REE in waters and bottom sediments of salt lakes of Southeastern Transbaikalia, Russia

Abstract

This paper presents our analysis of the distribution of REE in mineral chloride and soda lakes of Southeastern Transbaikalia. With increasing water salinity, it was determined that concentrations of dissolved HREE increased. The prevalence in absolute concentrations of MREE and HREE was observed in lakes with the development of bacterial processes (sulfate-reduction). A geochemical barrier for accumulating the LREE in the waters can be fluoro-carbonates. The saturation degree of fluorcarbonates in soda lakes can be several orders higher than in chloride lakes. Under oxidizing conditions Ce(OH)4 can be formed and, in a reducing environment – Ce(OH)3.