oa Hydrocarbon Molecular Markers in Bottom Sediments of the Focus Fluid Discharge Zones of the Lake Baikal

The main idea of this study was to identify the background and anomaly distribution of hydrocarbon molecular markers in sediments of the lake Baikal and to define organic matter sources and specificity of its formation under the diagenetic and fluid discharge conditions. The study has shown that processes of hydrocarbon biodegradation are widespread in sediments of the oil discharge zone of the lake Baikal, but are not characteristic for the areas of mud volcanism and hydrothermal venting. The composition of hydrocarbon molecular markers in sediments near the mud volcano and hydrothermal vent area testify to the active growth of microbial biomass that uses methane and low molecular weight hydrocarbons coming from the deep as a main carbon source.