Structural Evolution of Vendian and Early to Middle Paleozoic Complexes in Uraltau Zone and Sakmara Allochthons, Southern Urals
The structural evolution of the Late Precambrian and Early to Middle Paleozoic complexes is considered for the southern part of the Uraltau Zone and its extension in the Ebeta Antiform, as well as for the northeastern and northwestern frameworks of the ophiolitic Khabarny Allochthon, where the Late Precambrian and Paleozoic complexes of the continental margin in combination with ophiolites are drawn together in packets of tectonic nappes. The formation of the regional structure took place during several stages in various geodynamic settings. Five deformation stages have been recognized in the regional structural evolution from new data on mesostructural parageneses, which consist of folds that developed within outcrops and their relationships in rocks differing in age. The first stage is related to the Late Precambrian Timanian, or Cado-mian Orogeny, and four subsequent deformation stages characterize Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the region. The geodynamic nature of the second stage remains unknown; the third stage is related to overthrusting of ophiolites in the Early Devonian; the fourth stage of deformations marks Late Paleozoic continental collision. The fifth stage of postcollisional strike-slip deformations completes the regional structural evolution.