LOZ'VA DISLOCATIONS OF THE NORTH TRANSURAL REGION: A RESPONSE TO NEOTECTONIC UNDERTHRUSTING OF THE WEST SIBERIAN PLATFORM BENEATH THE URALS

Abstract

Recent data point to the nonrigid behavior of lithospheric plates, the Eurasian plate included. The plates have undergone different degrees of deformations and fragmentation into smaller plates (subplates, microplates, miniplates, and so on). These deformations are heterogeneous. The oceanic part of the composite plate is often detached from the continental part. Fragments of the continental crust (continents and microcontinents) behave frequently as more rigid deformation “tools” (indenters). The continental blocks also show features of heterogeneous behavior: the cratons appear to be more rigid, while young platforms are more frequently subjected to repeated superimposed deformations.