The paper considers the geodynamic position of mountain structures of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenian Highland within the zone of plates' interaction (East Mediterranean mobile belt) and morphostructural evolution of the mountains during the neotectonic and Pleistocene stages. The direction, rate and contrasts in the movements are assessed. Using intstrumental data the geodynamics permit to trace alternating uplifts and subsidences as a reflection of the compression - tension mechanism during the last half-century. Repeated leveling records an accumulation of seismic stresses, inloading and compensation processes and permits to delimit main seismic zones and determine type and range of displacements.

A definition of self-organization of a composite geomorphological system in given in relationship to the system's functioning, self-regulation, dynamic equilibrium. A significance of positive and negative feedback is shown for the process of the relief self-regulation; structural mechanisms of fluvial systems self-organization and factor relativity of topography are described. Possibilities are outlined of the geomorphic processes control by indirect influence on the self-regulation «mechanism».

Basic principles are stated which are applied to studies of the fluvial systems structure, present state of small rivers ecology and long-term changes in the fluvial systems characteristics (number and length of rivers of different order, structure's complexity etc.). Taking the Western Podolian Uplift (which is a region of ancient human occupation) as a case study, the authors develop a scheme of reseach which permits to identify both natural and man-induced changes during the last 200 years.

The paper considers mathematical ecological models applied to description of the presen-day relief-forming processes dynamics. Works of J. B. Thornes showed that such approach produced good results when applied to studies of the erosion - vegetation interaction.

In river channels of NW Crimean Mountains the petrographic composition of alluvium is in close connection with the geology of the area. When a river crosses a zone of a certain solid rock the percentage of those rocks gravel noticeably increases. Another controlling factor is the rock resistance - debris of less resistant rocks (marl, clay bolls) are w a r e d out within a few kilometres and form suspended component of alluvium. Only gravels of most resistant rocks - Upper Jurassic limestones - caome all the way from the river head and its content reaches 80 to 90% of the total alluvium volume near the mouth.

The author argues that Yu. P. Seliverstov made a mistake when relating the Lower Cretaceous surface in Kazakhstan to the «Gondvana» surface in Africa, in fact it corresponds to the «African» surface which bears a thick lateritic crust. The latter is also erroneously equated by Seliverstov with the Eocene surface in Kazakhstan which bears only siliceous crust of weathering.

The raindrop impact is one of less studied exogenous processes. All the related phenomena are known by the term «xsplash erosion». Two processes can be distinguished: splash of soil particles and creep induced by raindrops impact. Some factors are discussed which control the splash erosion (rainfall regime, vegetation and burrowing animals, slope of surface and soil characteristics: particles size, moisture content etc.). Data on splash erosion rate are given. The process should be considered as an individual type of denudation of the Earth surface which combines features of both slope and erosional process.

Any type of channel processes occurs under certain environmental conditions. Most important controlling factors are undoubtedly topography, river discharge and solid runoff. An attempt is made to subdivide the Altai territory according to the channel-forming factors.

On the basis of their morphology and position with respect to the North Atlantic Ridge axis three morphological types of submerged massifs are identified, namely narrow and broad longitudinal massifs and transversal ones, and two seamount types: ridge-like with steep slopes and conical ones. Massifs and steep-sloped mounts are shown to be horsts while conical mounts are small volcanoes. The latter are not typical of the axial region.

Kamchatka belongs to West Pacific type of sutural zones and the Andes - to East Pacific type. Morphostructures of the mountain belts of the Andes and Kamchatka differ in morphostructural compartments and orographic elements dimensions, in the earthcrust thickness, in stages of the tectonic evolution and consequently in the complexity of structures, in the seismic focal zones inclination. Under such a difference there is a general regularity in the morphistructures' combination in common for the Kamchatka and South American parts of the continental-oceanic sutural zone. It can be seen only between the deep-sea trough and volcanic belt (Neogene - Quaternary or recent). The morphostructures resemblance increases with approach to troughs which are zones of subduction. The said differences as well as common features of morphostructures of the areas can be consistently explained in terms of the plate tectonics.

A series of quantitative indices had been obtained from the new geomorphological map of the USSR (1987) for each of mountain types and morphostructures schown on the map. The indices permit to compare the types and to assess the significance of various mechanisms of neotectonic movements (block, fold movement etc.) for the relief-formation within both individual mountain regions and different types of geotecture.

The paper deals with the relationship of the relief to geological structure of the Murmansk Massif which is a large morphostructure at the NE Kola Peninsula and corresponds to the continental part of the Murmansk tectonic block. Analysis of deformations of the initial - Pre-Eocene - planation surf ace permitted to construct a schematic map of amplitudes of neotectonic movements wh ich formed principal features of the topography. The movements after the suriace had been formed were mostly vertical and in the net result ascending. Medium and small landforms are predetermined by lithology. At the scheme of geomorphological subdivision the regions and units of higher order are identified on the morphostructural basis, while subregions and coastal zone identification is based on morphosculpture.

For the first time a largescale geomorphological mapping had been carried out in the course of search for placers, karst landforms and deposits filling karstic hollows were studied, their relative age was determined.

Three stages in karstification are distinguished: the Late Miocene- Pliocene, the end of the Pliocene- beginning of the Pleistocene, second half of the Pleistocene, a noticeable deceleration in the process having been traced throughout of the Late Cenozoic. Only karstic-erosional network develops-progresslvely since the Early Pleistocene. Under conditions of limited water supply the conditions do not f avour the heavy minerals concentration and placers formatibn within the karstic-erosional network.

The relief development on the East Arctic shelf during the Cenozoic directly resulted from the Arctic Ocean formation and can be subdivided into four stages: second half of Paleocene to Early Oligocene, Middle Oligocene to Early Miocene, Middle - Late Miocene, Pliocene present day. Each stage duration was about 12 to 15 mln years with the exception of the last one which has not yet been completed. In each stage a marine transgression reflects changes in the structural plan which includes transformation and growth of the area of subsidence and associated uplift of regional barriers between the basins. Other events of the Cenozoic geologic history of the region occurred during the said stages, such as the ice cover formation in the polar basin (began in the Late Miocene -- Early Pliocene and was completed to the Middle Pliocene), seasonal freezing of the ground occurred at the Oligocene - Miocene boundary and again at the end of Miocene, permafrost developed since the Middle Pliocene.

Геолого-геохимические и палеогеоморфологические условия формирования каолинитсодержаших продуктов выветривания на Кольском полуострове

9 и 10 марта 1989 г. в Москве в ЦНИГРИ состоялись очередные Билибинские чтения. Они возникли в начале 70-х годов и названы в честь Юрия Александровича Билибина, выдающегося ученого-металлогениста, заложившего основы современного учения о россыпях, в том числе и геоморфологического изучения их. Инициаторами чтений были известные россыпники Е. Я. Синюгина, Б. В. Рыжов, И. Б. Флеров. Поначалу чтения являлись в сущности общемосковским семинаром специалистов-россыпников, представлявших, главным образом, ЦНИГРИ, МГУ, ВИМС. Постепенно охват специалистов увеличивался, а Билибинские чтения-89 были уже столь представительными, что могут сравниться с всесоюзными совещаниями по геологии россыпей. На чтениях присутствовало 120 человек из 32 организаций, из которых только 9 - московские. Более трети участников имеют ученые степени, среди них семь докторов наук.