DOCSLIB.ORG

Pre-Jurassic Basement of the Greater Caucasus: Brief Overview

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences (Turkish J. Earth Sci.), Vol.M.L. 20, 2011, SOMIN pp. 545–610. Copyright ©TÜBİTAK doi:10.3906/yer-1008-6 First published online 10 May 2011 Pre-Jurassic Basement of the Greater Caucasus: Brief Overview MARK L. SOMIN Institute of Physics of the Earth RAS, 10 Bolshaya Gruzinskaya str., Moscow, Russia (E-mail: [email protected]) Received 15 October; revised typescripts receipt 28 March 2011 & 29 April 2011; accepted 10 May 2011 Abstract: Th e main units of the Greater Caucasus pre-Jurassic basement are represented by Svanetian and North- Caucasian domains brought together tectonically. Th e former includes continuous Devonian to Upper Triassic marine sequence devoid of any manifestation of Variscan orogenic activity. In contrast, within the limits of the North-Caucasian domain the Variscan events are expressed in classical form. Th is domain is very heterogeneous and contains both metamorphosed and unmetamorphosed formations. Till recently the former was considered by most authors to be mainly Proterozoic. New geochronological data indicate that the predominant part of these complexes is Palaeozoic in their protolith age. Lithology, P/T conditions of metamorphism, types of associated granitoids and other features are changing drastically from zone to zone demonstrating a collage (terrane)-type structure. Th e southernmost Laba and Buulgen LP/HT metamorphic complexes are essentially mafi c, include I-type metagranitoids and originated in island-arc and ensimatic marginal sea environments. Steep tightly compressed SW- vergent folds, partly as a result of the Early Alpine deformation, are developed. Palaeontological and U-Pb TIMS, SHRIMP and other data yielded mostly Middle Palaeozoic ages for these complexes. Next to the north of the Makera and Gondaray complexes of the Main Range zone are also of LP/HT type but they are typical ensialic and are replaced by huge masses of the Upper Palaeozoic S-type granite. Gentle monocline and dome-like position of foliation is characteristic for this zone. Zircon dating had established Silurian and Devonian age of the Gondaray complex metamagmatic rocks, and mostly Ordovician of the Makera complex ones. Zircon of migmatite’s leucosome showed the Late Palaeozoic age of the peak metamorphism, which occurred almost synchronously with the S-granite crystallization. Th e Fore Range zone is characterized by column of pre-Upper Palaeozoic nappes. Its lowermost unit, the Blyb complex of krystallinikum, previously has been considered by most authors as an old (Proterozoic) basement for the overlying Middle Palaeozoic greenstone island arc sequences. New data indicate that the Blyb complex is an essentially ensimatic HP/LT formation partly coeval to the island arc. It forms a dome-like tectonic window cut in the arc and overlying ophiolite and the Atsgara metamorphic nappes. Th e Pass area of the Main Range is supposed to be the root zone of these nappes. Th e northernmost pre-Jurassic tectonic zone of the Greater Caucasus is Bechasyn. It includes a greenschist (–blueschist?) basement and transgressive sedimentary cover. New data on zircons demonstrated that both units are Lower Palaeozoic although tectonic wedges of Cadomian basement also exist there. Th e data permit to propose that in the Middle Palaeozoic the main subduction zone of the Greater Caucasus was disposed in the Fore Range zone and magmatic and metamorphic events within the Main Range were probably connected with activity of this zone. Key Words: Greater Caucasus, Palaeozoic, metamorphic complexes, granitoids, structure, U-Pb dating Büyük Kafk asların Jura Öncesi Temeli Özet: Büyük Kafk asların Jura öncesi temeli tektonik olarak yanyana gelmiş Svanetiyen ve Kuzey-Kafk as bölgelerinden oluşur. Svanetiyen bölgesi Variskan orojenik olaylarının gözlenmediği Devoniyen’den Triyas’a kadar sürekli sedimantasyon gösteren bir istif ile tanımlanır. Buna karşın, Kuzey-Kafk as bölgesinde klasik Variskan orojenik olaylar yer alır. Çok heterojen olan Kuzey-Kafk as bölgesi içinde metamorfi k ve metamorfi k olmayan formasyonlar bulunur. Yakın zamana kadar bu bölgedeki metamorfi k birimler Proterzoyik yaşlı olarak kabul edilmekteydi. Buna karşın yeni jeokronolojik veriler metamorfi k komplekslerin ana kayalarının genellikle Paleozoyik yaşta olduğunu göstermiştir. Kuzey-Kafk as bölgesi içinde metamorfi k birimlerin litolojileri, metamorfi zma tipleri, metamorfi zmayla ilişkili granitoidler ve diğer özellikler bölgeden bölgeye değişiklik gösterir ve Kuzey-Kafk as bölgesinin bir mıntıkalar (terrane) topluluğu olduğuna işaret eder. 545 PRE-JURASSIC BASEMENT OF THE CAUCASUS Kuzey-Kafk as bölgesinin en güneyinde yer alan Laba ve Buulgen DB/YS (düşük basınç / yüksek sıcaklık) metamorfi k kompleksleri mafi k özelliktedir ve ada-yaylarında ve ensimatik kenar denizlerde oluşan I-tipi metagranitoidler içerir. Bu bölgede kısmen erken Alpin olaylar sonucu oluşmuş güneybatıya verjanslı, dik sıkışık kıvrımlar gözlenir. Paleontolojik bulgular ve U-Pb TIMS, SHRIMP verileri Laba ve Buulgen komplekslerinin orta Paleozoyik yaşında olduğuna işaret eder. Laba ve Buulgen komplekslerinin kuzeyinde Ana Kuşak zonunda (Main Range Zone) yer alan Makera ve Gondaray kompleksleri ensialiktir ve baskın olarak Geç Paleozoyik yaşlı S-tipi granitoidlerden yapılmıştır. Bu bölge için tipik yapısal stil foliasyonun yumuşak domsal yapısı ve yumuşak monoklinallerdir. Zirkon yaş tayinleri Gondaray kompleksi metamagmatik kayalarının Siluryen ve Devoniyen yaşında, benzer kayaların Makera Kompleksinde ise Ordovisyen yaşında olduğunu göstermiştir. Migmatit lökosomundan elde edilen zirkon yaşları metamorfi zma zirvesinin, S-tipi granit kristalleşmesi ile eşyaşlı olarak, Geç Paleozyik yaşında olduğuna işaret eder. Ön Kuşak Zonu (Fore Range zone) Geç Paleozoyik öncesi naplar ile karakterize olur. Bu zonda en altta yer alan ve kristalen kayalardan oluşan Blyb Kompleksi geçmişte, daha üstte bulunan orta Paleozoyik yaşta ada yayı mafi k kayalarının temeli olarak kabul edilmiştir. Yeni veriler Blyb Kompleksi’nin, üstteki ada-yayı kayaları ile benzer yaşta, bir ensimatik yüksek basınç-düşük sucaklık (YB/DS) kompleksi olduğunu göstermiştir. Blyb Kompleksi üstte yer alan ada- yayı, ofi yolit ve metamorfi k napların altından dom şeklinde bir tektonik pencerede yüzeyler. Bu napların köken zonu Ana Kuşak zonundaki Pass bölgesi olarak kabul edilir. Büyük Kafk asların Jura-öncesi en kuzey zonu, eskiden yeşilşist fasiyesinde bir temel ve sedimenter bir örtüden oluştuğu kabul edilen Bechasyn Kompleksi’dir. Yeni zirkon verileri her iki birimin de Erken Paleozoyik yaşında olduğuna işaret eder; buna karşın Kadomiyen yaşlı ufak dilimler bu bölgede bulunabilir. Veriler orta Paleozoyik’de Büyük Kafk aslar’da ana dalma-batma zonunun Ön Kuşak zonunda bulunduğunu ve Ana Kuşak Zonu’ndaki magmatik ve metamorfi k olayların bu dalma-batmaya bağlı olarak geliştiğini göstermektedir. Anahtar Sözcükler: Büyük Kafk aslar, Paleozoyik, metamorfi k kompleks, granitoyidler, yapı, U-Pb yaş tayini Introduction Main Caucasian Fault separates basement exposures Th e Greater Caucasus is an Alpine folded and highly of the Main Caucasian Range and the Southern elevated system, which borders from the south the Slope zone. Th is fault represents a long lived magma- Scythian platform, the southern promontory of conducting steep zone developed at least since the the East-European platform. Th e Trans-Caucasian Middle Jurassic (Somin 2000). Interpretation of the median massif separates the Greater Caucasus from Main Caucasian Fault as frontal basal part of great- the Lesser Caucasus folded system. Th e Black Sea amplitude thrust sheet (Dotduev 1986; Baranov et al. and the Caspian Sea superimposed basins fl ank 1991) seems to be wrong. the Greater Caucasus from the west and the east, Pre-Jurassic basement complexes of the Greater respectively (Figure 1). Caucasus crop out within the limits of two domains, Th e Alpine structure of the Greater Caucasus Svanetian and North-Caucasian (Figures 1 & 2). Th e is relatively simple. Jurassic and younger marine, fi rst one disposes in the Southern Slope zone, whereas shallow-water, partly continental sediments form the North Caucasian domain crops out to the north. more or less fl at monocline (Laba-Malka zone) at the Th ese two domains diff er drastically: in the Svanetian northern limb of the Greater Caucasus anticlinorium. domain the single event of pre-Alpine folding was To the south the thickness of the Mesozoic sediments Indosynian (Early Kimmerian, i.e. pre-Early Liassic), increases, and more and more intense mostly south- whereas in the North-Caucasian domain typical vergent folding combined with thrusts and small Variscan (i.e. Middle–Late Palaeozoic) events have nappes appear. In the North-Western (‘Central’) occurred. Caucasus the Laba-Malka zone is separated from this Th e main purpose of this paper is to give vast folded area called Southern Slope zone by wide the new information on geology of the North- parallelogram-shaded exposures of the pre-Jurassic Caucasian domain, especially on its metamorphic basement dissected into diff erent blocks by steep complexes. Problems of their ages, lithology, faults, thrusts and narrow structural depressions conditions of metamorphism, main features of fi lled mostly with Lower Jurassic sediments. Th e structure and relations with unmetamorphosed 546 M.L. SOMIN exposures of the pre-Jurassic complex Figure 1. Scheme of distribution of some tectonic elements in the Caucasus. pre-Upper Palaeozoic complexes are discussed. Th e marine
Recommended publications
  • The Human Imprint on the Unique Geological Landscape of the Western Caucasus

    The Human Imprint on the Unique Geological Landscape of the Western Caucasus

    Anna V. Mikhailenko et al. Geologos 26, 3 (2020): 233–244 DOI: 10.2478/logos-2020-0022 The human imprint on the unique geological landscape of the Western Caucasus Anna V. Mikhailenko1, Dmitry A. Ruban2,3*, Svetlana O. Zorina4, Konstantin I. Nikashin4, Natalia N. Yashalova5 1Institute of Earth Sciences, Southern Federal University, Zorge Street 40, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia 2K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management (The First Cossack University), Zemlyanoy Val Street 73, Moscow 109004, Russia 3Department of Hospitality Business, Higher School of Business, Southern Federal University, 23-ja Linija Street 43, Rostov-on-Don 344019, Russia (postal address: P.O. Box 7333, Rostov-on-Don 344056, Russia) 4 Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies, Kazan Federal University, Kremlyovskaya Street 18, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420008, Russia 5Department of Economics and Management, Business School, Cherepovets State University, Sovetskiy Avenue 10, Cherepovets, Vologda Region 162600, Russia *corresponding author; e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Human intervention in the geological environment is commonly thought to pose a threat to geoheritage. However, new information from the Western Caucasus where unique geological features are concentrated in Mountainous Ady- geya, implies that man-made features in fact add value to geoheritage. Such features include a lengthy artificial niche in the Guama Gorge, accumulations of large artificial clasts along the road leading to the Lagonaki Highland and the Khadzhokh Quarry with the artificial Red Lake. These contribute to the regional uniqueness of geosites and can be classified as geomorphological, sedimentary, economical and hydro(geo)logical geoheritage types. Interestingly, these artificial features have natural analogues in the study area.
  • Preparation of Papers in Two-Column Format for the Proceedings Of

    Preparation of Papers in Two-Column Format for the Proceedings Of

    INTEGRATION OF COASTAL ZONE DATA INTO THE BLACK SEA GIS Elena Zhuk, Marine Hydrophisical Institute RAS, Russia Alexey Khaliulin, Marine Hydrophisical Institute RAS, Russia Marina Krylenko, Southern branch of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Russia Ruben Kosyan, Southern branch of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Russia [email protected] While creating the Black Sea GIS, the primary attention was paid to selecting free and platform independent software capable of providing necessary functionality and to possible extending the system with new data and facilities. To use coastal zone data, a special module was developed. At present, it includes data for the coastline of about 105 km from Magry to Adler. These data were obtained in SB SIO RAS and transferred to MHI data base in framework of their joint activities. Key words: Black Sea GIS, oceanographic database, coastal zone data I. INTRODUCTION The economical land development by mankind is nearly always connected with sea and ocean coasts. It was there that industrial centers were created due to the exceptional transport accessibility. That is why the regional economical and commercial development was based in the coastal zones which possess rich resources and seem to be among the most used and attractive for investments areas in the world economy. The experience of economical development in the coastal areas allows distinguishing the two main types of spatial organization of the coastal zone economy. One of them is often related to the industrial and commercial specialization, including transport activities. The other type is connected with the recreation and tourism business including conditions for ecological tourism.
  • In the Umanities "Alma Mater"

    In the Umanities "Alma Mater"

    SOFIA UNIVERSITY “ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI” BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN REGIONS: MAKE THEM WORK INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 14-16 May 2015, Borovets, Bulgaria NIGGG The event is organized and sponsored by the “National, European, and Civilization Dimensions of the Culture – Language – Me- dia Dialogue” Program of the “Alma Mater” University Complex for the Humanities at Sofia University “Saint Kliment Ohridski “, funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, Youth, and Science Scientific Research Fund. EDITORS: BOIAN KOULOV, URS WAGENSEIL, MARIANA NIKOLOVA, HENRIK HALKIER, ASSEN ASSENOV, MONICA DIMITRASCU, VASIL MARINOV, MEHMET SOMUNCHU, ELKA DOGRAMADJIEVA, SNEZANA STETIC, ELENA MATEI, MATIJA ZORN, BILIANA BORISOVA, ROBERT WILUŚ, MARIANA ASSENOVA, IVICA MILEVSKI, STOYAN NEDKOV Publisher: Fakel 2015 ISBN 978-954-411-220-2 The content of each report in the book is the sole responsibility of the respective author(s). 9 789544 112202 2 CONTENT I. RISKS AND THEIR MITIGATION IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS: REGIONAL AND TRANS-BORDER POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY..................................................................................................................6 NEW CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF RISK MANAGEMENT OF SNOW AVALANCHE IN ROMANIAN CARPATHIANS. CASE STUDY: FAGARAS MASSIF-SOUTHERN CARPATHIANS...........................7 Mircea VOICULESCU SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS ...........19 Venelin TERZIEV, Ekaterina ARABSKA, Zlatka GRIGOROVA
  • Paeonia Caucasica (Schipcz.) Schipcz

    Paeonia Caucasica (Schipcz.) Schipcz

    Ecologica Montenegrina 37: 43-50 (2020) This journal is available online at: www.biotaxa.org/em http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.37.6 Paeonia caucasica (Schipcz.) Schipcz. in phytocenoses of the Republic of Adygea EMILIA A. SIROTYUK, AMINET E. SHADGE & GALINA N. GUNINA Maykop State Technological University, Maykop, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] Received 2 October 2020 │ Accepted by V. Pešić: 5 November 2020 │ Published online 17 November 2020. Abstract Populations of Paeonia caucasica (Schipcz.) Schipcz., 1937 growing in various forest phytocenoses were discovered and studied during the monitoring of protected plant species in the Republic of Adygea. The allocation of the species to a certain range of altitudes above sea level and types of communities were defined. The ontogenetic structure and states of plants were identified, and the state of P. caucasica populations was assessed. Key words: distribution, ecological features, reproduction, populations, numbers, ontogenetic structure, limiting factors. Introduction The Republic of Adygea is located in the Northwest Caucasus, in one of the most complex natural regions of the Caucasus with a diverse flora (Fig. 1). The geographical position of the Republic has resulted in the presence of several geographical zones and vertical vegetation belts, significant landscape, phytocenotic and floristic diversity, as well as a high level of endemism and relict flora on its territory (Shadge et al. 2019, Sirotyuk 2019). According to M.D. Altukhov (Altukhov 1985) there are about 350 endemic Caucasian species in the Northwest Caucasus, which form the "face" of the flora and reflect its long-term evolution. The specially protected natural territories occupy about 30% of the territory of the Republic of Adygea and 14% of its lands are classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site "Western Caucasus" (Zhane 1999).
  • RUSSIAN FEDERATION This Large Site on the Western End of the Greater Caucasus Mountains Is in One of the Few Great Mountain Ranges of Europe Almost Undisturbed by Man

    RUSSIAN FEDERATION This Large Site on the Western End of the Greater Caucasus Mountains Is in One of the Few Great Mountain Ranges of Europe Almost Undisturbed by Man

    WESTERN CAUCASUS RUSSIAN FEDERATION This large site on the western end of the Greater Caucasus Mountains is in one of the few great mountain ranges of Europe almost undisturbed by man. Its extensive mountain forests, from subtropical to alpine, are unique in Europe and its high pastures have been grazed only by wild animals. The site is on the edge of the Colchian centre of plant diversity barely 30 kilometres from the Black Sea. Stretching between lowlands and alpine mountains, it includes four-fifths of the ecosystems of the Caucasus and includes many endemic and relict species such as the reintroduced European bison. Threats to the site: Construction of more than 250 facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympics is heavily impinging on the site and region. COUNTRY Russian Federation NAME Western Caucasus NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SERIAL SITE 1999: Inscribed on the World Heritage List under Natural Criteria ix and x. STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE [pending] The UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued the following statement at the time of inscription: Justification for Inscription The Western Caucasus has a remarkable diversity of geology, ecosystems and species. It is of global significance as a centre of plant diversity. Along with the Virgin Komi World Heritage site, it is the only large mountain area in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact, containing extensive tracts of undisturbed mountain forests unique on the European scale. INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION 1978: Kavkazskiy designated a Biosphere Reserve under the
  • The State Hermitage Museum Annual Report 2012

    The State Hermitage Museum Annual Report 2012

    THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT n 2012 CONTENTS General Editor 4 Year of Village and Garden Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum, 6 State Hermitage Museum. General Information Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 16 Awards Full Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Professor of St. Petersburg State University, 20 Composition of the Hermitage Collection as of 1 January 2013 Doctor of History 40 Exhibitions 86 Restoration and Conservation 121 Publications EDITORIAL BOARD: 135 Electronic Editions and Video Films Mikhail Piotrovsky, 136 Conferences General Director of the State Hermitage Museum 141 Dissertations Georgy Vilinbakhov, 142 Archaeological Expeditions Deputy Director for Research 158 Major Construction and Restoration of the Buildings Svetlana Adaksina, Deputy Director, Chief Curator 170 Structure of Visits to the State Hermitage in 2012 Marina Antipova, 171 Educational Events Deputy Director for Finance and Planning 180 Special Development Programmes Alexey Bogdanov, Deputy Director for Maintenance 188 International Advisory Board of the State Hermitage Museum Vladimir Matveyev, 190 Guests of the Hermitage Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Development 194 Hermitage Friends Organisations Mikhail Novikov, 204 Hermitage Friends’ Club Deputy Director for Construction 206 Financial Statements of the State Hermitage Museum Mariam Dandamayeva, Academic Secretary 208 Principal Patrons and Sponsors of the State Hermitage Museum in 2012 Yelena Zvyagintseva, 210 Staff Members of
  • World Bank Document

    World Bank Document

    Krasnodar GRES Project Public Disclosure Authorized Volume III Environmental Assessment March 1996 Prepared by: Burns and Roe Environmental Services, Inc. Kuban State Agricultural University Public Disclosure Authorized Russian Oil Initiatives, Ltd. Submitted by: Burns and Roe Enterprises, Inc. Project Manager Submitted to: Krasnodar Project Ownership Group RAO EES Rossii AO Kubanenergo Public Disclosure Authorized RAO Gasprom AO Energo Machine Building Corp. Unified Electric Energy Complex Corp. Amoco Eurasia Petroleum Company U.S. Agency for International Development The World Bank Contract No.: CCN-0002-Q-00-3154-00 Public Disclosure Authorized Energy Efficiency and Market Reform Project Delivery Order No. 1, Krasnodar * Krasnodar GRES Project Volume III Environmental Assessment March 1996 Prepared by: Burns and Roe Environmental Services, Inc. Kuban State Agricultural University Russian Oil Initiatives, Ltd. Submitted by: Burns and Roe Enterprises, Inc. * Project Manager Submitted to: Krasnodar Project Ownership Group RAO EES Rossii AO Kubanenergo RAO Gasprom AO Energo Machine Building Corp. Unified Electric Energy Complex Corp. Amoco Eurasia Petroleum Company U.S. Agency for International Development The World Bank Contract No.-: CCN-0002-Q-00-3154-00 Energy Efficiency and Market Reform Project x0 Delivery Order No. 1, Krasnodar TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction ........................... 1-1 1.2 Project Description .......................... 1-1 1.2.1 Site Description ......................... 1-2 1.2.2 Infrastructure .......................... 1-2 1.3 Potential Environmental Impacts ......................... 1-3 1.4 Environmental Management Plan ........ ................. 1-4 1.4.1 Water Management. 1-5 1.4.2 Emissions Monitoring .1-5 1.4.3 Training. 1-5 1.4.4 Emergency Response .1-5 1.4.5 Mitigation Measures.
  • The “Nobility” and “Commoners” in Ubykh Society: the Reasons Behind the Social Conflict

    The “Nobility” and “Commoners” in Ubykh Society: the Reasons Behind the Social Conflict

    saqarTvelos mecnierebaTa erovnuli akademiis moambe, t. 8, #3, 2014 BULLETIN OF THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, vol. 8, no. 3, 2014 History The “Nobility” and “Commoners” in Ubykh Society: The Reasons behind the Social Conflict Aleksandr A. Cherkasov*, Vyacheslav I. Menkovsky**, Vladimir G. Ivantsov*, Aleksandr A. Ryabtsev*, Violetta S. Molchanova*, Olga V. Natolochnaya # * Sochi State University, Sochi, Russia; **Belarus State University, Minsk, Belarus; # International Network Center for Fundamental and Applied Research, Sochi, Russia. (Presented by Academy Members Guram Lortkipanidze and Liana Melikishvili) ABSTRACT. This article examines, based on documentary and other materials, the reasons behind the social conflict between the nobility and commoners in Ubykh society in the first half of the 19th century. The authors look into the system of governance in Ubykh highland society and address its demographic and religious aspects. The authors discuss the numerous attempts by the Russian administration to enter into trade (social-economic), as well as military-political, relations with the mountaineers. The article also outlines the foreign policy of the Russian Empire in the first half of the 19th century. Ubykh highland society was not homogeneous, for which reason the rift within it has its distinctive characteristics. Thus, for instance, there existed a rift between noble (princely) kins and commoners. This rift flared into a civil war (circa 1785), during which the nobility lost their power over commoners. Fifty years later, during the making of the Russian military presence in the region, the highland nobility would not forget their defeat – the factor which determined the nobility’s course for rapprochement with the Russians.
  • The Mammals of the Caucasus

    The Mammals of the Caucasus

    planifrons Falc. and Equus stenonis Cocchi have been identified. The breccia is underlain by a layer of doleritic lava and is covered by lacustrine sands and clays. The lake sediments are overlain by a layer of dolorite (Zaridze and Tatrishvili, 1948). Thus, in that area, the mammals lived and died during a period when the volcanos in the Lesser Caucasus were dornnant. The next transgression in the Caspian ->- N Basin, a somewhat smaller one, is known ^.AA.>.>J>-Jn,*^f^^v-»L*.-.->4-W-vn-Wtv^ as the Apsheron sea. ;'<,•.•''' OS The Kura bay of the Apsheron sea OB reached the longitude of Kirovabad. The :o:.\-:e:.--i Terek bay was temporarily connected with the Euxinic basin by a strait in the Manych area. The sea reached the latitude of Sarepta and [Lake] Inder in the north. •'•p.;-. .- •«.•.. e". ;..•.*• o*. •.•.; ''•',' 45 o'. • o". ' '•'o'.'- o." ; •.b..'i^-'.'-o'".^•.•<>.• The climate and landforms of the 4>- b-fi.: Caucasus in Apsheron time probably remained the same as in the Akchagyl, and the volcanic activity was of about the same c?o intensity. Torrential mudflows, caused by heavy rains, carried volumes of gravel and boulders from the mountains (Kudryavtsev, 1933); these boulders can 68 'S::^^^^ now be seen on the Kakhetia Plain. d - 5 The land vegetation known from the Apsheron deposits in the Shiraki Steppe consisted of spruce (Picea orientalis) and a number of Recent forms: beech, oak, aspen, apple, willow, filbert, Turkish filbert, walnut (Juglans regia), zelkova, honeysuckle; and Hyrcanian forms: f < oak (Quercus castanei folia), alder (Alnus subcordata), maple (Acer ibericum) (Palibin, 1936).
  • Research Article

    Research Article

    Ecologica Montenegrina 14: 136-142 (2017) This journal is available online at: www.biotaxa.org/em Atmospheric Disturbances in the Airflow around Mountains and the Problem of Flight Safety in the Mountains of the Republic of Adygeya MURAT K. BEDANOKOV, ROZA B. BERZEGOVA, SAIDA K. KUIZHEVA Maykop State Technological University, Russia Received 29 August 2017 │ Accepted 5 October 2017 │ Published online 30 October 2017. Abstract This article considers airflow around mountain systems as a meso-scale atmospheric phenomenon. It presents a non- linear stationary dimensional theoretical model of the airflow of the North-West Caucasus Mountains, taking into account characteristics of a real mountain terrain. The article further discusses the results of the calculations of the speed field of the airflow and general regularities of the origin and the scale of the rotary-wave deformation of the airflow over the mountains. The calculation results have shown that for the model scenario I at wind speed U=15 m/s the disturbances are the most intense over the ridge crests, where they are characterized by the zone with rotors. The total length of the rotor zone downwind is more than the length of its nucleus and is close enough in value to the extent of the lee part of the terrain (downwind from the main top). The area of maximum amplitudes is located in the windward side of the rotor zone. These amplitudes are several times higher than the maximum height of the mountains. For the model scenario II (U=19 m/s) wave disturbances slightly increased in length downwind, but minimally changed in amplitude.
  • A Historical-Geographic Review of Modern Abkhazia

    A Historical-Geographic Review of Modern Abkhazia

    A Historical-Geographic Review of Modern Abkhazia by T. Beradze, K. Topuria, B Khorava Abkhazia (Abkhazeti) – the farthest North-Western part of Georgia is situated between the rivers Psou and Inguri on the coast of the Black Sea. The formation of Abkhazia within the borders is the consequence of complicated ethno-political processes. Humans first settled on the territory of modern Abkhazia during the Paleolithic Era. Abkhazia is the place where Neolithic, Bronze and Early Iron Eras are represented at their best. The first Georgian state – the Kingdom of Egrisi (Kolkheti), formed in 15. to 14. century BC, existed till the 2.century BC. It used to include the entire South-Eastern and Eastern parts of the Black Sea littoral for ages. The territory of modern Abkhazia was also a part of the Egrisi Kingdom. Old Greek historical sources inform us that before the new millennium, the territory between the rivers Psou and Inguri was only populated with tribes of Georgian origin: the Kolkhs, Kols, Svan-Kolkhs, Geniokhs. The Kingdom of Old Egrisi fell at the end of the 2.century BC and was never restored till 2.century AD. Old Greeks, Byzantines and Romans called this state - Lazika, the same Lazeti, which was associated with the name of the ruling dynasty. In 3. and 4. centuries AD, entire Western Georgia, including the territory of present Abkhazia, was part of this state. Based on the data of Byzantine authors, the South-East coastline part of the territory – between rivers Kodori and Inguri - belonged to the Odishi Duchy. The source of the Kodori River was occupied by the Georgian tribe of Misimians that was directly subordinated to the King of Egrisi (Lazeti).
  • Rchb. in the Republic of Adygea

    Rchb. in the Republic of Adygea

    Ecologica Montenegrina 23: 20-26 (2019) This journal is available online at: www.biotaxa.org/em Modern Distribution and Ecological-phytocenotic Features of Platanthera chlorantha (Cust.) Rchb. in the Republic of Adygea AMINET E. SHADGE*, EMILIA A. SIROTYUK, GALINA N. GUNINA & VLADIMIR V. KHIRYANOV Maykop State Technological University, 385000, Maykop, Russia *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] Received 15 June 2019 │ Accepted by V. Pešić: 20 September 2019 │ Published online 16 October 2019 Abstract During the monitoring of rare plant species in the Maykop region of the Republic of Adygea, known and discovered new locations of P. chlorantha were confirmed, for which the height above sea level and geographical coordinates were determined. The identification of the species to a certain range of altitudes above sea level and types of phytocenoses was revealed. Ongenetic states, ontogenetic structure and intraspecific variability of P. chlorantha were studied in populations. Key words: locations, populations, ontogenetic states, ontogenetic structure, intraspecific variability. Introduction In connection with the growing negative impact of human activity on the environment, the problem of preserving the biodiversity of the planet becomes especially acute. One of the most vulnerable components of plant communities are species of the Orchidaceae Juss. Family, which is associated primarily with their bioecological features: highly specialized entomophilia; undifferentiated embryo; the lack of spare substances in the seed, which contributes to the long-term formation of the protocorm and makes it dependent on mycorrhizal fungi; low competitiveness; narrow ecological amplitude and high sensitivity to anthropogenic influences. The listed features of orchids cause their rarity in natural habitats. The most rare and endangered species in the territory of Adygea are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Adygea (2012).