The Composition of Lacustrine Sediments of Lake Kandrykul (Republic of Bashkortostan) Based on Mineralogical, Geochemical Data and Climatic Changes in the Holocene

This study presents the first investigation of Lake Kandrykul sediments through radiometric dating and detailed lithological and mineralogical analysis of a long (>5 m) core sample retrieved from the lake’s bottom. The results shed new light on depositional conditions in the region and contributed to a broader understanding of lake sedimentation during the late Quaternary.
Radiocarbon dating indicates that sedimentation in Lake Kandrykul began approximately 8,000 years ago. The studied depositional sequence consists of alternating layers of silty clay, silty sandy loam, heavy silty loam, and light silty loam.
Allogenic minerals make up the bulk of the sediment composition, reaching up to 76%. Elevated Ca and Mg content in several core intervals correlate with the presence of authigenic carbonate and sulfate crystals, reflecting Lake Kandrykul’s setting within an erosional-karst depression formed in sulfate-carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks.
The changing ratios between allogenic and authigenic components serve as indicators of Holocene climate shifts, particularly highlighting two major arid periods: around 6,000–5,100 years BP and 2,000–1,000 years BP.

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