«Ploughing blocks» in the Then-Shan high mountains

Abstract

Characteris-tic .features of the spatial distribution and structure of «ploughing blocks» are described together with the conditions and the mecanism of their development. Higher heat conductivity of the blocks as compared with underlying and overlying loose sediments is shown to favour their stronger cooling in winter which induces moisture migration towards the blocks, Intermittent freezing and thawing of the sediments results in their flowability and in downslope movement of the solifluction type. The blocks themselves thus locally create «solifluctional conditions» at slopes.