Morphotectonics of transitional zone from Altai Mounts to Zaisankaya basin

Abstract

The territory under consideration occupies the southern boundary of Altai Mounts. The manifestation of Cenozoic orogenic movements was relatively weak here and one may assume the relief of the area to be akin to the central part of Altai in the end of Neogene. The progressive growth of mountains from the center to the margins is clearly seen within territory studied. Weak but continuous compression is the factor of morphotectonic evolution of the region. It is sustained by deformations of Late Cretaceous and Paleogene sediments in the outcrops of tectonic scarps.