SEISMOGENIC DEFORMATIONS IN EARLY HOLOCENE SEDIMENTS OF THE PECHENGA RIVER TERRACE (KOLA PENINSULA)

Abstract

The Kola Peninsula, an element of the northwestern Baltic Shield, is not a high-seismicity region at present. This has not always been the case, however, as is evident from seismic paleodeformations reflecting strong earthquakes. The latter were discovered in the course of geologic–geomorphologic works and the analysis of air photos of mainly crystalline rocks. Morphologic patterns and genetic aspects of deformations in incoherent sediments of the Kola region have yet to be sufficiently studied despite the fact that many researchers have reported such structures. Their origin is usually attributed to glaciotectonic and cryoturbation processes.