The article presents GPS monitoring data for the territory of Azerbaijan. It has been established that the velocity of the Earth’s surface in depression zones is significantly higher than at the junction of large tectonic elements, where the Earth’s surface moves in a rotational manner (counterclockwise and clockwise). It is assumed that the decrease in the velocity of the Earth’s surface in the junction zone of the Kura Trough with the Greater Caucasus is associated with the influence of tectonic compression forces in the horizontal direction on the formation of young uplifts that form a series of parallel ridges of Cenozoic age, and the compaction of tectonic breccias formed as a result of friction between the fold system of the Greater Caucasus and Kura Trough. The clockwise rotation of the Earth’s surface in some areas of Southeastern Gobustan is associated with narrowing of the total area of the platform, which are overlain by Cenozoic sedimentary layers, fragmented into separate blocks as a result of mud volcanism. This occurred as a reaction of the Earth’s crust to the force of horizontal compression created by convergence of the Eurasian and Arabian plates.

The Adygean segment encompasses the transition zone between the Central and Western segments of the Greater Caucasus (GC). It is located within the western part of the Laba–Malka monoclinal zone (northern slope of the GC). North of this area, the Western Kuban and Eastern Kuban basins are situated. They are separated by the Adygean uplift and generally form the southern part of the Western Pre-Caucasus basins. We have carried out geological and structural studies of the lower part of the Alpine cover (Middle–Upper Jurassic) within the Adygean segment and interpreted seismic profiles of Mesozoic–Cenozoic strata in the Western Pre-Caucasian basins. It was revealed that tectonogravitational detachments are widespread within the Adygean segment on the northern slope of the GC and in the southern part of the Pre-Caucasus basins. They occurred as a result of slipping of sedimentary layers mainly in the north direction: down the slope of the GC orogen. Our tectonophysical studies have shown that the detachments took place in conditions of reverse and normal faulting due to vertical-oblique flattening and predominantly subhorizontal stretching. We have concluded that tectonogravitational detachments were formed by the interaction of two factors: vertical uplift of the GC orogen, caused by endogenic (tectonic) reasons, and gravitational slip of geomasses from the slopes of this mountain structure. Analysis of seismic sections crossing the Western Pre-Caucasian basins has shown the widespread development of clinoforms, which are paleodeltas of terrigenous material brought from the Scythian Plate and the East European Platform. The distribution of clinoforms in Cenozoic strata of the Pre-Caucasus basins allows us to suggest that southward-directed sedimentary flows existed from the Paleocene to the Late Pliocene. Based on this, we believe that the formation of the modern GC orogen and accompanying coarse molasse began no earlier than the end of the Pliocene, probably in the Eopleistocene. The formation of tectonogravitational detachments, which is one form of manifestation of the recent orogeny of the GC, led to the development of various structures: asymmetric folds, small thrusts, domino structures, faults, ramp folds, and thrust duplexes. Along the detachments there are ramp structures of local tension and compression, which form multisized cells of lateral rock-mass transport. Such cells facilitate activation of the migration, redistribution, and localization of hydrocarbons.

The Tuvinian rift trough, located in the northern part of the Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB), arose in the Early Devonian on Late Proterozoic (?)‒Early Paleozoic terranes as a result of Altai–Sayan mantle plume activity. The sedimentary record from the Middle Paleozoic to the Middle Mesozoic, preserved in the Tuvinian trough, and the Middle Paleozoic igneous complexes confined to the trough structures, reflect the evolutionary stages of Earth’s crust in the Tuva segment necessary for understanding the geological history of the CAOB as a whole. Dating of accessory and rock-forming minerals from igneous rocks using low-temperature geochronology methods yields additional information about postmagmatic processes, making it possible to update the regional tectonic evolution model. In this study, we have reconstructed the stages of tectonic development of the Tuvinian trough in the northern part of the CAOB based on analysis of geological and new Ar‒Ar dating data on feldspars from mafic intrusions. As a result, the chronology of the previously known stages of postmagmatic processes manifested in the Tuvinian trough was refined and new stages identified according to the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. Ar‒Ar dating of feldspars from eight samples yielded four age groups: (i) Late Devonian, (ii) Middle Carboniferous, (iii) Early Permian, and (iv) Early Jurassic. Late Devonian (~377 and 375 Ma) ages record an impulse of mafic magmatism, widely manifested in the northern segments of the CAOB (~380‒365 Ma). Middle Carboniferous (~320 and 319 Ma) dates may reflect closure of the Ob–Zaisan branch of the Paleo-Asian ocean as a result of the Kazakhstan–Siberian collision. Early Permian (~290–279 Ma) ages are consistent with the formation of Late Carboniferous–Early Permian (~305–275 Ma) large igneous provinces in connection with rifting processes in the northern segments of the CAOB. Lastly, a single Early Jurassic (~188 Ma) age marks tectonic reorganization of the CAOB in the Late Triassic‒Early Jurassic in response to (i) closure of the Paleotethys Ocean with subsequent collision of Cimmerian blocks and the southern margin of the Eurasian continent and/or (ii) Mongolian mantle plume activity.

—Russia’s Arctic shelf and, in particular, the Kara Sea shelf, is one of the unique regions in the world with enormous hydrocarbon potential; however, due to the harsh climate conditions, it has been studied unevenly. The lack of deep and parametric drilling data in the northern Kara Sea leads to numerous uncertainties in regional geological structure models and, as a consequence, in assessing the resource potential of this Arctic region. A vast number of 2D CDP seismic explorations were carried out in the northern Kara Sea. The results of these studies made it possible to refine the geological structure of the Kara Plate, substantiate the boundaries of the North Kara independent prospective oil and gas region and promising areas within it, and assess hydrocarbon resources.

Analysis of the upper mantle plumes spatial distribution in the inner part of the Sunda arc shows a number of plume bodies interrupting the stagnant slab framed from the south by the sinking slab of the Sunda arc. Possible mechanisms resulting in this structure of the mantle are (i) W-E-trending toroidal mantle flow through a gap in a flat slab and (ii) rollback capable of forming a gap in a flat slab and launching upper mantle plumes in it without deep (>1000 km) roots. The space above the top of the slab consists of local hot mantle bodies, which are considered secondary plumes and often form local rift segments. The 3D visualization of velocity variations δVp in the Tibet and Central Asia region demonstrates structural patterns similar to those in the Sunda arc area. One can observe a region of subhorizontal slab fragments and a gap, which is recorded by plume anomalies of deep and secondary origin. The motion vectors of the rock mass along the fault planes of the Sunda arc, detected from seismic events, are directed outward from its center of curvature, in which secondary upper mantle plumes are concentrated. This indicates the development of thrust processes at the arc front unassociated with the subducting plate. The arc thrusting is accompanied by a small number of displacements along antithetic thrust faults. The displacement azimuths along the Himalayas are fan-shaped, oriented toward Hindustan. This shows that the main indicator of tectonic activity (seismic events) has a direction of rock mass displacement to the south from the extensional back-arc basin within Tibet with the development of thrust deformations during movements along the detachment planes. Two directions of seismic movements are distinguished in the Himalayan arc, as well as in the Sunda arc. The first direction follows the Indian Plate subduction model. The second direction includes variable azimuth rock mass movements along the thrust planes onto the Indian Plate.

Fars sub-basin is located in the Zagros fold-thrust belt and includes a large number of hydrocarbon reserves, especially gas. The existence of numerous basement faults and strike-slip in this region along with the uplift and depocenter of basement blocks has been considered effective factors in controlling sedimentary basins before, after, and synchronous with sedimentation. In this study, the role of the Razak fault basin in the external Fars area as an effective factor in controlling the sedimentary basin was evaluated. For this purpose, by providing isopach maps and 3D modeling from the basin floor at synsedimentary formations, the activity of the Razak fault along with its role in increasing or decreasing the hydrocarbon potential of the region and adjacent anticlines, was investigated. The results show that the inactivity of this fault at the sedimentation time of the Dalan, Gadvan, Darian, and Kazhdumi formations, while at the deposition time, the formations of Kangan, Dashtak, Hith, Fahlian, Laffan, Ilam, and Pabadeh remained active and controlled the sedimentation in the basin. Also, the uplift and depocenter of the basement blocks occurred to the Razak fault’s performance, caused an increase in the hydrocarbon potential of the Dehram Group in the anticlines of Marz, Varavi, Tabnak, Dehnow, Khalfani, Chiru, and Madar. While the northeastern part of the study area and the anticlines of Bonashkatu, Pishvar, Bavush, Gavbast, and Gezzeh are less important. In addition, Khami and Bangestan reservoirs are also without hydrocarbon potential due to the Razak fault’s performance.

This article includes a review of the structure and evolution of the Antarctic Earth crust (the Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean) from the Archean to the Late Cenozoic, accompanied by the sketch of Antarctic tectonic provinces. It is based on the long-term research and preparation of the second edition of the Tectonic Map of the Antarctica at a scale of 1 : 10 000 000 with a detailed explanatory note in the International Commission for the Geological Map of the World. In the course of the work a large volume of geological and geophysical data of Russian Antarctic expeditions and expeditions of other countries were combined, analyzed, and interpreted, first of all, the data of geochemical and geochronological studies of rock specimens from outcropped regions and numerous geophysical surveys in the Southern Ocean. The structure and tectonic history of the Archean cratons and Proterozoic orogens of East Antarctica (with indication of the controversial issues of Precambrian evolution), the orogens of the Pacific margin, intraplate fold systems, continental margins, and the early sea floor spreading are considered.

Barite mineralization is visible as veins in the Kuik‒Qureq area, southern part of Sanandaj zone, Western Iran. Geological and structural maps of the area were prepared using remote sensing data and field achievements. Statistical analysis of fractures included the ratio of distance and length to abundance, and also the calculation of the fractal dimension of fractures. This analysis indicates the role of structural controls on the barite mineralization in the region. Petro-fabrics were used to determine displacement and contribution of faults in barite mineralization. Geometric analysis using rose diagrams determined that the trends of the dominant fractures are N‒S and NN‒S, NNW‒SSE, WNW‒ESE and NNE‒SSW, and the main barite mineralization was formed along these faults. A tectonic model is presented for the region based on classifying fractures by azimuth and features observed in thin section. According to the proposed model, at least four stages of tectonic deformation affected the region and during these the direction of the σ1 axis changed in a clockwise direction. Barite mineralization mainly occurred in two stages: the first and main stage when first order fractures formed with the N‒S trend, and during the third deformation stage when secondary barite was deposited in third order fractures with an E‒W trend.

In our research we studied thirty minor folds in Qaiwan and Goizhah anticlines, 22 km northeast of Sulaimani District, Northeastern Iraq. They are located within the Zagros Imbricate Zone between the Zagros High Folds Zone and Zagros Suture Zone. The study area is occupied by the alternative of competent and incompetent layers of Cretaceous formations which facilitates the formation of minor folds at the limbs and hinge zone of the major fold. This work aims to find the relationship between these minor folds and major folds and how these minor folds assist in understanding the regional structure, and tectonic history and finding tectonic episodes that responded to the development of the anticlines. Pi (π) diagrams were constructed to find the characteristics of the folds. Fleuty’s (1964) and Ramsey’s (1967) classifications were used to classify the tightness, fold types, and fold style. Two paleostress directions were revealed from congruous and incongruous minor folds in the direction (NE‒SW) and (NW‒SE), respectively. The sub-congruous minor folds attributed to the oblique collision and anticlockwise rotation of the Arabian plate with respect to the Eurasian plate. Back-thrusting paleostress was detected from the opposite break-thrust fold of the forelimb of the minor folds. The homogeneous flattening during continuous folding processes changes the geometry of the folds from classes 1B and 1C to classes 2 and 3. The proportion of incompetent to competent layers changed the shape of the hinge zone from rounded to angular. As the incompetence increased the hinge zone become more rounded. The intensity of folding and structural origin of the folds as fault propagation folds maybe flipped the vergency of some minor folds in the southwestern limbs of the major fold from northeast to southwest.

The Puchezh–Katunki crater is located in the central part of the East European Platform in the area of the Gorky Reservoir, has a diameter of ~80 km, and is morphologically expressed by the central uplift of the basement (Vorotilov knoll) and the ring depression surrounding it, on the periphery of which there is a ring terrace. The crater is filled with various coptogenic (explosive (?)) formations: breccias of various types and bodies of suevites and tagamites. The results of studying the U‒Th‒Pb isotope system of detrital zircon grains from variegated explosive Puchezh breccias in the northwestern part of the ring terrace (three samples) are presented. The weighted average of the three youngest U‒Pb dates of detrital zircons from all studied samples is 258 ± 7 Ma, which corresponds to the Late Permian. We take this date as the lower age limit of the Puchezh breccias. The age sets of detrital zircon grains from the studied samples and from (1) crystalline rocks of the Vorotilov knoll and suevites of the ring depression and (2) Upper Permian–Lower Triassic sandstones of the Zhukov Ravine reference section (Moscow Syneclise) were compared. The absence of zircon grains, whose U‒Th‒Pb isotope system is similar to the parameters of those from the rocks of the Vorotilov knoll and suevites among the detrital zircons from the Puchezh breccia indicates the local nature of the Puchezh–Katunki explosion, the impact-thermal impact of which did not affect the detrital zircons in rocks of the marginal part of the ring terrace of the crater. A high degree of similarity of the age sets of detrital zircon grains from the lens of redeposited sandstones of the Puchezh breccias and Upper Permian rocks of the Zhukov Ravine section indicates that the Puchezh breccias were formed mainly due to the reworking of the Upper Permian–Lower Triassic sequences underlying the explosive formations. We consider the Uralian paleo-orogenic belt as the main provenance area for the deposits of the central regions of the East European Platform in the stratigraphic interval close to the Permian–Triassic boundary. The deposits were formed as a result of a high degree of mixing and averaging of clastic material of sedimentary flows containing the Uralian and Asha provenance signals.