The salt composition of rivers in Wrangel Island

River waters on Wrangel Island exhibit unique chemical signatures shaped by the island's geological composition, including elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) and distinct sulfate-calcium-magnesium profiles. Unlike other regions of the Russian Far North, these waters reflect the abundance of Late Carboniferous gypsiferous and dolomitic sequences, contributing to their mineralization. Additionally, supergene alterations of sulfide mineralization in quartz-carbonate vein systems create localized contamination hotspots, characterized by acidic pH (2.4–5.5), high TDS (up to 23 g/l), and anomalously high concentrations of heavy metals, rare earth elements (REE), uranium (U), and thorium (Th). This study provides the first detailed analysis of river water chemistry in Wrangel Island, linking it to lithogeochemical processes and mineralization.

Lavrushin, V. Yu., & Gruzdev, A. R. (2011). The salt composition of rivers in Wrangel Island. Lithology and Mineral Resources, 47(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0024490211060101