Russian Journal of Earth Sciences
Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2003
The Vendian-Early Paleozoic History of the Continental Margin of
Eastern Paleogondwana, Paleoasian Ocean, and Central Asian Foldbelt
T. N. Kheraskova, A. N. Didenko, V. A. Bush, and Yu. A. Volozh
Abstract
This paper is based on the results of the work done
during a long period of time in the framework of the
International Project "Atlas of Lithopaleographic, Structural
and Geoecological Maps of Central Eurasia''. Having generalized
the original and published data available for the geologic
structure and paleomagnetism of the Altai-Sayan and Ural
regions, the Siberian Craton, the East-European Platform,
Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Tien Shan, palinspastic maps have been
compiled for the Vendian, Early Cambrian, and Early and Late
Ordovician (600, 525, 500, and 450 Ma). The maps depict the
composition of the rocks and the environments of their origin.
The structure, evolution, and geological history of the
Paleoasian Ocean is described as a system of marginal basins and
island arcs belonging to the continental margin of the East
Paleogondwana (a fragment of the Rodinia Supercontinent),
including the early stages of the transformation of the
Paleoasian Ocean into a fold-and-nappe structure. The maps are
accompanied by numerous cross sections, palinspastic profiles,
and maps of some areas, showing the details of individual
structural features.