An unusual variety of geophagy – snow sheep coal consumption in the Transbaikalian mountains

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Abstract

Several places were discovered in the mountains of the Kodar ridge in Transbaikalia, that are regularly visited by bighorn sheep (Ovis Nivicola) for the purpose of consuming coal (Chepinskaya Formation, Jurassic). According to observations an adult ram eats from tens to hundreds of grams of coal gruss and dust at once. A comprehensive study of “eatable” coals was carried out, including their geochemistry with determination of the content and balance of mobile forms of microelements, including rare earth elements (REE). It has been established that the sum of REE in coal varies from 0.19 to 0.27 kg/t, which is 3.5–4 times higher than the clarke value. The REE composition is dominated by elements of the light subgroup (LREE). The presence of monazite, xenotime and rhabdophane in the consumed coals was established by analytical scanning electron microscopy. An acid (HCl, pH-1) extract from minerals showed, that among the elements released from coal, only some microelements, including LREEs, are most likely to be of greatest importance for animals. The data obtained, considering our previously conducted landscape-geochemical studies of mass geophagy areas in the Sikhote-Alin, the Gorny Altai and on the island. Olkhon (Baikal), suggest that the reason for the regular consumption of coals by bighorn sheep on the Kodar Ridge is due to the animals intention to restore the disturbed balance of REE in the body.

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About the authors

A. M. Panichev

Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: sikhote@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

N. V. Baranovskaya

Tomsk Polytechnic University

Email: sikhote@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Tomsk

I. Yu. Chekrizhov

Far East Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: sikhote@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

V. V. Ivanov

Far East Geological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: sikhote@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Vladivostok

A. N. Tsatska

“Snow Leopard” Foundation

Email: sikhote@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Irkutsk

References

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Location of the characterized kudur in the Transbaikal region.

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3. Fig. 2. A – diagrams of the distribution of REE contents, normalized for US coals according to [5] in coals and carbonaceous siltstone (sample HC – brown coal from the Vanchinskaya depression in Sikhote-Alin according to data from [6]); B – diagrams of the contents of other microelements.

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4. Fig. 3. SEM images and EDS spectra of rare earth phosphate grains in coal: a – monazite; b – xenotime; c, d – similar in composition and morphology to rhabdophane

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5. Fig. 4. A – diagrams of the distribution of trace element contents in sample U-A and in the composition of the acid extract from it (in terms of dry matter); B – REE content in the extract.

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