Two different approaches are used for exogenous processes subdivision into groups, the first one is based on main denudation agents, the second- on the processes combination within different climatic or landscape zones.

A scheme is proposed for mountain exogenous processes classification which tries to unite both approaches mentioned above. The author takes as a starting point the thesis of predominance of water action in all the erosional processes, the latter being subdivided according to the presence and state of water as well as spheres and frequency of its action. Application and development of the classification will help to set in order the analysis of mountain exogenous processes.

Special points of the ocean floor geomorphological mapping are discussed. The map under consideration is drawn at the scale 1:15000000 using an original equal-area projection (by Verner-Murevskis) which facilitates areal measurements on the map. The map summarizes recent data on geomorphology, geology and geophysics. The map is based on the assumption of morphostructural control of the World Ocean floor topography, the classification of the Pacific floor relief being done in accordance with morphostructural principles. Morphostructures are subdivided into those of planetary and lower ranks. The legend consists of two large sections: morphostructures and morphosculptures. Main contents of the first section are four planetary morphostructures of the ocean floor and their main subdivisions. The second section of the legend includes various large and small landforms of the exogenous origin. The map's content is briefly discussed.

A paleo-geomorphological map and a morphostructural scheme of the floor of the Late Mesozoic basin have been compiled using the paleo-bathymetric map of the Pacific (76 mln. y. B.P.) as the base map. Some results of the paleo-geomorphological analysis are stated. A considerable difference has been established in the spatial distribution of the main ocean floor structures (deep basins and mid-oceanic ridges) from the present one. A typical feature of the Pacific paleo-geomorphology is a series of big seamounts and guyots. The oceanic crust's age and sedimentary mantle at the central oceanic basin are shown at the map with variations of conventional signs.

Some results are given of laboratory experiments with rain simulator, aimed to tracing the correlation between the placer's structure and degree of erosion and the ore body configuration, the latter in some experiments was stock-like, in other- sill-like. Mineral amount in a placer as well as its granulometry appeared to manifest the relation between the degree of erosional cut-off and stages of the placer's evolution. The results obtained can be used for prediction of the ore body conservation on the basis of the placer's structure analysis.

Sharp displacements or stability of the loose mantle on slopes as well as rate and type

of mass movement are controlled by internal mechanisms which cannot be directly observed.

Removal of the loose mantle due to vibration, wind, sheet wash and sub-surficial wash, chemical erosion etc. lessen stresses in soils thus diminishing the danger of catastrophic processes on slopes. Another group of factors - increase in density, in cohesive force and friction as well as dense vegetation cover-promote the formation of the layer of critical thickness liable to earthflows, landslides, debris fall etc. On the basis of the analysis of counteracting forces and factors, different dynamic states of loose mantle are identified, which can be used for slopes' subdivision according to their destruction intensity, minerals distribution etc.

Taking the Near-Caspian Depression as a case study the author argues that 85 per cent of regional linear morphostructures (identified by means of structural geomorphological analysis) are reflected in geophysical fields and correspond to deep-seated faults, active during the neotectonic stage. In the region under consideration (as well as in other platformian areas) main geomorphic features connected with such faults are as follows: linear oriented river valleys, regional scarps and steep slopes, breaks in geomorphic levels of the same age, chains of landforms with similar orientation, distinct geomorphic boundaries. In the Caspian area oblique faults prevail, mostly SE strike (50%), the faults are very ancient, they cross the whole depression and continue further, out of its limits, About 20% of the faults are arcuate, they are found mostly at the East of the region and reflect Uralian tectonic structures. Structural geomorphic analysis of platformian regions with deep basement essentially increases the precision of deep faults tracing, allows estimating their neotectonic activity and aids in more objective evaluation of regional tectonics.

To study plain topography of the forest-steppe zone the space are most efficient which have been taken in spring in near field of the infra-red spectral band. The images analysis as well as the routine structural-geomorphological surface studies revealed new data on river valley features, supposed fault lines, local structures like swells, domes, depressions, isometric block morphostructures, and allows to forecast neotectonic movements of the morphostructures.

Submarine uplands with flat tops and steep slopes have been mapped at the North of the Cross Bay floor. The uplands consist of large blocks and boulders with sandy-clayey matrix. The formations are supposed to be terminal moraine of valley glacier which flowed from the North into the sea during Vankaremian time (Late Pleistocene).

Three most important fundamentally different stages are identified in the Pre-Cambrian and Phanerozoic history of the Kola Peninsula topography. During Pre-Cambrian the landforms were pre-conditioned by tectonics and evolved under condition of the geosynclinals processes action. Most important regional transformation of topography took place during Middle Paleozoic induced by tectonic activity within the Middle Paleozoic rift zone. Neotectonic (Post-Paleogene) stage is mostly marked by block morphostructures formation controlled by active faults of the earthcrust. The mentioned processes are imprinted in various relict landforms and correlative sediments, thus the importance of paleogeomorphological studies being proved for analysis of tectonic evolution of a region and metallogenic zones characteristics.

Precise repeated soundings have been carried out around the Pitsunda peninsula. They revealed downslope ridges and furrows in-between the depth from 10-12 till 40 meters. The location and parameters of these relief forms change under influence of storms of different directions. It is supposed that the action of undertow, together with rip-currents, is the reason of such specifically forms development.

Two hypotheses are discussed on the guyots' origin: the first one developed by Hess and considering the guyots to be submarine volcanoes eroded by waves and submerged subsequently; the second hypothesis was suggested by Nayudu who thought that the guyots' flat tops were primary structural forms of submarine volcanoes preconditioned by their petrochemical composition and formation under the pressure of the oceanic water. Data on some guyots' magnetization are given which corroborate the second hypothesis. The authors conclude that the preference cannot be given one hypothesis over another on the basis of the known facts on the guyots' morphology and geology, some proposals are made concerning the future studies trend.

The author analyzed spatial distribution of marks of glacial erosion (striation, scratches and grooves on solid rock surface) and Pre-Pleistocene crust of weathering, the former appeared to be mostly located at the Kola Peninsula peripheral parts (North-West and the Kandalaksha coast in particular), the latter is restricted to inner uplands of the peninsula, mostly at 180-300 meters a. s. l. Glacial plucking had not affected considerably the Kola Peninsula relief. During the last glaciation an autonomous ineffective Kola ice sheet existed here, an outlet glacier of the Scandinavian ice sheet being restricted to North-West Murmansk region.

An analysis of flow direction and drainage pattern revealed their structural control. General flow directions have been proved to be inherited from the previous stages of the evolution. The main river valleys are sub-meridional within the erogenous belt, diverge to NW at the erosional-accumulative plateau and inclined fluvial plains, and to W and SW within the limits of the flat aggradations plain. Since the Oligocene the drainage pattern became consequent due to arch-block uplift of the Great Caucasus and subsidence of the foredeeps, fault tectonics being also of importance. A large-scale radial-concentric system of river valleys is revealed.

The author discusses seismic dislocations within seismic zones of Mongolia, dated from historical period, An inverse functional relationship is proved to exist between changes of angles of fractures' walls which were formed in medium (or similar to them) grounds due to earthquakes on one hand and the time when the seismic event took place on the other. The relationship can be used for dating the ancient seimogenic structures which are manifested on the land surf ace.

At the end of Early Pliocene the Buzachi Peninsula and Ustyurt formed a single plateau armoured with Sarmatian and Pontian limestones. At Middle Pliocene the plateau was eroded under arid climatic conditions due to a catastrophic drop of the Caspian Sea level. A deep erosional valley (at the place of the present Kaidak and Dead Kultuk solonchaks) separated the Buzachi Peninsula from the Ustyurt, the Buzachi plateau being divided into series of flat-topped remnants with landslides on the slopes, later on the remnants were completely destroyed and only some landslides' blocks and masses were conserved in lowest parts of the landscape. The Middle Pliocene topography (including the landslides' masses) was conserved under the cover of marine sediments of the Baku, Khazar and Khvalyn stages when almost all the Buzachi Peninsula was flooded.

Studies of numerous gullies in the Kursk region and measurement of their annual growth revealed that their evolution was controlled by its own internal regularities. The external factors are only responsible for complex of favorable or unfavorable conditions. The following varieties of coastal gullies are distinguished: active, slowly growing, latent, activated. The active phase is only about 1/4 of the whole duration of the gully erosion cycle.

The paper deals with the relief's evolution and dependent sedimentation at the Eastern Zabaikalye during the geomorphic stage. Three large morphocycles are recognized, each has distinguishable stages of differentiation and subsequent planation of the relief. Paleogeomorphological constructions suggest a close correlation between time-bound changes in placers formation on the one hand and the relief's evolution trend and geomorphic cycles duration on the other.

Konstantin Konstantinovich Markov (obituary)