Aeolian deposits of rift zones

The evolution of contemporary aeolian processes in continental rift zones is one of the poorly explored issues in Quaternary geology. Associated with rift zones is the formation of aeolian zircon-rutile-ilmenite sands which are rich in various mineral resources and, primarily, in titanium, zirconium, uranium, and in other rare-earth elements. Using the Baikal rift system as an example, the characteristics of the occurrence at the rift zones (hollows) of contemporaneous unfixed aeolian sands are examined. Analysis of the morphological elements of aeolian deposits, their substance composition and development patterns is based on long-term field work on the study of aeolian sands in the depressions of the Baikal rift system as well as on graphical representations of riftogenic structures on remotely sensed material and, primarily, on space-acquired images.