Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions
The south-eastern Gorny Altai is one of the most hazardous seismogenic area in the north of Central Asia. We present a synthesis of field, <sup>230</sup>Th-U geochronological, mineralogical and geochemical data collected on seven Quaternary travertines. All travertines occur within the z...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/259 |
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| author | Evgeny V. Deev Svetlana N. Kokh Yuri Dublyansky Ella V. Sokol Denis Scholz Gennady G. Rusanov Vadim N. Reutsky |
| author_facet | Evgeny V. Deev Svetlana N. Kokh Yuri Dublyansky Ella V. Sokol Denis Scholz Gennady G. Rusanov Vadim N. Reutsky |
| author_sort | Evgeny V. Deev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The south-eastern Gorny Altai is one of the most hazardous seismogenic area in the north of Central Asia. We present a synthesis of field, <sup>230</sup>Th-U geochronological, mineralogical and geochemical data collected on seven Quaternary travertines. All travertines occur within the zones of active faults that border the Chuya and Kurai intermontane basins. Travertine cement mainly comprises calcite (with minor amounts of aragonite), which cements alluvial, alluvial fan, and colluvial deposits. The results of <sup>230</sup>Th-U dating suggest that deposition of the travertines was triggered by large paleoearthquakes in the last eight thousand years. Several stages of travertine formation with ages 9–11 ka BP correspond to the known period of strong paleoseismicity in the region (8–16 ka BP). The 123 ka BP travertine resulted from a slip triggered by the Middle Pleistocene deglaciation, while that of 400 ka BP represents seismic motions likely associated with the main Cenozoic orogenic phase. All travertine forming events fall within warm and wet climatic phases (interglacials). Large earthquakes activated faults and caused a rapid rise along them of ambient-temperature bicarbonate groundwater, which was previously sealed in deep-seated Upper Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic limestone-dolostone aquifers. Rapid CO<sub>2</sub> degassing of the spring water was the most important control of calcite or aragonite precipitation. Such travertines represent an important tool for paleoseismological research in seismically active regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:10Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-705342fe897d42a39b45d30a7dd478662023-11-16T22:19:03ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-02-0113225910.3390/min13020259Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental ConditionsEvgeny V. Deev0Svetlana N. Kokh1Yuri Dublyansky2Ella V. Sokol3Denis Scholz4Gennady G. Rusanov5Vadim N. Reutsky6Department of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogov Street, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogov Street, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogov Street, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaV.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Acad. Koptyug Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaInstitute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, J.-J.-Becher-Weg 21, 55128 Mainz, GermanyGorno-Altaisk Expedition JSC, 15 Sovetskaya Street, Maloyeniseiskoe Village, Altai Territory 659370, RussiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogov Street, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaThe south-eastern Gorny Altai is one of the most hazardous seismogenic area in the north of Central Asia. We present a synthesis of field, <sup>230</sup>Th-U geochronological, mineralogical and geochemical data collected on seven Quaternary travertines. All travertines occur within the zones of active faults that border the Chuya and Kurai intermontane basins. Travertine cement mainly comprises calcite (with minor amounts of aragonite), which cements alluvial, alluvial fan, and colluvial deposits. The results of <sup>230</sup>Th-U dating suggest that deposition of the travertines was triggered by large paleoearthquakes in the last eight thousand years. Several stages of travertine formation with ages 9–11 ka BP correspond to the known period of strong paleoseismicity in the region (8–16 ka BP). The 123 ka BP travertine resulted from a slip triggered by the Middle Pleistocene deglaciation, while that of 400 ka BP represents seismic motions likely associated with the main Cenozoic orogenic phase. All travertine forming events fall within warm and wet climatic phases (interglacials). Large earthquakes activated faults and caused a rapid rise along them of ambient-temperature bicarbonate groundwater, which was previously sealed in deep-seated Upper Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic limestone-dolostone aquifers. Rapid CO<sub>2</sub> degassing of the spring water was the most important control of calcite or aragonite precipitation. Such travertines represent an important tool for paleoseismological research in seismically active regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/259large paleoearthquakeactive faulttravertinepaleoenvironmental conditions<sup>230</sup>Th-U datingGorny Altai |
| spellingShingle | Evgeny V. Deev Svetlana N. Kokh Yuri Dublyansky Ella V. Sokol Denis Scholz Gennady G. Rusanov Vadim N. Reutsky Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions Minerals large paleoearthquake active fault travertine paleoenvironmental conditions <sup>230</sup>Th-U dating Gorny Altai |
| title | Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions |
| title_full | Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions |
| title_short | Travertines of the South-Eastern Gorny Altai (Russia): Implications for Paleoseismology and Paleoenvironmental Conditions |
| title_sort | travertines of the south eastern gorny altai russia implications for paleoseismology and paleoenvironmental conditions |
| topic | large paleoearthquake active fault travertine paleoenvironmental conditions <sup>230</sup>Th-U dating Gorny Altai |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/2/259 |
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