FORMATIONS, TECTONICS AND HISTORY OF GEOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE KIMMERIDES OF NOVAYA-ZEMLYA

Based on a comparison of stratigraphy in different regions of Novaya Z emlya, lateral and vertical formational series have been found that pe rmit reconstruction of the history of geologic development of the arch ipelago, in general outline, from the Early Riphean and, in greater de tail, from the Paleozoic through the Triassic. In the Early Paleozoic- Silurian, three different structural-formational zones existed in the region. Following the Early Devonian equalization of tectonic conditio ns, a new structural-formational zonation was established in the Middl e Devonian close to the zonation that existed in the more southerly re gions (Pai-Khoi-Arctic Urals) from the Early Paleozoic. After the appe arance of Hercynian folding, the Urals lost connection with the more n ortherly regons and the developing orogens began to supply detrital ma terial to the newly formed Pai-Khoi-Novaya Zemlya intracratonic trough , the development of which ended at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. La te Paleozoic troughs of this type existed along the inferred structura l suture on the Taimyr Peninsula and northeast Asia; however, in the l atter case, their development was of longer duration. The possible pos ition of Novaya Zemlya in the overall structure is considered in brief from the standpoint of plate tectonics and the geoblock model of lith ospheric structure. The existence of an ocean to the east of Novaya Ze mlya in the Paleozoic is doubtful according to available geological-ge ophysical data.