Large-scale mapping of neotectonics of platform territories: Case study of Moscow

The experience in large scale (1: 50000–1: 10000) neotectonic mapping of platform areas is discussed. The structural characteristics of the geological environment (the large size of major structural forms, the extremely low gradients, speeds, and the amplitudes of the most recent and modern tectonic movements, etc.) cause some difficulties for their cartographic representation. A considerable part of legends of neotectonic maps of platforms mostly reflect the geomorphologic component, which is an indirect indicator to the most recent structures and, in essence, such maps are geomorphologic-neotectonic. The large-scale neotectonic mapping requires a comprehensive analysis of the nature and age of all significant elements of earth surface topography and the structure of Cenozoic deposits, the identification of the regularities in their space and time development that can be caused by and attributed to geodynamic factors. Such studies must be based on materials of medium- and small-scale generalizations.