MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE NEOTECTONIC ACTIVATION OF THE MOUNTAIN BORDERING THE MUYA-KUANDA RIFT VALLEY (BAIKAL RIFT ZONE)

Abstract

Geological and geomorphological studies of the northeastern branch of the Baikal rift zone have revealed structural features of sedimentary strata, as well as the features of lithology and interaction of heterochronous loose sedimentary complexes, block structure of rift valley bottoms and their mountain border, fault network, and activated Cenozoic faults. The Middle Pleistocene neotectonic uplift was identified on the southern slopes of the North Muya and the Kodar ranges and in the mountains bordering the Muya-Kuanda and Parama rift valleys. The authors have studied the parameters of this uplift, determined neotectonic movement amplitudes in the uplift areas, traced the marginal disjunctives and the kinematics of their movements, and identified homochromous sedimentary strata and determined their formation age.The activation of tectonic processes, during which the neotectonic uplift was formed, occurred in the early Middle Pleistocene, before the onset of glaciation. The formation of a dammed lake in the system of Muya-Kuanda rift valleys is associated with the tectonic damming of the Vitim River. During the Middle Pleistocene glaciation, the Kodar Range glaciers have twice formed the ice dams in the area of Lake Oron, which led to the emergence of dammed lakes in the Vitim valley connected with lakes in the Muya-Kuanda troughs. The shoreline of these lakes is preserved as a high rock terrace with an absolute height of 860±10 m along the perimeter of the rift valleys.In the Late Pleistocene, the terrace complex in the Muya-Kuanda rift valleys was mainly formed under the influence of climatic factor.

Keywords

• baikal rift zone
• muya rift valleys
• activated neotectonic block
• rock terrace
• faults
• middle pleistocene glaciation
• dammed lake