Mudstone lithogeochemistry and formation conditions of Vendian deposits in the Shkapovo-Shikhan Basin

Variation of geochemical modules and indices in mudstones from the Upper Vendian Kairovo and Shkapovo groups of the Shkapovo-Shikhan Basin provides the comprehensive information on changes in maturity of the fine aluminosiliciclastic material delivered in the basin, characterizes the redox environment in bottom water, and makes it possible to reconstruct the rock composition in provenance and its evolution through time. The generally moderate maturity of the fine terrigenous clastic material suggests that a nearly semiarid-semihumid climate dominated in paleodrainage area throughout the Late Vendian. It has been established that reducing environment did not exist in bottom water of the central Shkapovo-Shikhan Basin throughout the Late Vendian. Intermediate rocks prevailed in the paleodrainage area. More silicic rocks could occur only in the early Staropetrovo and late Salikhovo times. Data points of mudstones from the Kairovo and Shkapovo Groups plotted on the Cr-Ni, Co-V, Co/Hf-Ce/Cr, La-Th, and La/Sm-Sc/Th diagrams indicate that both Archean and more mature Paleoproterozoic crustal blocks existed in different proportions in the Late Vendian within source areas.     

Lithogeochemistry of the Vendian fine-grained clastic rocks in the southern Vychegda trough

Lithogeochemical features of the Vendian mudstones and silty mudstones taken from Borehole Keltma 1 in the southern part of the Vychegda trough of the Mezen syneclise are discussed. It is shown that fine-grained clastic rocks of the Ust-Pinega, Krasavino, and Mezen formations have similar chemical compositions, suggesting their accumulation in sufficiently similar settings. The main part of the studied samples has K₂O/Al₂O₃ < 0.4. This fact, in combination with the absence of TM-FM and NPM-HM correlations, indicates a significant contribution of recycled aluminosiliciclastics in their composition. At the same time, the absence of correlation between CIA and indicator ratios of rock composition in the paleodrainage basins, such as Th/Cr and Th/Sc, indicates that CIA and some other lithochemical indicators appropriately reflect the paleoclimatic conditions in source areas surrounding a basin. The CIA value in most of the analyzed samples is no more than 70. Thus, the Keltma section is similar to Upper Vendian sequences of the Kvarkush-Kamennogorsk anticlinorium and the Shkapovo-Shikhany depression. It has been established that felsic and intermediate magmatic rocks coupled with a significant contribution of quartz-rich sediments served as the source of fine aluminosiliciclastics for the southern Vychegda trough during the Vendian. High Ce/Cr values in the mudstones and silty mudstones suggest that the geochemically primitive Archean protoliths were not involved in the washout. In the SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O diagram, the Vendian mudstones and silty mudstones are plotted in the field of sediments of active continental margins. Typical low values of Mo/Mn and some other redox indices in these rocks indicate that oxidizing environment predominated in bottom waters of the sedimentation basin during the entire Vendian. Analysis of variations of the lithochemical indicators upward the Vendian sedimentary successions in borehole Keltma 1 made it possible to divide the section into three sequences of different lithofacies and paleontological compositions.     

Late Vendian unfolded Molasse in the northeastern, eastern, and southwestern peripheries of the east European platform: Distinctive lithogeochemical features

The paper reports data on the lithogeochemistry of sandstones and silty mudstones from Upper Vendian sedimentary sequences in the northeastern, eastern, and southwestern peripheries of the East European Platform belonging to the so-called unfolded molasse. The sequences are dominated by wackes, arkoses, subarkoses, litharenites, and sublitharenites, i.e., chemically immature and moderately mature psammites, and can be classed with rocks produced by clastic material brought from orogens surrounding the platform. The higher TiO₂, Al₂O₃, FeO_tot, MgO, Na₂O, and K₂O concentrations of the psammites than those in the average cratonic Phanerozoic sandstone (APhSa) testify that the chemical maturing of the rocks was not completed. The silty mudstones accompanying the sandstones have a composition closer to those of the average cratonic Phanerozoic shale (APhSh), but this is likely explained by the fact that the rocks were produced of material brought from erosion territories of much greater area. The lithogeochemical data generally indicate that these territories were dominated by acid and intermediate magmatic rocks with variable fraction of sedimentary rocks when the Late Vendian sedimentary associations in question were produced. The distribution of certain indicator trace elements in the sandstones and silty mudstones show that the average composition of the eroded complexes was close to the composition of the post-Archean upper continental crust, but the erosion areas occasionally (in the Vychegorskii trough and the Shkapovsko-Shikhanskaya depression) contained relatively primitive source rocks. The data points of the great majority of the sandstones and silty mudstones plot in the SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O and F1–F2 diagrams in the fields of sediments typical of the environments of active continental margins, which is consistent with the arrangement of the data points of these rocks in the La-Th-Sc, Th-Sc-Zr/10, and Th-Co-Zr/10 diagrams. All of these features confirm that the sedimentary rocks in question affiliate with rock associations produced at an active tectonic regime.     

Lithostratigraphy and geochemistry of Upper Vendian‒Lower Cambrian deposits in the northeastern Baltic monocline

The results of investigations of Upper Vendian?Lower Cambrian deposits in the northeastern part of the Baltic monocline specify views on the evolution of depositional environments of sedimentary successions constituting the basal part of the sedimentary cover in inner areas of the northwestern East European Platform. It is shown that the Late Vendian and initial Cambrian were characterized by the consecutive influx of relatively mature terrigenous detrital material that originated from both the weathering crust of the Baltic Shield and new sources. Its deposition was interrupted by notable, although likely asynchronous, hiatuses, which are registered at the base of the Upper Vendian Vasileostrovskaya and Voronkovo formations and Lower Cambrian Lomonosov Formation. In the Late Vendian, sedimentary material was transported from the Baltic Shield, while beginning from the initial Early Cambrian the additional contribution to the formation of the sedimentary cover of the Baltic monocline was provided by coarse-grained sedimentary material from the Timan margin of the Baltica as follows from U?Pb isotopic ages obtained for detrital zircons. At the same time, lithogeochemical parameters of fine-grained rocks experienced no substantial changes.     

Composition of sediment provenances and patterns in geological history of the Late Vendian Mezen Basin

Formation conditions of sedimentary successions in the Mezen Basin are considered on the basis of Cr, Th, Sc, Ni, Hf, and REE distribution and model Nd age of the Upper Vendian fine-grained terrigenous rocks. Geochemistry of mudstones and shales of the Lyamitsa, Verkhovka, Zimnie Gory, and Erga formations in the Belomorian-Kuloi Plateau, as well as the Ust-Pinega and Mezen formations in the Vychegda Trough, does not allow us to consider these stratigraphic units as erosion products of the primitive Archean basement of the Baltic Shield or the central segment of the East European Craton (EEC) basement. Taking into account sedimentological data on the direction of paleoflows in the basin and the model Nd age of the fine-grained terrigenous rocks, we suggest that the Mezen Basin was filled in the Late Vendian mainly with erosion products of the Riphean igneous and metasedimentary complexes of the Timan-Pechora region. These conclusions are consistent with the sequence-stratigraphic architecture of sediments in the basin. According to the new model proposed, the Late Vendian Mezen Basin was a foredeep formed as a result of subsidence of the northeastern margin of the EEC under the load of overthrusted rock masses of the Timan-Pechora Foldbelt. The clastic material was derived from the emerging orogen.     

Systematics of rare earth elements, Th, Hf, Sc, Co, Cr, and Ni in the vendian pelitic rocks of the Serebryanka and Sylvitsa groups from the western slope of the Central Urals: A tool for monitoring provenance composition

This paper presents the first data on the systematics of rare earth elements (REE), Th, Hf, Sc, Co, Cr, and Ni and the Nd model ages of fine-grained aluminosilicate clastic rocks of the Serebryanka and Sylvitsa groups of the Vendian from the Kvarkushsko-Kamennogorskii meganticlinorium (western slope of the Central Urals). It was found that the REE distribution patterns of shales and mudstones of the two groups are similar to those of the majority of post-Archean fine-grained terrigenous complexes. The presence of pelitic rocks with Gd_N/Yb_N > 2.0 in a number of Vendian levels suggests a contribution from an Archean component in the composition of the fine aluminosilicate clastic material. This is probably also indicated by the high degree of heavy REE depletion in some mudstone samples. The REE systematics allow us to suppose a heterogeneity of Vendian paleocatchments and variations in their composition with time. The eroded areas had the most mature composition in the beginning of Serebryanka. Starting from the second half of Serebryanka, mafic and/or ultramafic rocks started playing a significant role in the provenances. The rocks of the lower portion of the Serebryanka Group show T_Nd(DM) values of about 2.0 Ga, whereas the upper part of the section is dominated by rocks with T_Nd(DM) ? 1.77–1.73 Ga. This indicates that during the Taninskaya and Koiva time periods, fine aluminosilicate clastic material was supplied into the sedimentation region mainly from the west, from the eastern areas of the east European platform, where Archean and Early Proterozoic crystalline complexes dominated. A decrease in model ages was related to the addition of juvenile mantle material to the mature continental crust. Such processes can be illustrated by the mafic-ultramafic complexes (Dvoretskii, Shpalorezovskii, Vil’vinskii, etc.) located in the field of Vendian sedimentary sequences, which show T_Nd(DM) values from 824 to 707 Ma. It was concluded that the history of the formation of an Early Vendian rift in the western slope of the central Urals included only one rifting event (rather than three, as was previously supposed), which was supported by a variety of recent geological and isotope geochemical data.     

漠河盆地上侏罗统沉积特征与构造背景

对晚侏罗世漠河盆地的沉积特征进行了分析,并探讨了其构造类型和成因机制。详细的沉积学研究表明:晚侏罗世漠河盆地主要发育冲积扇、扇三角洲和湖泊相沉积,属于前陆盆地的陆相磨拉石部分。晚侏罗世漠河盆地的物源来自南北两个方向,具有典型前陆盆地双向物源特点:北部物源区是蒙古-鄂霍茨克造山带,位于西伯利亚板块南缘;南部物源区是下伏板块基底,位于大兴安岭北部。根据沉积特征、区域大地构造背景和俄罗斯上阿穆尔盆地有关资料认为:晚侏罗世漠河盆地为漠河-上阿穆尔前陆盆地的南半部分,形成和演化受蒙古-鄂霍茨克造山带制约;晚侏罗世二十二站期和额木尔河期是漠河盆地的主要成盆期,该时期湖泊面积广阔、暗色泥岩发育,是烃源岩的重要形成期。     

造山带断片型地层层序恢复实例剖析

南皮河组和怕拍组分布于昌宁一孟连带西缘的耿马、沧源、澜沧地区,前人将其分别划归晚二叠世和早三叠世。新的研究表明,它们不是连续地层,而是由多个地层断片组成。通过逐个地层断片研究,恢复了该区被动陆缘的地层序列。在此基础上,重新进行地层划分,厘定了弄巴组、南皮河组和怕拍组。进而探讨了该被动陆缘的演化历史。     

Zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical composition of gneisses from the Mesozoic foreland basin in the Yellow Sea,China

The South Yellow Sea basin in eastern China has experienced a multi-stage tectonic evolution history. The major structures were created when the basin was a foreland basin during the Mesozoic. However the geological evolution of the basin has not yet been corroborated by direct evidence from the underlying basement rocks. Qianliyan Island in the southern Yellow Sea provides an opportunity to study the formation and evolution of the basin by means of direct geochronological and geochemical evidence. On Qianliyan Island, basement rocks are exposed that consist of granitic gneiss, felsic gneiss and minor mylonite, and lenses of eclogite. Major and trace element characteristics of these four types of gneiss indicate that they originated from crustal material, varying in composition from pelite to greywacke. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating results of a felsic gneiss sample show that this rock crystallized between 659 and 796 Ma and underwent a metamorphic overprint at 229 ± 4 Ma. This age pattern resembles that of gneisses from the ultra-high-pressure terrain in the Dabie–Sulu belt. We conclude that the study area was part of the northern margin of the Yangtze Block during the Neoproterozoic. Neoproterozoic magmatic activity occurred along this margin and the basement sequence underwent Triassic metamorphic overprint during the northward subduction of the Yangtze Block beneath the North China Block. We further conclude that the deformation associated with this metamorphic event led to the formation of the southern Yellow Sea foreland basin.     

滇西昌宁龙塘寨地区张家田组的发现及地质意义

在滇西镇康地块东缘龙塘寨地区新发现的张家田组为一套斜坡-盆地相碎屑岩-放射虫硅质岩-灰岩-玄武岩建造,可见浊流远端低密度流序列、鲍马序列、深水的静水沉积序列,具典型浊流沉积特征。灰岩中采获大量的杜内阶至祥播阶牙形石分子,特别是维宪阶和杜内阶的深水盆地相远洋型分子Gnathodusbilineatus和Scaliognathodusanchoralis类群的出现,说明早石炭世地史时期该区已形成深海槽盆。硅质岩Al/(A1+Fe+Mn)比值为0. 22~0. 40,说明张家田组硅质岩为受热水作用影响的生物成因硅质岩; MnO/TiO_2比值为0. 13~0. 59,Ce异常值在1. 0左右,无明显异常,(La/Yb)_N值为0. 93~1. 93,(La/Ce)_N值为1. 01~1. 09,表现出大陆边缘型硅质岩的特征。结合区域地质资料,本文认为晚古生代时期,在东侧昌宁-孟连洋演化的同时,在镇康地块与耿马被动大陆边缘之间曾发育有一个裂陷海槽,而张家田组斜坡-盆地相浊流沉积正是这一构造事件的沉积记录。     

Trace elements in Upper Devonian rocks of the Andoma Hill zone of fold-and-fault dislocations (southeastern Onega region) as indicators of source areas

The paper reports the results of lithogeochemical studies of the Upper Devonian rocks from the Andoma Hill zone of fold-and-fault dislocations (SE Onega region). The rocks are characterized by the negative Eu anomaly (from 0.4 to 0.65) that maks them different from modern sediments of the White Sea. The latter can be regarded as the average composition of mainly Archean (Karelian–Kola) part of the Baltic Shield. In terms of the contents of some trace elements, they also differ from the Vendian rocks of the Zimnii Bereg area. Since the considered rocks are geochemically similar to the Svecofennian metamorphic rocks and Paleoproterozoic granite rapakivi, they could be formed by the erosion of these complexes. The clastic material was transported via a channel confined to the Baltic Shield and Russian Platform junction known as the Polkanov geoflexure.     

History of the Celebes Sea Basin based on its stratigraphic and sedimentological record

The stratigraphic and sedimentary history of the Celebes Sea Basin provides the basis for a tectonic model for its evolution which is consistent with new regional plate reconstructions. Cores drilled on Leg 124 of the Ocean Drilling Program (sites 767 and 770) form a stratigraphic record from the basement to the sea floor in just under 800 metres of sedimentary succession. The basement itself is basalt with a strong MORB affinity. Radiolaria in pelagic mudstones at the base of the succession indicate a late middle Eocene age. A very condensed pelagic sequence (90 m in 20 Ma) suggests a setting which was distal from sources of terrigenous clastics and volcaniclastics and below the CCD. These characteristics are similar to the West Philippine Sea Basin (drilled on DSDP Legs 31 and 59), which also has oceanic basement, dated at 44–42 Ma, and Paleogene pelagic strata. These data are therefore consistent with any plate reconstruction model which has these two basins forming as part of the same ocean basin.During the Miocene quartz-rich sandy turbidites were deposited in the Celebes Sea Basin. This influx of terrigenous clastics occurred for a brief period in middle to late Miocene times (c. 10 Ma). The nearest large continental landmass which could have acted as the source of this mature siliciclastic detritus was the island of Borneo, and the onset of this clastic supply may be related to uplift caused by collision events on the island. Cessation of terrigenous clastic supply to the basin centre occurred as southward subduction of the underlying oceanic crust beneath the northern arm of Sulawesi began. It is speculated that the development of a trench along the southern margin of the basin acted as a trap for detritus coming from Borneo, diverting material from the basin centre.     

北黄海东部次盆地层序地层格架中烃源岩发育特征与影响因素

北黄海东部次盆地是我国海域勘探程度较低的一个盆地,钻探已发现该盆地发育中、上侏罗统巨厚暗色泥岩,但目前对该盆地烃源岩的研究尚较薄弱,精细评价该盆地的烃源岩对后续勘探部署具有重要意义。本文利用多口钻井实测数据和地震、测井资料,在层序地层学研究的基础上,应用有机地球化学和有机岩石学等方法,对中、上侏罗统不同层序和同一层序不同体系域中的烃源岩特征进行综合研究,并探讨烃源岩的分布规律及影响因素。东部次盆地烃源岩非均质性特征明显：中侏罗统J₂SQ1和J₂SQ2层序均以半深湖-深湖相、滨浅湖相暗色泥岩为主,烃源岩有机碳质量分数总体较高（w（TOC）>1.0%）,但生烃潜力指数（w（S₁+S₂））和氢指数（I_H）均很低,且有机质类型差,表明研究区有机质丰度高的烃源岩并非都是生烃能力高的烃源岩,整体为中等-差烃源岩。上侏罗统J₃SQ1层序中的烃源岩主要为三角洲前缘和滨浅湖相泥岩,有机质丰度较低,不同体系域发育的均是中等-差烃源岩;J₃SQ2层序主要为半深湖-深湖相暗色泥岩,具有厚度大、质纯和横向分布广的特点,但不同体系域中烃源岩的w（TOC）变化很大（0.5%~5.3%）,其中优质烃源岩主要发育在J₃SQ2层序中的高位体系域和湖侵体系域中,厚度0~104 m,而低位体系域中发育的则是中等烃源岩,该套优质烃源岩是东部次盆地内最主要的一套油源岩。研究认为,层序地层格架和沉积相控制了东部次盆地烃源岩的空间展布范围,陆源有机质的输入与湖盆原位生物生产力的匹配关系控制了烃源岩的质量,湖盆水体的含氧量与盐度在一定程度上控制了有机质的保存。综上所述,北黄海东部次盆地属于中低丰度的含油气盆地,应在优质烃源岩发育区及其邻区寻找有利勘探目标。     

Probable distribution of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits on the Laptev Sea shelf and their petroleum resource potential

The analysis of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous marine sections developed in surrounding structures of the Laptev Sea revealed that all of them are composed of terrigenous rocks, which enclose abundant concretions cemented by calcareous material. The Upper Jurassic portion of the section is the most variable in thickness and stratigraphic range of sediments usually including hiatuses. Its Lower Cretaceous part represented by the Boreal Berriasian (=Ryazanian) and lower Valanginian stages is most complete. The Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sections are usually composed of fine-grained rocks (clays and mudstones) in the west and coarser cemented varieties (siltstones and sandstones) with rare mudstone intercalations in the east. Practically all the investigated Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sections include readily recognizable age and facies analogs of the Bazhenovo Formation and Achimov sandstones, which are petroliferous in West Siberia. There are grounds to assume the occurrence of these formations also on the Laptev Sea shelf, which is confirmed by seismic records. Conditions favorable for the formation of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs could exist in the western part of the paleobasin along the Nordvik Peninsula coast and northeastern Tamyr Peninsula margin. Paleotectonic reconstructions presented in this work are well consistent with stratigraphic conclusions.     

湘西地区志留纪沉积体系及典型前陆盆地的形成模式研究

湘西地区发育志留系中、下志留统碎屑岩地层,缺失上志留统。经沉积学综合研究,可以划分出滞留盆地、浊积扇、三角洲、潮坪滨岸等沉积体系,从下向上海平面逐渐下降,其物源来自于东南部雪峰隆起。湘西地区志留纪沉积盆地构造演化经历了前陆盆地的形成期、发展期及萎缩期、消亡期几个阶段。其沉积构造演化规律为：前陆盆地初始形成期发育深水滞留盆地沉积体系;前陆盆地发展期发育海相浊积扇沉积体系;前陆盆地萎缩期发育三角洲沉积体系,前陆盆地消亡期发育潮坪沙坝滨岸沉积体系。     

Upper Riphean and Vendian sandstones of the Bashkirian anticlinorium

The analysis of lithogeochemical data on the Upper Riphean and Vendian sandstones from the Bashkirian anticlinorium showed that sandstone associations formed in a passive sluggish tectonic regime in the middle Late Vendian were replaced by associations accumulated in the more active tectonic settings. This is well seen in the SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O and (Fe₂O₃^* + MgO)-TiO₂ diagrams reflecting the particular and median compositions of psammites. The lithochemical characteristics of sandstones were examined to determine the compositional variation of rock complexes eroded on paleodrainage areas. Quartz-rich sedimentary, metasedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, as well as felsic igneous rocks prevailed in the paleodrainage areas throughout the entire Late Riphean and Early Vendian, while the main sources of clastic material in the Late Vendian were igneous intermediate and basic rocks. With allowance made for the previous comparative-lithological data and some other materials, significant similarity in the position and orientation of compositional fields of psammites from the middle and upper levels of the Asha Group (Bashkirian anticlinorium) with fields of psammites from different syncollisional (flysch and molasse) basins in the SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O, K₂O/Na₂O-SiO₂/Al₂O₃, F1–F2 and other diagrams suggests that the middle Late Vendian (beginning from the Basa level) was marked by a variation in tectonic/geodynamic settings of sandstone accumulation and in composition of the eroded paleodrainage systems. The revealed trend agrees well with concept of the existence of the Late Riphean-Vendian Pechora paleocean.     

南黄海北部前陆盆地的构造演化与油气突破

南黄海北部盆地是我国近海海域中唯一由中生代陆-陆碰撞造山作用形成的前陆盆地。其构造演化经历了4个阶段:(1)前造山期大陆边缘盆地阶段(Z—T2);(2)苏鲁造山带晚期前陆盆地阶段(J3—K);(3)造山期后陆内断陷盆地阶段(K2t—E);(4)区域沉降覆盖阶段(N—Q)。对其中陆内断陷盆地的详细调查研究结果表明,盆地内晚白垩世泰州组烃源岩发育,具有4套储盖组合,圈闭构造多,成藏配套条件好,计算其石油资源量约20×108t,是当前在南黄海获取油气重要突破的首选区域。     

陆相前陆盆地沉积充填与层序地层模式探讨——以库车前陆盆地为例

以库车前陆盆地为例,对陆相前陆盆地的形成、沉积充填与层序地层结构、不整合面与层序界面、层序地层组成与其模式、生储盖组合与岩性地层圈闭等关键问题进行了探讨。认为前陆层序是盆缘构造运动的响应,由低位(冲积)体系域、湖侵体系域、高位体系域组成。前陆盆地层序界面表现为构造或沉积不整合面,代表了一次构造幕的发生,其层序地层样式是盆缘造山带构造楔推进作用的结果,是盆地演化的不同阶段的响应,反映了构造运动由强到弱的间歇变化。前陆层序界面代表了沉积结构的大转换,之下为构造稳定阶段的湖相泥岩或膏泥岩,之上为代表构造运动的冲积扇—扇三角洲相的巨厚磨拉石沉积充填。在构造活动期和静止期,盆地不同位置形成不同的沉积充填和地层结构特点。构造活动期以低位(冲积)体系域为主,在毗邻造山带侧以巨厚的冲积扇-扇三角洲-辫状河三角洲相等冲积沉积物为主;构造静止期以湖侵体系域为主,为广泛的河流-湖泊相沉积。沉积厚度从靠近冲断带侧向盆地内逐渐变小。陆相前陆盆地的生储盖组合配置好,储集体广泛分布于低位、湖侵和高位体系域中,以辫状河三角洲和滨湖相为主。其岩性地层圈闭主要分布在前缘斜坡带上,包括沿古隆起边缘的地层超覆不整合圈闭和地层削蚀不整合圈闭,将会成为今后油气勘探的新领域。     

Tectonics and Petroleum Potential of the East China SeaShelf Rift Basin

There are two Cenozoic sedimentary basins in the East China Sea. They are the East China Sea shelf basin and the Okinawa Trough basin. The former can be divided into a western and an eastern rift region. The development of the shelf basin underwent continental-margin fault depression, post-rift and then tectonic inversion stages. Available exploration results show that the distribution of source rocks is controlled by the basin architecture and its tectonic evolution. In the Xihu depression, mudstones and coals are the main source rocks. The eastern rift region has good geological conditions for the formation of large oil and gas fields.     

Age of granitoids in the Pripechora fault zone of the basement of Pechora Basin: First U–Pb (SIMS) data

Upper Precambrian basement of the Pechora Basin that is located between the Urals and Timan and is a part of the Pechora plate lies beneath 1–7 km of Ordovician-Cenozoic sediment cover. On the base of geophysical data and drilling the basement of the Pechora plate is subdivided into the Timan crustal block and the Bolshezemel crustal block which differ by composition and the character of magmatism. The boundary between the crustal blocks is a system of deep faults called the Pripechora and Ilych-Chikshino faults that strike in a northwestern direction, extending from the Urals to the Pechora Sea. Granitoids of Charkayu complex which were penetrated by several deep boreholes in Pripechora fault zone are interpreted as suprasubduction (island arc and collision) magmas associated with the Timan orogeny. First U–Pb dating (SIMS, using SHRIMP-II and SHRIMP-RG) of zircons from granitoids indicate that granitoid magmatism which accompanied the final stages of the Timanide orogeny occurred in the Late Vendian about 555–544 Ma. The age of zircons from granites of the 1-Charkayu borehole is 544 ± 6 Ma, from granites of 1-East Charkayu borehole is 545 ± 5 Ma, and from granodiorites of 1-South Charkayu borehole is 555 ± 2 Ma.