Formation of Biogeochemical Anomalies in the Baksan River Basin

The higher accumulation of Mo, W, Cu and Re by soils and organisms in the Baksan River basin owing to the anthropogenic contamination by the former Tyrnyauz W–Mo industrial complex and migration of the metals with natural waters are discovered during biogeochemical studies of W–Mo mining landscapes of the North Caucasus and background territories. The man-made transformed soils of the Baksan River valley and natural waters are enriched in moderately mobile compounds of Mo and other metals. The competitive relationships are found not only between Mo and Cu, but also between Mo and W while assessing the biogenic migration of metals. An increased content of Mo and W is found in the hair coat, blood and milk of farm animals, which is accompanied by changes in the activity of some enzymes.