Ancient valleys of Western Europe

Abstract

In Western Europe many researchers noticed broad surfaces above modem valleys; they are known in Rheinisches Schiefergebirge as «broad trough surfaces» (two levels), and in the Central Massif of France as «replats» capped with quartz gravels. However neither their genesis nor age has been established. A comparison with ancient valleys of the Urals brings the author to the conclusion that lower level of the «broad trough surfaces» is an Oligocene terrace, while the upper one is a terrace dated to Pre-Cretaceous time.