Ferruginous Mineral Waters of Western Transbaikalia: Formation of Gas, Trace Elements, and Dissolved Organic Matter Composition

The article presents the results of study of ferruginous mineral waters. The waters under consideration are discharged on the territory of Western Transbaikalia and belong to the anoxic sulfide-free and acidic types. The peculiarities of the formation of gas, major and trace elements, and dissolved organic substance composition have been established using modern methods. It has been shown that the chemical composition of the waters is greatly influenced by acid–base conditions. Acidic ferruginous waters contain large amounts of heavy metals; organic matter is mainly represented by low molecular weight organic compounds. The only metals present in significant amounts in ferruginous waters are manganese and zinc. Dissolved organic matter is represented by diverse types of high-molecular weight compounds that are formed as a result of biotic processes.