Local neotectonic restructuring in the North Caucasus orogene

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Abstract

Cases of regional neotectonic restructuring are well known in the Caucasus. Detailed geotectonic zoning and identification of local structural changes are required for the engineering geological and paleoecological studies. The Baksan River valley was studied in the North Caucasus as an example of such a restructuring. The problem about the number of Quaternary volcanogenic strata and their role in structural rearrangement is considered. The Pliocene – Plio-Pleistocene volcanogenic strata cloak-like covered the Nizhnechegemsky district before the first reconstruction. Zayuksky graben (with an amplitude of 200 m) was formed in the end of Plio-Pleistocene; and a part of Pliocene- Plio-Pleistocene volcanogenic strata sank into it. Two layers with a total thickness of more than 100 m were deposited in the resulting trough. The upper strata (baxangess) contain redeposited boulder-pebbly volcanogenic material. Colluvial, subaquatic-deltoid and lacustrian facies are registered. The orographic depression in Zayuksky graben was completely filled before Eopleistocene as a result of next restructuring. The Baksan River began to form a wide well-terraced valley without any significant left tributaries there. The baxangess strata contain pebble of liparite lavas and obsidians. This pebble was used by the Paleolithic man for making stone tools. Poor roundness of pebble indicates its short transportation distance. Contradictory ideas about the initial distribution of parental volcanic rocks are considered. It is concluded on the acuteness of identifying such neotectonic rearrangements for the analysis of various paleogeographic and paleoecological changes.

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About the authors

S. A. Nesmeyanov

Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: voa49@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 13, str. 2, Ulansky per., Moscow, 101000

O. A. Voeykova

Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience RAS

Email: voa49@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 13, str. 2, Ulansky per., Moscow, 101000

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2. Fig. 1. Small-scale scheme of non-structural zoning of part of the Baksan and Fanduko river basins and geological profile. 1 - Kabardian depression; 2 - megastock border; 3 - axial lift megasport; 4-6 - structures of the north wing of the mega watershed: 4 - zones of elevations, 5-6 - structural steps (5 - high, 6 - low); 7 - Pshekish-Ternauz suture zone; 8 - breaks; 9 - flexures; 10 - Elbrus volcano; 11 - territory, the neotectonic scheme of which is shown in Fig. 2

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3. Fig. 2. Scheme of local non-structural zoning of the r. Baksan in the area with. Zayukovo and adjacent territories in the Late Paleo-Pleistocene. 1-2 - faults: 1 - discharges; 2 - buried breaks; 3-4 —flexures: 3 — local, 4 — regional; 5-6 - numbers of structures: 5 - discontinuous (N - Nalchik regional flexure, 1-4 - discharges: 1 - South Kharakhor, 2 - East Kharakhor, 3 - Arsyuk, 4 - Yuzhnoyakuinsky; 5 - North Fanduk flexure; 6 - blocks (1 - Kharakhor uplift, 2 - Shitlyamyzhsk uplift, 3 - West Zayuk graben, 4 - Zayuk graben, 5 - Fanduk step, K - Kabardian depression); 7-10 - types of block structures: 7 - Kabardinian depression, 8 - horst, 9 - structural steps , 10 — grabens; 11 — outcrop of the Baksangheskaya stratum on the right bank of the Baksan River.

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4. Fig. 3. Schemes of the ratio of volcanic and sedimentary formations in the valley. Baksan y with. Zayukovo. Profiles (according to [14] with additions): a - y s. Zayukovo, near the mouth of the river. Bagoko, b - at the bridge over the river. Baksan on the southern outskirts with. Kyzburun-1, in - at the village. Baksanges 1 - bedrock of Cretaceous and Paleogene age; 2 — volcanic rocks of the first complex of the Akchagyl age (watershed and intra-valley; 3 — volcanogenic-alluvial-prolavial sediments of the Baksangeskaya suite of the Late Achchagyly-Early-Absheron age; 4-5 — alluvial deposits: 4 - Sarmakovo-Late-Apsheronian; - low-power alluvial cover, some exotic pebbles and boulders on the surface of intra-valley volcanics; 7 - active newest faults; 8 - early rockchyl (probably more ancient) ie) alluvial pebbles, underlying volcanic formations.

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5. Fig. 4. Different facies of the deposits of the Baksangas stratum (photo by EV Doronicheva). Facies: A - underwater delta, B - landslide-landslide, slope-block, C - lake.

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6. Fig. 5. Scheme of the local Eopleistocene-Neopleistocene zoning of the r. Baksan near the village of Zayukovo and adjacent territories.

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