THE SHELF OF THE KAMCHATSKII CAPE, EASTERN KAMCHATKA, IN THE LATE PLIOCENE AND EARLY QUATERNARY (OLKHOVAYA TIME)

The study of Pliocene-Quaternary sediments of the Karnchatskii Cape an d the paleoecologic analysis of associated mollusks and foraminifers r esulted in distinguishing the early and late Ol'khovaya transgres sion s, During the early Ol'khovaya transgression, approximately from 2 to 1.5 Ma, the sea-level rise reached at least 120 m. At the maximum of t he early Ol'khovaya transgression, the Kamchatskii Cape represented a shelf of submeridional extension over 15 km wide. The depth ranged fro m 0 to more than 500 m on the continental slope. The most likely botto m water temperatures at a depth exceeding 30-40 m, were relatively sta ble. They ranged from -1.5 to +1.8 degrees C on the shelf and were app roaching 2 degrees C on the continental slope. It was elucidated that the early Ol'khovaya transgression was accompanied by a slight climati c warming. The late Ol'khovaya transgression occurred from 0.73 to 0.3 Ma and was no less significant.