The Carbonate Massif of Voskresenka Mount in the Southern Pre-Urals: Age and Development of the Submerged Carbonate Platform

In the conjunction zone of the East European Platform and the Uralian foredeep, involved in structures of the Southern Urals (Bashkiria), sediments deposited at the shelf zone edge in the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian crop out. The Upper Carboniferous bioherm and Lower Permian deep marine–shelf boundary limestones, composing Voskresenka Mount near Tabynsk township, were studied. Results of the complex analysis of lithofacies, paleontological, structural, and also geological and geophysical data show that the Voskresenka carbonate massif, previously attributed to a single reef structure, represents the SW-dipping tectonic horst block, composed of Upper Carboniferous shelf–bioherm limestones, which is uplifted in a near break zone. As a result of tectonic processes, the edge of the late Carboniferous carbonate platform, overlain by Asselian deep-water sediments, was exhumed. The sedimentary succession shows that the paleogeographic setting at the margin of the East European Craton changed at the Carboniferous–Permian boundary during the formation of the Ural collisional orogen.     

Specific Features of Carbonate Platform Formation: Evidence from the Middle Carboniferous East Ural Gulf

During the Moscovian Age, the eastern part of the Russian Platform was occupied by the shallow-water East European Basin (EEB) characterized by predominantly carbonate sedimentation. In the Cis-Ural region of this basin, the deep Cis-Ural Sea (CUS) occupied the Ural Foredeep. The Paleo-Ural Range separated the CUS from the narrow and long East Ural Gulf, which was connected in the south with the main part of the EEB and a sea within the Turan Plate. The Moscovian paleogeographic setting is shown in three paleogeographic maps. Middle Carboniferous organogenic buildups from the eastern slope of the Urals have been time and again described previously. However, the repeated study of these features did not prove the biogenic nature of all of them. This work presents characteristics of two, newly discovered, unique (in terms of nature and structure) coastal bioherms. One bioherm lies at the base of the Moscovian stage and consists of phylloid algae. The second bioherm, located at a higher level, has a complex structure and is made up of foraminifers, algae, and stromatolites. After the desiccation and development of karst features on the surface, the bioherm was buried under sandy–clayey sediments accumulated in freshened water.     

The Ural–Herirud transcontinental postcollisional strike-slip fault and its role in the formation of the Earth’s crust

The paper considers the morphology, deep structure, and geodynamic features of the Ural–Herirud postorogenic strike-slip fault (UH fault), along which the Moho (the “M”) shifts along the entire axial zone of the Ural Orogen, then further to the south across the Scythian–Turan Plate to the Herirud sublatitudinal fault in Afghanistan. The postcollisional character of dextral displacements along the Ural–Herirud fault and its Triassic–Jurassic age are proven. We have estimated the scale of displacements and made an attempt to make a paleoreconstruction, illustrating the relationship between the Variscides of the Urals and the Tien Shan before tectonic displacements. The analysis of new data includes the latest generation of 1: 200000 geological maps and the regional seismic profiling data obtained in the most elevated part of the Urals (from the seismic profile of the Middle Urals in the north to the Uralseis seismic profile in the south), as well as within the sedimentary cover of the Turan Plate, from Mugodzhary to the southern boundaries of the former water area of the Aral Sea. General typomorphic signs of transcontinental strike-slip fault systems are considered and the structural model of the Ural–Herirud postcollisional strike-slip fault is presented.     

Deep structure of the Earth's crust in the contact zone of the Palaeozoic and Precambrian Platforms in Poland (Tornquist-Teisseyre zone)

One of the major tectonic problems in Europe concerns the southwest margin of the East European Platform in the region of the so-called Polish-Danish trough. In general, this margin is assumed to be the Tornquist-Teisseyre (T-T) Line, running approximately from northwest to southeast in this part of Europe. Determination of deep crustal structure of the contact zone between the Precambrian Platform and the Palaeozoic Platform was the main aim of the deep seismic sounding (DSS) programme in Poland in 1965–1982.Deep seismic soundings of the Earth's crust have been made in the T-T Line zone along nine profiles with a total length of about 2600 km. The results of deep seismic soundings have shown that the crust in the marginal zone of the East European Platform has highly anomalous properties. The width of this zone ranges from 50 km in northwest Poland to about 90 km in southeast Poland. The crustal thickness of the Palaeozoic Platform in Poland is 30–35 km, and of the Precambrian Platform 42–47 km, while in the T-T tectonic zone it varies from 50 to 55 km. Above the Moho boundary, in the T-T zone, at a depth of 40–45 km, there is a seismic discontinuity with P-wave velocities of 7.5–7.7 km/s. Boundary velocities, mean velocities and stratification of the Earth's crust vary distinctly along the T-T zone. There are also observed high gravimetric and magnetic anomalies in the T-T zone. The T-T tectonic zone determined in this manner is a deep tectonic trough with rift properties.The deep fractures delineating the T-T tectonic zone are of fundamental importance for the localization of the plate edge of the Precambrian Platform of eastern Europe. In the light of DSS results, the northeastern margin of the T-T tectonic zone is a former plate boundary of the East European Platform.     

First results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from the Ordovician clastic sequences of the Sol-Iletsk Block,East European Platform

The first LA–ICP–MS U–Pb isotopic ages of detrital zircons from the Ordovician sandstones of the Sol–Iletsk Block (well 2–Ordovician), located at junction of the East European Platform with the Pre-Caspian Basin and the Pre-Uralian foredeep, are presented. Two detrital zircons with well-defined ages of 561 ± 4 and 570 ± 5 Ma were found in sample K15–501. They confirm the Ordovician age of the sandstones, which earlier had been defined on the basis of seismic–stratigraphic and lithological correlations. The age distribution of the detrital zircons indicates the significant role of Late Precambrian rocks as provenance sources. However, those rocks still remain unknown in the Early Precambrian basement of the Volga–Ural part of the EEP.     

Low-temperature constraints on the Alpine thermal evolution of the Western Carpathian basement rock complexes

The Cretaceous to Palaeogene Alpine exhumation of previously buried Variscan basements is recorded in the southern portion of the Western Carpathians in the Gemeric and Veporic units. The Meso-Cenozoic collisional processes resulted in basement exhumation of the Tatric Unit from Palaeogene to Neogene times. According to zircon and apatite fission track data, the Gemeric Unit, an uppermost thick-skinned thrust sheet, cooled from depth levels of ∼10 up to 2.5 km (temperature interval of ∼250–60 °C) about 88–64 Ma ago, after the collapse of overlying Meliata-Turňa-Silica Mesozoic accretionary prism. The middle and lower thick-skinned thrust sheets, Veporic and Tatric units, cooled from the depths of ∼10 up to 2.5 km ∼110–40 Ma ago. The process was controlled by unroofing of footwall from beneath the Gemeric Unit. About 50–20 Ma ago, the internal zone of Tatric Unit gradually exhumed to depth of <2 km and some parts of the unit appeared at the surface level. However, the external zone of Tatric Unit was buried beneath the Eocene to Lower Miocene sedimentary successions and exhumed to the subsurface level at ∼21–8 Ma ago, as a result of oblique collision of the Western Carpathians with the European Platform.     

Early Stages of the Evolution of Uralides as Evidenced from the U–Pb Systematics of Detrital Zircons from Rift Complexes

The U–Pb isotope data and corresponding ages of detrital zircons from rocks of the basal complexes of the Uralides of different segments of the Ural Fold Belt are considered. It was established that complexes of ancient domains of the East European Platform (Volga-Uralia, Sarmatia, Kola, etc.) seem to have been the main provenance areas of the clastic material for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Urals. This means that there were relatively remote and local (igneous formations of the pre-Uralides) provenance areas. Rift rock associations of the Uralides of the Subpolar and Polar Urals were formed mainly through erosion of local provenance areas (predominantly, Late Riphean–Vendian island-arc and orogenic magmatic complexes of the Proto-Uralides–Timanides). Detrital zircons of Riphean age dominate in rocks of the basal complexes of the Uralides. A source for them could have been rock complexes of Svecofennian-Norwegian Orogen and Cadomides of the Scythian-Turan Plate, intraplate magmatic formations, and metamorphic complexes, as well as blocks accreted to the margin of the East European Platform in the Late Precambrian–Cambrian and later detached and displaced during the Ordovician rifting and spreading. In general, the basal complexes of Uralides were formed owing to supply of clastic material from both remote and local sources. Despite the appearance of information of a totally new level (U–Pb isotope ages of detrital zircons, their Lu–Hf systematics, and the distribution features of rare earth and trace elements), the contribution of these sources to the formation of the Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician clastic strata is hardly possible at present to evaluate.     

Crustal shear-wave velocity structure beneath northeast India from teleseismic receiver function analysis

We investigated the seismic shear-wave velocity structure of the crust beneath nine broadband seismological stations of the Shillong–Mikir plateau and its adjoining region using teleseismic P-wave receiver function analysis. The inverted shear wave velocity models show ∼34–38 km thick crust beneath the Shillong Plateau which increases to ∼37–38 km beneath the Brahmaputra valley and ∼46–48 km beneath the Himalayan foredeep region. The gradual increase of crustal thickness from the Shillong Plateau to Himalayan foredeep region is consistent with the underthrusting of Indian Plate beyond the surface collision boundary. A strong azimuthal variation is observed beneath SHL station. The modeling of receiver functions of teleseismic earthquakes arriving the SHL station from NE backazimuth (BAZ) shows a high velocity zone within depth range 2–8 km along with a low velocity zone within ∼8–13 km. In contrast, inversion of receiver functions from SE BAZ shows high velocity zone in the upper crust within depth range ∼10–18 km and low velocity zone within ∼18–36 km. The critical examination of ray piercing points at the depth of Moho shows that the rays from SE BAZ pierce mostly the southeast part of the plateau near Dauki fault zone. This observation suggests the effect of underthrusting Bengal sediments and the underlying oceanic crust in the south of the plateau facilitated by the EW-NE striking Dauki fault dipping 30⁰ toward northwest.     

Features of the Structure and Development of the Southeastern Part of the East European Platform and the Caspian Basin in the Late Precambrian‒Early Paleozoic

Geotectonics - The geological and sedimentological interpretation of several time and deep seismic profiles within junction zone of the Volga‒Ural area of the East European Platform,...     

Lower lithospheric structure beneath the Trans-European Suture Zone from POLONAISE''97 seismic profiles

The large-scale POLONAISE'97 seismic experiment investigated the velocity structure of the lithosphere in the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) region between the Precambrian East European Craton (EEC) and Palaeozoic Platform (PP). In the area of the Polish Basin, the P-wave velocity is very low (Vp <6.1 km/s) down to depths of 15–20 km, and the consolidated basement (Vp5.7–5.8 km/s) is 5–12 km deep. The thickness of the crust is 30 km beneath the Palaeozoic Platform, 40–45 km beneath the TESZ, and 40–50 km beneath the EEC. The compressional wave velocity of the sub-Moho mantle is >8.25 km/s in the Palaeozoic Platform and 8.1 km/s in the Precambrian Platform. Good quality record sections were obtained to the longest offsets of about 600 km from the shot points, with clear first arrivals and later phases of waves reflected/refracted in the lower lithosphere. Two-dimensional interpretation of the reversed system of travel times constrains a series of reflectors in the depth range of 50–90 km. A seismic reflector appears as a general feature at around 10 km depth below Moho in the area, independent of the actual depth to the Moho and sub-Moho seismic velocity. “Ringing reflections” are explained by relatively small-scale heterogeneities beneath the depth interval from 90 to 110 km. Qualitative interpretation of the observed wave field shows a differentiation of the reflectivity in the lower lithosphere. The seismic reflectivity of the uppermost mantle is stronger beneath the Palaeozoic Platform and TESZ than the East European Platform. The deepest interpreted seismic reflector with zone of high reflectivity may mark a change in upper mantle structure from an upper zone characterised by seismic scatterers of small vertical dimension to a lower zone with vertically larger seismic scatterers, possible caused by inclusions of partial melt.     

Crustal Structure of the Crimean Mountains along the Sevastopol–Kerch Profile from the Results of DSS and Local Seismic Tomography

The paper discusses the velocity structure of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains from the results of active and passive seismic experiments. Based on a new interpretation of seismic data from the old Sevastopol–Kerch DSS profile by modern full-wave seismic modeling methods, a velocity model of the crust beneath the Crimean Mountains has been constructed for the first time. This model shows the significant differences in the structure of two crustal blocks: (1) one characterized by higher velocities and located in the western and central Crimean Mountains, and (2) the other characterized by lower velocities and located in the east, in the Feodosiya–Kerch zone, which are subdivided by a basement uplift (Starokrymskoe Uplift). The former block is characterized by a more complex structure, with the Moho traced at depths of 43 and 55 km, forming two Moho discontinuities: the upper one corresponds to the platform stage, and the lower one, formed presumably at the Alpine stage of tectogenesis as a result of underthrusting of the East Black Sea microplate beneath the southern margin of the Scythian Plate in Crimea. At depths of 7–11 km, velocity inversion zone has been identified, indicating horizontal layering of the crust. Local seismic tomography using the data on weak earthquakes (m_b ≤ 3) recorded by the Crimean seismological network allowed us to obtain data on the crustal structure beneath the Crimean Mountains at depths of 10–30 km. The crustal structure at these depths is characterized by the presence of several high-velocity crustal bodies in the vicinity of cities Yalta, Alushta, and Sudak, with earthquake hypocenters clustered within these bodies. Comparison of this velocity model of the Crimean Mountains with the seismicity distribution and with the results from reconstruction of paleo- and present-day stress fields from field tectonophysical study and earthquake focal mechanisms allowed the conclusion that the Crimean Mountains were formed as a result of on mature crust at the southern margin of the East European Platform and Scythian Plate, resulting from processes during various phases of Cimmerian and Alpine tectogenesis in the compressional and transpressional geodynamic settings. The collisional process is ongoing at the present-day stage, as supported by high seismicity and uplift of the Crimean Mountains.     

Tectonics of the Ural paleozoides in comparison with the Tien Shan

The main differences and similarities between the tectonic features of the Urals and the Tien Shan are considered. In the Neoproterozoic and Early and Middle Paleozoic, the Ural and Turkestan oceanic basins were parts of one oceanic domain, with several distinct regions in which tectonic events took different courses. The Baltic continental margin of the Ural paleoocean was active, whereas the Tarim-Alay margin of the Turkestan ocean, similar in position, was passive. The opposite continental margin in the Urals is known beginning from the Devonian as the Kazakh-Kyrgyz paleocontinent. In the Tien Shan, a similar margin developed until the Late Ordovician as the Syr Darya block with the ancient continental crust. In the Silurian, this block became a part of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz paleocontinent. The internal structures of the Ural and Turkestan paleooceans were different. The East Ural microcontinent occurred in the Ural paleoocean during the Early and Middle Paleozoic. No microcontinents are established in the Turkestan oceanic basin. Volcanic arcs in the Ural paleoocean were formed in the Vendian (Ediacarian), at the Ordovician-Silurian boundary, and in the Devonian largely along the Baltic margin at different distances from its edge. In the Turkestan paleoocean, a volcanic arc probably existed in the Ordovician at its Syr Darya margin, i.e., on the other side of the ocean in comparison with the Urals. The subduction of the Turkestan oceanic crust developed with interruptions always in the same direction. The evolution of subduction in the Urals was more complicated. The island arc-continent collision occurred here in the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous; the continent-continent collision took place in the Moscovian simultaneously with the same process in the Tien Shan. The deepwater flysch basins induced by collision appeared at the Baltic margin in the Famennian and Visean, whereas in the Bashkirian and Moscovian they appeared at the Alay-Tarim margin. In the Devonian and Early Carboniferous, the Ural and Turkestan paleooceans had a common active margin along the Kazakh-Kyrgyz paleocontinent. The sudduction of the oceanic crust beneath this paleocontinent in both the Urals and the Tien Shan started, recommenced after interruptions, and finally ceased synchronously. In the South Ural segment, the Early Carboniferous subduction developed beneath both Baltica and the Kazakh-Kyrgyz paleocontinent, whereas in the Tien Shan, it occurred only beneath the latter paleocontinent. A divergent nappe-fold orogen was formed in the Urals as a result of collision of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz paleocontinent with the Baltic and Alay-Tarim paleocontinents, whereas a unilateral nappe-fold orogen arose in the Tien Shan. The growth of the high divergent orogen brought about the appearance of the Ural Foredeep filled with molasse beginning from the Kungurian. In the Tien Shan, a similar foredeep was not developed; a granitic axis similar to the main granitic axis in the Urals was not formed in the Tien Shan either.     

Crustal structure across the TESZ along POLONAISE''97 seismic profile P2 in NW Poland

The POLONAISE'97 (POlish Lithospheric ONset—An International Seismic Experiment, 1997) seismic experiment in Poland targeted the deep structure of the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) and the complex series of upper crustal features around the Polish Basin. One of the seismic profiles was the 300-km-long profile P2 in northwestern Poland across the TESZ. Results of 2D modelling show that the crustal thickness varies considerably along the profile: 29 km below the Palaeozoic Platform; 35–47 km at the crustal keel at the Teisseyre–Tornquist Zone (TTZ), slightly displaced to the northeast of the geologic inversion zone; and 42 km below the Precambrian Craton. In the Polish Basin and further to the south, the depth down to the consolidated basement is 6–14 km, as characterised by a velocity of 5.8–5.9 km/s. The low basement velocities, less than 6.0 km/s, extend to a depth of 16–22 km. In the middle crust, with a thickness of ca. 4–14 km, the velocity changes from 6.2 km/s in the southwestern to 6.8 km/s in the northeastern parts of the profile. The lower crust also differs between the southwestern and northeastern parts of the profile: from 8 km thickness, with a velocity of 6.8–7.0 km/s at a depth of 22 km, to ca.12 km thickness with a velocity of 7.0–7.2 km/s at a depth of 30 km. In the lowermost crust, a body with a velocity of 7.20–7.25 km/s was found above Moho at a depth of 33–45 km in the central part of the profile. Sub-Moho velocities are 8.2–8.3 km/s beneath the Palaeozoic Platform and TTZ, and about 8.1 km/s beneath the Precambrian Platform. Seismic reflectors in the upper mantle were interpreted at 45-km depth beneath the Palaeozoic Platform and 55-km depth beneath the TTZ.

The Polish Basin is an up to 14-km-thick asymmetric graben feature. The basement beneath the Palaeozoic Platform in the southwest is similar to other areas that were subject to Caledonian deformation (Avalonia) such that the Variscan basement has only been imaged at a shallow depth along the profile. At northeastern end of the profile, the velocity structure is comparable to the crustal structure found in other portions of the East European Craton (EEC). The crustal keel may be related to the geologic inversion processes or to magmatic underplating during the Carboniferous–Permian extension and volcanic activity.     

Deep structure of the southeastern part of the East European Platform

The results of CMP seismic data acquisition along regional deep profiles that cross large tectonic elements in the east of the East European Platform are considered. It has been established that the Zhiguli-Pugachev Arch and the Stavropol Depression (southern part of the Melekess Basin), as well as the Volga-Kama Anteclise and Pericaspian Syneclise, conjugate along reverse-thrust faults extending to the lower crust and Moho discontinuity. The position of the southeastern reverse-thrust boundary of the South Tatar Arch has been substantially specified in plan view and illustrated by seismic sections. Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that reverse-thrust faults of different orders are widespread in petroleum provinces in the east of the East European Platform, and this suggestion should be used in geological exploration. The CMP seismic data acquisition is efficient in studying the junction zones of large tectonic elements. It also provides insights into the deep structure of the Earth’s crust and its relationship to the structure and petroleum potential of the sedimentary cover and localization of oilfields. It is expedient to reprocess and integrate earlier seismic data in order to compile tectonic (tectonodynamic) regional maps on a new methodical basis.     

Early Ordovician conodonts from the Sakmara Zone of the Southern Urals) and their biogeography

The new data obtained on conodonts from the Lower Ordovician of the Kidryasovo, Akbulaksai, and Kuagach formations (the central part of the Sakmara Zone of the Southern Urals) allow to evaluate the biogeography of conodonts of this region. The comparison of conodont assemblages of the Southern Urals with well-studied conodont assemblages of the Baltoscandian Basin situated in the northwestern part of the East European Platform show that these assemblages were biogeographically isolated. This shows that basins of the central and eastern parts of the East European Platform were separated by land in the Early Ordovician.     

The East European Platform in the late Ediacaran: new paleomagnetic and geochronological data

The paleogeography of the Earth, including the East European Platform, is very inaccurately defined for the interval 500–700 Ma. The quantity and quality of Late Precambrian–Cambrian paleomagnetic data on this platform are absolutely insufficient for reliable paleogeographical or paleotectonic reconstructions. Since there are almost no unstudied objects in the platform that could be used for paleomagnetic studies, it seems reasonable to consider the deformed platform margins. Of particular interest is the Bashkir anticlinorium (South Urals) with numerous Ediacaran sedimentary sections, some of which contain tuff beds suitable for isotope dating. We present paleomagnetic and geochronological data on the Upper Ediacaran Zigan Formation, sampled in the western part of the western limb of the Bashkir anticlinorium. The East European Platform must have been at near-equatorial latitudes at ～550 Ma.     

Geodynamics and evolution of the northern East European Platform in the late Precambrian as inferred from regional seismic profiling

The available geological data on the Meso-and Neoproterozoic rocks in the north of the East European Platform are considered, involving the results of a comprehensive study along regional seismic profile I-I that extends for 460 km and crosses the main structural units of the Mezen Syneclise from SW to NE. Many previously unknown structural features of aulacogens filled with thick (up to 4–8 km) sequences of the Meso-and Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks that make up the preplate complex are demonstrated in this profile. The Riphean rocks are subdivided into three seismostratigraphic sequences: the lower part of the Lower Riphean, the Lower-Middle Riphean, and the Upper Riphean. The geodynamic events in the north of the East European Platform are correlated with those that occurred in its central part and the adjacent foldbelts.     

Lithosphere structure of European sedimentary basins from regional three-dimensional gravity modelling

A three-dimensional (3D) density model, approximated by two regional layers—the sedimentary cover and the crystalline crust (offshore, a sea-water layer was added), has been constructed in 1° averaging for the whole European continent. The crustal model is based on simplified velocity model represented by structure maps for main seismic horizons—the “seismic” basement and the Moho boundary. Laterally varying average density is assumed inside the model layers. Residual gravity anomalies, obtained by subtraction of the crustal gravity effect from the observed field, characterize the density heterogeneities in the upper mantle. Mantle anomalies are shown to correlate with the upper mantle velocity inhomogeneities revealed from seismic tomography data and geothermal data. Considering the type of mantle anomaly, specific features of the evolution and type of isostatic compensation, the sedimentary basins in Europe may be related into some groups: deep sedimentary basins located in the East European Platform and its northern and eastern margins (Peri-Caspian, Dnieper–Donets, Barents Sea Basins, Fore–Ural Trough) with no significant mantle anomalies; basins located on the activated thin crust of Variscan Western Europe and Mediterranean area with negative mantle anomalies of −150 to −200×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² amplitude and the basins associated with suture zones at the western and southern margins of the East European Platform (Polish Trough, South Caspian Basin) characterized by positive mantle anomalies of 50–150×10⁻⁵ ms⁻² magnitude. An analysis of the main features of the lithosphere structure of the basins in Europe and type of the compensation has been carried out.     

The Ufa indenter: stratigraphic and geophysic evidences for an actual indentation of the Southern Urals by the East European craton

Study of the altitudes of the lowest part of the Upper Cretaceous–Eocene and Aktschagylian–Quaternary stratigraphic ensembles known on the western slope of the Southern Urals evidences the existence of an East–West elongated dome which follows the N53° latitude. This ridge is superimposed at depth with the remnants of the Sernovodsk–Abdulino Aulacogen and with the Belaya tear fault, which support the existence of a recent rejuvenation of these old structures. North of these disruptions the Southern Urals display a clear bent towards the East. Detailed microstructural studies show that this curvature is associated with a typical stress pattern which suggests the existence of an indentation of the fold belt by the East European craton. The hypothesis of an Ufa indenter is not supported by an equivalent East–West deep fault north of the bend. However, a long N100° magnetic anomaly, interpreted as a shear zone, suggests that the indenter is a reality. Quaternary uplift and crustal thickening at its front as well as seismological data support our interpretation. It is not stressed that the curvature of the Urals observed at 56° latitude results solely from this recent indentation. It is only assumed that the actual indentation is rejuvenating a former unevenness which existed before in the East European craton. Study of the inner part of the indenter shows that this type of structure is not necessarily rigid and undeformed. Some of the structures described on the URSEIS deep seismic line could be much younger than previously expected.     

Structure of the Pre-Paleozoic Formation of the Central Ural Uplift in the Northern and Subpolar Urals and Its Relation with Gold Production

The Central Ural uplift occupies the near-Vodorazdelnaya part of the Urals. It is composed of metaterrigenous and metavolcanogenic Riphean–Vendian formations. Distributed folds, which formed in several stages, and various tectonic faults are widespread. The study of these structures in the areas located in the Northern and Subpolar Urals showed their lateral and temporal variability, which was reflected in the difference in morphology and nature of faulting. In the Vodorazdelnaya area of the Northern Urals, as a result of thrust–fold deformations, a complex fold structure of the sequence was formed, subsequently broken by two submeridional subparallel faults into blocks. In the Khalmerya area of the Subpolar Urals, there are several tectonic blocks bounded by gently eastward dipping and overlapping tectonic blocks that form a duplex structure. This series of thrust structures created a complex cover structure contrasting in composition and degree of deformation. Later, a northeastern strike-slip fault zone arose. The orientation of early isoclinal folds in the rocks indicates pressure from the northeast, during the formation of tectonic scales and sheets in the Precambrian basement. Then this pressure occurred from the southeast and the Lower Paleozoic sediments were involved in the thrust process. Differences in the features of the formation of structures apparently depend on the morphology of the eastern margin of the East European platform and the change in the vector of displacement of the thrust sheet. The movement of the thrust sheets within the continental margin occurred along the main surface of the fault, with which the thrust structures are articulated at depth. At the final stages, extended strike-slip-upthrust zones were established, which affected the distribution of he gold mineralization.