Geologicheskii Vestnik

The paper gives a short description of geology of one of the most remarkable areas of Bashkiria, situated on the western slope of the Southern Urals. It is planned to organize here a geosite called “Toratau”, called after the name of a famous and gorgeous geological monument — Permian carbonate reef, preserved here until now. The paper presents all necessary data concerning the deep structure of the territory and the levels, corresponding to the main stages of its development: Archean-Paleoroterozoic, Riphean (Meso- and the most of Neoproterozoic), Vendian (Ediacaran)-Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic, Late Mesozoic-Miocene, and Pliocene-Quaternary. The territory of the planned geosite is very attractive from the point of view of a presence of highly interesting and various geological objects of a scientifi c, naturalhistoric, educational and, lastly, aesthetic importance. They encompass stratigraphy, paleontology, tectonics, lithology, paleogeography, hydrogeology, speleology, geomorphology and related areas of knowledge in other sciences. The territory hosts standard and reference sections of the main subdivisions of the Upper Riphean and Vendian, excellent sections of the upper half of the Paleozoic — Middle and Upper Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian, with an internationally approved GSSP — “golden nail” (“golden spike”) at the base of the Sakmarian stage on Usolka river and some objects that have a chance to become such a standard point in future. A special attention of researchers deserve the “shikhans” — carbonate massifs of Permian reefs, unique objects of such type in the world, which will undoubtedly become a “centre of attraction” of the whole area. Also numerous and various manifestations of sulphate and carbonate karst must be mentioned, especially such as long and deep caves, often with relic glaciers inside. The territory boasts of probably the highest density of karst caves in the whole Bashkiria. Taken all together, the abovesaid characterizes the described territory as highly prospective for organizing a geosite here, inviting all the people interested in geology, for a fascinating journey into depth of geological ages and — literally — into depth of the Earth itself.

Geosite, shikhans, “golden nails”, caves, Riphean, Vendian, Paleozoic

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