In March, 2002, two fields of globular granular ice (so-called “kolobovnik”) were found in the central area of South Baikal. The kolobovnik contained biogenic-terrigenous sedimentary particles. A comprehensive study of these impurities and the bottom sediments from the same area was carried out. It has been established that the mineral composition of terrigenous impurities in the kolobovnik reflects those of the Baikal bottom sediments and river runoff solids. The grain size and biogenic composition of sedimentary impurities in the kolobovnik differ significantly from those in the Baikal deep-water sediments. The results obtained indicate that the littoral zone of the lake is the source of sedimentary impurities in the kolobovnik. This suggests that during the Baikal freezing, large blocks of the littoral ice containing biogenic and mineral impurities might be transported to the central areas of the lake. As a result, impurities of coarse-grained terrigenous material might appear in the deep-water bottom sediments accumulated under calm conditions.

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