Main stages of relief evolution and topographic steps of the west Great Caucasus and adjacent foothills

Abstract

5 main stages of relief-formation due to tectonics are distinguished: Paleocene – Eocene, Oligocene- Late Miocene, (Pre-Meotian), Late Miocene (Meotian) -Middle Pliocene, Late Pliocene-Pleistocene, and each stage being completed with formation of circum-mountain polygenetic planation surface and weathering crust formation. The crust formations analysis confirmed the idea that the planation process within the mountain part of the region took place in Middle Pliocene, Late and Middle Miocene, Eocene and before the Paleocene. The weathering crusts formations are correlated with regional topographic steps revealed by geomorphological analysis, lower steps being directly fixed by weathering crusts.