GOLD DISTRIBUTION AND THE RATIO OF GOLD C ONCENTRATIONS IN THE ROCKS,SOILS, AND BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF TRANSBAIKALIA

On the basis of small-scale geochemical survey at the Baikal polygon, which was performed in accordance with the Project Geoecology and Geoc hemical Mapping of Russia in 1992-1994, the distribution of gold over the area and the ratio of its concentrations in bedrocks, soils, and b ottom sediments have been determined. A regional gold background in th e southern Transbaikalia is as follows: in bedrocks - 1,0 ppm, in soil s - 1,5 ppm, and in bottom sediments - 0.5 ppm. The main and average c ontents of gold in different structure-formation zones greatly differ, depending on the composition of bedrocks and the types of landscapes and soils. The ratio of gold concentrations in the system initial rock - slope deposit soil - floodplain sediment soil present-day alluvial (bottom) sediments is 1:0.6:0.4:0.2. Study of the peculiarities of gol d distribution in conjugate media permits one to ascertain the natural or man-induced character of high gold contents (anomalies). The concl usion on the gold metallization potential of the southern part of the Siberian Platform is drawn.