Аннотация:Indications of hypogene karst are frequently observed in caves of the Urals. This paper provides a brief overview of them.
The Urals occupy an immense territory which lies in four climatic zones and has a complex geological structure. The
Urals region is divided into nine geographic areas based on geology, geomorphology, structure and tectonics.
Karst features have been studied as part of the natural zoning of the Urals region . In the Urals, virtually all
types of surface and underground karst features are present. Rock formations stretch longitudinally, that favors a
comparative analysis of processes in karst landscapes in different latitudinal geographical zones. Extensive occurrence of
soluble rocks through the area and in the geological cross- section in cratons, folded zones and troughs pre-determined
karst development over the long geological history of the Urals. The most intense karstification occurs in Paleozoic
sediments.
In the eastern margins of the East European Craton and adjacent parts of the Ural Foredeep, sulfate rocks (gypsum and
anhydrite) intercalated with thin beds of limestone and dolomite of the Irenskaya Suite are karstified, and to a lesser
extent-limestones and dolomites of the Filippovsky Unit of the Kungurian Stage and limestones of the Artinskian Stage of
Lower Permian. Salt-bearing and sulfate sediments occur mainly in the Ural Foredeep. The folded zone of the West Ural
and the Central Ural uplifts are characterized by karst development in the Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian
carbonate strata of a total thickness of more than 2,000 m. The most intensely karstified is the western slope of the South
Urals
