Morphotectonic types of contact between the East European platformian plain

Abstract

The author suggests to distinguish between the notions of ¢type» and #zone» of contact, the former being of more general character. Three types of contact are distinguished: sharp boundary along a faultline; smooth, gradual transition from the platfomian plain to foothills; and the proper zone of contact which corresponds in ten's of structure to a foredeep. The zone of contact is considered to be a separate morphostructural unity of the same rank as platformian plains and orogens. A peculiar assemblage of morphostructures exists within the zones of contact due to interaction between the platform and orogen; the latters form a single morphodynamic system together with the zone of their contact.