Late Summer Water Sources in Rivers and Lakes of the Upper Yana River Basin, Northern Eurasia, Inferred from Hydrological Tracer Data

Major ions, stable isotopes, and trace elements, including rare earth elements (REEs), are used as natural tracers in the qualitative assessment of potential water sources lakes rivers upper Yana River basin, between Verkhoyansk Chersky Ranges, during late summer period. Three distinct regions were sampled, a dominant source each region was qualitatively inferred from chemistry data. The REE distribution pattern found to be highly regional controlled by pH carbonate contents. Mountain headwater stream at Range north slope, Dulgalakh River, shows an input mixture shallow groundwater icing meltwater, with depleted isotopic signature (δ18O below –21‰), d-excess (dex = δ2H − 8·δ18O) above 18, enrichment Mg Sr, depletion heavy REEs. Derbeke Depression streams fed rainfall having ultra-low total dissolved solids (TDS) content, 25 mg/L, convex-up pattern. In medium mountainous river flank, Dogdo leaching through fissured Jurassic carbonates is runoff pathway. Riverine heavily light REEs, but enriched Mo, Rb, Sb,W U. water, high positive Sm Gd anomalies observed, attributed either local geology (greenshists), historical mining legacy, or contemporary winter road operations.