New Evidence on the Relief of the Southern Underwater Slope in the South Baikal Basin

Characteristics of hydrate-bound gas retrieved at the Kedr mud volcano (southern Lake Baikal)

“…These results suggested that secondary microbial C 1 mixes into thermogenic gas. Coal-bearing sediments exist around the Kedr area 21 , 22 , and secondary microbial C 1 can also form from coal beds 30 . Hydrate-bound C 1 of secondary microbial origin has been only reported at the Alaska North Slope 31 .…”

“…Multi-beam echosounder data obtained in 2015 revealed that the Kedr MV consists of small mounds and pockmarks, and results of pore water geochemistry suggested the existence of fluid discharge from greater depths 20 . This part of Lake Baikal is known for the presence of the coal-bearing sediments of the Tankhoy Formation, Oligocene-Miocene age 21,22 . These deposits would represent an ideal source for upward migrating gas that could lead to the formation of gas hydrates near the lake floor 20,22 .…”

“…This part of Lake Baikal is known for the presence of the coal-bearing sediments of the Tankhoy Formation, Oligocene-Miocene age 21,22 . These deposits would represent an ideal source for upward migrating gas that could lead to the formation of gas hydrates near the lake floor 20,22 . During expeditions onboard R/V G. Yu.…”

The main factors of the origin and morphology evolution of underwater canyons in the Southern and Middle basins of the Baikal depression

“…Fialkov first described the study history of underwater canyons in Lake Baikal until the mid-1990s (Karabanov and Fialkov, 1987). Only surveying the bottom with multi-beam echosounders yielded more detailed data on canyons (Khlystov et al, 2018;Kononov et al, 2019a;2019b). Here, we study the factors that determine morphological features of the Baikal valleys with canyons and compare them with the morphology of the marine canyon valleys.…”

“…Studies have revealed that the nature of the original surface determines many morphological features of Baikal canyons as well as marine ones (Harris and Whiteway, 2011). Along the east and south coasts, where the slope surface is gentle and extends deep down the basin from the coastline for 15-30 km as well as consists of loose Cainozoic strata, the canyon valleys are extended (up to 45 km), wide and deeply cut into the slope surface (Khlystov et al, 2018;Kononov et al, 2019a). Lithological features of the rocks along the west coast are an unfavourable factor for the formation of canyons.…”