GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE LATE PRECAMBRIAN PATOM SUPERGROUP (CENTRAL SIBERIA)

Abstract

The Patom Supergroup, which constitutes the outer arc of the Patom fold zone, represents one of the thickest and most complete Late Precambrian sections in the Siberian Platform framing. This section is of key importance for understanding the geological history of the northern Baikal orogenic region and for dating Late Precambrian glaciation of Siberia. The Patom Supergroup is subdivided into three groups and nine formations (figure). Its stratotype is located in the eastern branch of the outer arc in the Zhuya River. Based on marker members and successive correlation of sections, analogues of all stratotype units are traced to the north-east up to the transverse Ura Uplift, to the east up to the western slope of the Aldan Shield, and to the west up to the Bodaibo Synclinorium. This correlation was confirmed with some refinements by many specific works and standard geological surveys (scale 1: 200 000 or larger).