history of the Darkhad depression volcanic activity, the Late Oligocene initial stage (~28.0–26.6 Ma) and the final Late Miocene – Early Pliocene stage (~5.8–4.2 Ma). It has been stated that the rocks of the initial stage are only represented by trachybasalts; however, among the final-stage basaltoids there are series of shield-volcano hawaite-basanite-phonotephrite rocks and compex trachybasaltic "valley" lava flows, the formation of which is the last stage in the territorial volcanic evolution. It has been shown that the initial-stage trachybasaltic andesites are characterized by their enrichment of TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 , Sr, Zn, Ga and low concentrations of Al 2 O 3 , MnO, CaO, Sc and HREE (La/Yb=27.2–30.2). Basaltoids of the final stage have a similar rare-element distribution and show an increase in the contents of TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , P 2 O 5 , LILE, HFSE, Th, U and in the degree of fractionation of REE (La/Yb from 12.2 to 20.9) towards the rocks alkalinity enhancement. Modeling of eclogite, pyroxenite and peridotite melting processes in the La/Yb – Sm/Yb system shows that trachybasaltic andesite melts could be formed at ~7–8 % melting of eclogitic matter or at ~10–11 % melting of Grt-containing pyroxenites, with trachybasalt formed at ~3 % melting of Grt-containing peridotites. The composition distribution of rocks in coordinates (Mg# – Fe/Mn) indicates that the parental magmas are the initial-stage trachybasaltic andesite magmas as well as the Early Pliocene trachybasaltic "valley" lava flows. Sr, Nd, Pb isotope characteristics of the Darkhad depression basaltoids show significant shift of isotopic ratios in time towards the relatively enriched mantle as compared with the depleted MORB mantle. The initial formation of trachybasaltic andesite melts occurred in the Late Oligicene at the pre-rift stage of the territory development involving metasomatized mantle matter, with the pyroxenite or eclogite component contained in the magma formation source. The origin of trachybasalt magmas of the final stage is associated with the processes of decompression melting of peridotites in a weakly metasomatized lithospheric mantle at the rift stage of the Darkhad structure development.

The Udzha paleorift is located between the Anabar and Olenek rivers and is a key structure indicative of the breakup of the Nuna supercontinent. However, the age of initiation and duration of paleorift activity is not defined nowadays. Here we present new U-Pb data for detrital zircons from two terrigenous and volcanic-sedimentary successions of the Udzha sedimentary basin (Unguokhtakh and Udzha Fm), from terrigenous rocks overlying the Udzha basin (Tomtor Fm), and from the sandstone of the lower Mesoproterozoic Mukun Group in the northwest part of Anabar region. The dating results show that sedimentation in the Udzha rift basin began later than ca 1459 Ma, and the duration of the rift activity is estimated as not longer than 73 My. The Udzha rift basin was an isolated basin in the northern part of Siberia, and detrital material came from local sources. A previously unknown source for tuff-sandstone of Unguokhtah Formation with an age of 1850 Ma has been identified, which corresponds by age to the Paleoproterozoic post-orogenic magmatism of the Siberian Craton. In the Neoproterozoic, detrital material of the Tomtor Fm was supplied from the northeast, and the sources were igneous suites of active margin or collision settings. The maximum depositional age of Tomtor Fm is estimated as 565 Ma on the youngest zircon population, which suggests an over 800 Ma gap in sedimentation in northern Siberia in Meso- Neoproterozoic.

1 Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy 2 Université Paris-Sud, Orsay Cedex, France 3 Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk, Russia 4 Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China 5 Cardiff University, UK 6 Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 7 University of Washington, USA 8 Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia 9 Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada 10 Hokkaido University, Japan 11 University of Miami, USA 12 Cardiff University, UK 13 Scott-Smith Petrology Inc., Vancouver, Canada 14 Baranas Hindu University, Varanasi, India 15 University of Johannesburg, South Africa 16 Leeds University, UK 17 Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

The first results of U-Pb LA-ICP-MS dating of 150 detrital zircon grains from the Upper Permian sandstone of the Boyevaya Gora section (Orenburg region, the Southern Cis-Urals) are presented. 95 conditional zircon U-Pb isotopic dates form two age peaks – 381 and 529 Ma. It is assumed that clastic material entered the sedimentation basin mainly due to erosion of the Early Hercynian Ural complexes and relics of the Protouralian-Timanian orogen.

This paper provides new data on various pyrite and pyrrhotite generations at the Golets Vysochaishy gold deposit, Bodaibo district, Irkutsk Oblast. These generations are distinguished by morphological, geochemical, and isotope (δ 34 S) features. The established features of pyrite generations reflect the evolution of the Golets Vysochaishy deposit. Each pyrite generation is associated with a certain evolutionary stage of Neoproterozoic rocks in the region: (1) diagenesis (610 Ma), (2) catagenesis (570–520 Ma), (3) metamorphism (~450–430 Ma), and (4) tectono-magmatic activation (330–270 Ma). The 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages of the third and fourth pyrite generations correspond to those of previously determined gold mineralization and granite magmatism.

We provide an extended Sr-87/Sr-86 database for the water of Lake Baikal collected along the lake and within its bays at a depth range from the surface down to 1366 m, the major tributary rivers, lake animals, and atmospheric precipitation. The water of open Lake Baikal, the Little Sea (Maloe More) Strait, and large bays are characterized by a uniform Sr-87/Sr-86 = 0.7086266 +/- 0.0000045 (n = 44, uncertainty at 95% confidence interval). Major volumetric contributors of water to the lake (the eastern rivers and precipitation) are only slightly different from the lake value in terms of Sr-87/Sr-86. In the western rivers, Sr-87/Sr-86 is much higher, but due to their small incoming volume, their contribution is rapidly diluted by the water currents of the lake. The exception is water with high Sr-87/Sr-86 from isolated Mukhor Bay at the inland end of the Little Sea Strait and water above the underwater discharge of hydrothermal springs. Benthic and pelagic Lake Baikal animals have Sr-87/Sr-86 similar to the values of the open lake, supporting lake water homogenization. The modelled budget of Sr suggests that 86 +/- 14% of input Sr is stored in the waters of Lake Baikal. In other words, according to the estimations some Sr (from 0 to 28%) may be precipitated at the lake bottom by chemical and biochemical processes.

The article discusses the history of the development of analytical research at the Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences over the past 22 years. An overview of the existing scientific equipment, current analytical techniques and some examples of their application in geological research are provided. It is shown that the availability of highly qualified personnel and modern scientific equipment at the Center for Geodynamics and Geochronology allows, both entirely on its base and in cooperation with other Russian and foreign organizations, to conduct state of the art research with the publication of results in leading international journals.

The Cheremkhovo formation (Pliensbachian) is the primary coal-bearing formation of the Irkutsk basin, Eastern Siberia. Still, few geochemical studies of the Jurassic sediments of the Irkutsk coal-bearing basin have been conducted, and there are no data on the geochemistry of the coal-bearing formation itself. This study presents geochemical data for 68 samples from the Cheremkhovo formation and the overlying Lower Prisayan formation. The age of the former has been estimated by U-Pb dating of zircon from a tonstein (altered volcanic ash) layer as Pliensbachian, whereas the age of the latter is estimated as Pliensbachian–Toarcian according to regional stratigraphy. Major oxide and trace element concentrations were obtained using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Geochemical indicators showed diversity between the two studied formations. The indicators used show the change in climate conditions, from warm and humid in the Cheremkhovo formation, to hot and arid during the deposition of the lower Prisayan formation. The provenance of the Irkutsk coal-bearing basin was mainly influenced by the source composition, not recycling, and sediments were mainly derived from felsic to intermediate igneous rocks with a mixture of other rock types.