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 north Central Asia. We present a synthesis field, 230Th-U geochronological, mineralogical and geochemical data collected on seven Quaternary travertines. All travertines occur within zones active faults that border Chuya Kurai intermontane basins. Travertine cement mainly comprises calcite (with minor amounts aragonite), which cements alluvial, alluvial fan, colluvial deposits. results dating suggest deposition was triggered by large paleoearthquakes last eight thousand years. Several stages travertine formation with ages 9–11 ka BP correspond to known period strong paleoseismicity region (8–16 BP). 123 resulted from slip Middle Pleistocene deglaciation, while 400 represents seismic motions likely associated main Cenozoic orogenic phase. forming events fall warm wet climatic phases (interglacials). Large earthquakes activated caused rapid rise along them ambient-temperature bicarbonate groundwater, previously sealed deep-seated Upper Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic limestone-dolostone aquifers. Rapid CO2 degassing spring water important control or aragonite precipitation. Such represent an tool for paleoseismological research seismically regions.