Kuznetsk Depression Research Articles

Paleomagnetism of the Abinskaya Group of the Kuznetsk Depression (Southern Siberia) – Implications for the Evolution of the Siberian Large Igneous Province at the Permian–Triassic Boundary

Abstract —We report results of a systematic paleomagnetic study of the Abinskaya Group of the Kuznetsk depression, including a typical volcanic complex that reflects important features of the evolution of the Permian–Triassic Siberian large igneous province (LIP). Four zones of magnetic polarity have been established in the group’s deposits. We revise the correlation of the volcanic sheets of the Mal’tsevo Formation (Fm.) at the base of the group with the Ivakinsky Fm. of the Norilsk region, which is linked to the initiation of trap magmatism. The beginning of the eruption of the Saltymak complex volcanic rocks in the Kuznetsk area corresponds to the boundary between subchrons LT1n.1n and LT1n.1r (251.2 Ma) within the Kedrovka sub-formation of the Mal’tsevo Fm. This boundary was traced in the magnetostratigraphic sections of the Maimecha-Kotui, Koltogor-Urengoy, Western Taimyr, and Norilsk regions of the Siberian LIP and suggests a correlation of the Mal’tsevo Fm. volcanic rocks with the upper part of the undifferentiated interval of the Onkuchak – Tyvankit (?) fms., the base of the Korotchaev Fm., the Verkhnetam Fm. and the top of the Samoed Fm. The duration of this main pulse of volcanism in the Kuznetsk depression did not exceed 0.1 Myr. The volcanic sheets of the second, significantly weaker pulse of the Yamin Fm. are compared with the Maimecha Fm. of the Maimecha-Kotui area and the top of the Korotchaev Fm. of the Koltogor-Urengoy area. Thus, the accumulation of the entire Abinskaya Group, including the sedimentary complex of the Sosnovka Fm., lasted no more than 1.5 Myr. Except for the initial stage, this coincided with the eruption of most of the Maimecha-Kotui and Koltogor-Urengoy trap sections. The early magmatism of the Ivakinsky time and its analogs in other areas of the Siberian province during the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Kuznetsk depression probably corresponds to the break between the Taylugan Fm. and the Abinskaya Group. The mean paleomagnetic pole (PLat = 59.0°, PLon = 160.3°, A95 = 5.7°, N = 33) calculated for the entire studied section reflects the paleogeography of the Kuznetsk depression and can be considered a reference pole for the Permian–Triassic boundary.

Volumetric Structure of the Bachat Earthquake (Kuzbass) Aftershock Area and Stress State of Rock Mass under Open-Pit Mine

Abstract —The Bachat earthquake (M = 6.1) with the epicenter coordinates of 54.29° N, 86.17° E occurred on June, 18 2013 near the Bachatsky coal strip mine, is the world’s largest earthquake induced while mining solid minerals. More than 5000 aftershocks were registered and the spatial volumetric structure of the aftershock area was investigated. The Bachat coal field is located in the Salair zone of the Kuznetsk Depression and is represented by a brachysynclinal fold of a very complex structure characterized by the damage and fracturing behaviors of rocks. The main event is confined to the coal-mine pit wall, with the greatest density of aftershocks observed in its middle portion. In the cross section, aftershocks form a wide area with its deepened portion shifted towards the Kuznetsk Depression, while large faults bounding the depression dip down under the Salair Ridge. In the exposed pit wall, at a depth of 4 km, the activated area resembles a rhombus whose horizontal diagonal line runs across the entire length of the mine pit and decreases both in upward and downward directions. The area is seismically activated to a depth of 6 km, with more intense activation of rock mass observed within the 1–3 km depth interval. Results of the study of the mechanisms of aftershock sources revealed a disagreement between the stress state of rock mass of the Bachatsky open-pit coal mine modeled from the mechanisms of aftershocks, and the mainshock mechanism of the Bachat earthquake.

Погребальные сооружения развитого Средневековья в Томском Приобье (по материалам могильников)

The article discusses the burial structures on the sites in the Tomsk Ob area in the High Middle Ages. Materials from Astrakhantsevo, Bassandaika burial mounds and a burial ground by the mouth of Malaya Kirgizka are used as a basis.The study involves materials on the burial structures at the sites of Novosibirsk Ob area which constitute a part of the Basandaiskaya culture of the Kuznetsk Depression referring to the Basandai cultural community and also to the Forest Steppe Alta. Each area of burial structures, along with common features, has its own differences.The article aims to study the designs of burial structures in the Tomsk Ob area, to compare them with burial structures on the adjacent territories in order to identify similarities and differences in an important feature of the burial ritual in archaeological cultures of the indicated areas, which is significant for determining the ethnicity of Turkic-speaking nomad groups who came to the territory of Tomsk Ob area in the High Middle Ages.

Adaptive potential of breeding lines of spring barley in conditions of Kuznetsk Depression

Adaptive properties of spring barley in the conditions of the Kuznetsk depression have been studied. The objects of the research are five medium-ripening breeding lines of spring barley. The breeding lines were studied in a nursery of competitive varietal trials in 2016-2020. The soil of the experimental plot is leached chernozem, heavy loam with a medium granulometric composition. The repetition was fourfold, the seeding rate (optimal for spring barley in the cultivation zone) 450 pcs / m2. The sowing dates were April 29 - May 5, the harvesting was done with a Sampo 130 combine at the stage of full ripeness of spring barley samples (August 12-15). The experiment was carried out in comparison with the standard cultivar Biom. The parameters of environmental plasticity (bj), stability (S2dj), the environmental conditions index (Ij) were calculated according to the method developed by S.A. Eberchart and W.A. Russel, which examines the positive response of the genotype to the improved growing conditions. Under contrasting growing conditions of spring barley in the years of research, it was found that the environment factor had a significant influence on the yield - 82.6%, the share of genotype influence was 1.4%. The average yield over the years of the study of spring barley in the nursery of competitive variety trials was 5.51 t/ha, the maximum average yield has a breeding line KM-198/11 - 6.45 t/ha. Genotypes with the highest adaptive properties were identified: KM-198/11 (bi = 0.24, Si2 = 2.59), Nutans 12/16 (bi = 0.24, Si2 = 2.18) with yield variability of 25.9-29.2% (Biom standard - 46.1%). The medium-maturing selection line of spring barley KM-198/11, having above-average adaptive properties, is prepared for submission for state variety testing in 2021 as the variety Kuzbass Jubilee. The main advantages of the variety were revealed: high drought tolerance, resistance to lodging and blight, high productivity (6.45-8.50 t/ha), large grain size (53.2 g), medium reaction to stress factors (reduced productivity). Grain crude protein content was 13.6-14.1%, the film content 8.4%, the natural weight 620 g/l.

Rainfall patterns associated with runoff and erosion levels in West-Siberian Chernozems

The aim of the study was to identify 1) the main regularities of surface runoff formation due to downpours and 2) the extent of erosion process on arable chernozems in areas with dissected relief and sharply continental climate. The influence of rainfall patterns and soil physical factors on soil erosion was studied in three large geomorphological regions in the South-East of West Siberia. Field observations were carried out during 1968–1979 in the Kuznetsk Depression and in 1984–1986 in the Near-Ob areas, and from 1995 until present in the Near-Salair area. The data of meteorological stations were analyzed for rainfall patterns in the same years, including inter-year variability and downpour recordings. Summer precipitation and its intensity were measured by using hydrograph unit. Water infiltration in the field was studied by the method of small flooded areas (Nesterov’s method), when square or round frames with an area of 2500 (external) and 625 cm2 (internal) were installed on the soil surface. To simplify and automate water supply, the PVN-00 device was used, consisting of two hermetically sealed tanks, two cylindrical frames of different diameters and a tripod. The influence of rainfall patterns and soil physical factors on the processes of soil erosion was studied. As regards climatic factors the data of meteorological stations were analyzed for historical rainfall patterns, including interannual variability and downpour recordings. Experimental data of water infiltration, runoff and soil loss were discussed for the main soils units: Greyzemic Phaeozems (Siltic), Luvic Chernozems (Siltic) and Haplic Chernozems (Siltic) with variable content of soil organic matter and erosion levels. The studied regions were characterized by the prevalence of precipitation during the warm growing season and by sporadic or cyclical precipitation patterns. Heavy rains were found to cause significant damage to agricultural land only locally, during early spring, when the soil is not protected by vegetation. The greatest erosion hazard is represented by meltwater, not only by its total amount, but also by the snow thawing rate. The significant decrease in the infiltration rates with extensive farming is the main factor of degradation of the most fertile soils in West Siberia. Soil vulnerability to erosion in the studied area was shown to decrease in the range: Kuznetsk Depression > Near-Salair > Near-Ob (no storm damage).

БРОНЗОВЫЙ ЩИТОК ИЗ ПОГРЕБЕНИЯ СРЕДНЕВЕКОВОГО ЛУЧНИКА В КУЗНЕЦКОЙ КОТЛОВИНЕ

A number of works written by leading Siberian weapons experts are devoted to the classification of this piece of personal armour. Issues of weapons development played a significant role in the lives of the medieval people in the South of Western Siberia. One of the most frequently encountered categories of inventory in the burials of nomads includes ranged weapons: parts of bows, arrows, quivers. Yu.S. Khudyakova [1980, p. 118] and VV. Gorbunova [2006, p. 35-62]. However, bow sets are not limited to bows, arrows and quivers. There are also other parts of archery equipment known from the nomadic antiquities of the Volga region, such as archers’ rings and pavises [Rudenko, 2005, p. 27-35], items that have never been found in the South of Western Siberia until recently. During his exploration of burial ground 3 from mound 3 of Konevo, A.M. Ilyushin [2012, p. 37] found a bronze plate, which he believed belonged to plate armour. However, further study of the objects found in burial ground 3 of mound 3 of Konevo, raised doubts whether this attribution of the excavated bronze plate is justified. Acquaintance with the materials of burial 3 of mound 3 of the Konevo burial ground, raised doubts about such an attribution of the revealed bronze plate. Keywords: medieval nomads, archeology, bow, arrows, protective shield, pavise, gastagna, archer, Kuznetsk Depression

Стратиграфия поселения Писаная-4 в окрестностях Томской Писаницы

This article discusses some problems in relative chronology of archaeological assemblages discovered at multilayered sites at the border of the Lower Tom and Middle Tom River regions, in their stratigraphic context. The research was aimed at establishing natural stratigraphy of the Pisanaya-4 site at its different sections, conducting archaeological attribution of the series of artifacts, identifying chronological and stratigraphical features of archaeological assemblages, and evaluating the data obtained for periodization of archaeological finds from the Tom River region and Kuznetsk Depression. In total, evidence from seven sites located on the high floodplain and at the edge of the first terrace above the floodplain has been analyzed. The depth of the stratigraphic pits was 2 m. General stratification of soil mass in the floodplain zone depended on intensity and frequency of seasonal floods in the Holocene and pedogenic processes in alluvial material. A distinctive situation of multiple layers with artifacts of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic, Early and Advanced Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, and Middle Ages with pebble layers between archaeological and chronological horizons has been observed. The terrace has shown poor traces of periodic floods in the Holocene soils; alluvial deposits consisted of light brown clay loam. These sections contained some Neolithic-Chalcolithic artifacts dislocated to humus deposits and Late Paleolithic stone artifacts in the underlying clay loam alluvium. The data obtained reveals the stratigraphic nature of the Pisanaya-4 site which is new for this region and relatively rare for the entire forest-steppe belt of Western Siberia. The chronostratigraphic data on cultural and chronological assemblages of the Late Paleolithic, Early Neolithic, Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Advanced Bronze Age, and Early Middle Ages at the Pisanaya-4 site is an important component for periodization of archaeological finds in the landscape context of the sites in the Tom River region.

Methods of improving efficiency of soft spring wheat cultivation technology

The paper presents the results of research into the technology of soft spring wheat cultivation of the Siberian Alliance variety taking into account the formation of the production process. The experiment was carried out in 2015–2019 in the zone of the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression. The work was done in a long-term stationary experiment of grain-fallow crop rotation: fallow (bare, green-manured – rapeseed, melilot) – wheat – peas – barley (pure barley and intercropped with melilot). The following soil tillage systems were studied: deep moldboard (control), deep combined, minimum combined, minimum moldboard. The soil of the experimental plot was characterized as leached medium-textured, medium humus, heavy-loam chernozem. It was revealed that the influence of the preceding crop on the production process of soft spring wheat accounted for 80.4%, the effect of the soil cultivation system was 13.8%. The maximum yield in the experiment was obtained with minimum moldboard system of soil cultivation preceded by rapeseed green-manured fallow (3.34 t/ha) with the lowest cost of grain (4.6 thousand rubles/t) and high profit (30.3 thousand rubles/ha), control indicators being 3.26 t/ha, 9.2 thousand rubles/t and 15.2 thousand rubles/ha, respectively. The following positive effects on the formation of the production process were identified: soil moisture availability, microbiological activity, a decrease in phytosanitary tension, lack of soil compaction at a high content of agronomically valuable particles. Sowing rapeseed on green-manured fallow in the current crop rotation with the application of minimum moldboard tillage system is the most effective method of cultivating soft spring wheat of the Siberian Alliance variety in the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression.

Новые материалы погребений средневековой элиты в Урском археологическом микрорайоне

The article presents the results of excavations at the Biryul burial mound in the Ur Urban Archaeological Microdistrict on the territory of the Kuznetsk Depression. Excavation materials are considered as a single peculiar burial complex, requiring justification of dating and ethnocultural interpretation. The elements of the funeral rite and inventory have been described, classified and analyzed. Based on the typological classification of the finds, a comparative analysis has been carried out with materials from the funerary sites of the Kuznetsk Basin and adjacent territories. During the study, medieval sites have been identified that bear the greatest resemblance to the investigated burial complex: the mound-cemetery of Sapogovo-2 and the burial mounds of Sapogovo and Saratovka. By analogy to the inventory and the proximity of the burial sites, the Biryulya Kurgan group was dated to the 11th – 12th centuries and attributed to the Saratov archaeological culture at the third stage of its development in the Kuznetsk depression. It is noted that the investigated burial complex belongs to the elite category and has a high level of uniqueness with respect to synchronous and monocultural sites.

Пластинчатый доспех из курганного могильника Октябрьский

The article materials of an iron armor from excavation of barrow № 1 on the burial ground October in Kuznetsk Depression are investigated the XI–XII the centuries. The description and classification of armor-clad plates is provided. To the allocated types analogies in the syanbiyskikh sources of Northern China and materials of the end of Iare given – began II thousand in the south of Western Siberia. The conclusion that the armor consisting of rigid and mobile parts of a protective armor was put in a grave is drawn.

Исследования на комплексе археологических памятников Торопово-7А

The article materials of excavation on a medieval complex of archeological sites Toropovo-7A are considered. In a form and figuration of ceramic ware typological classification of new materials is carried out. Comparative analysis with medieval monuments of Kuznetsk Depression allowed to reveal analogies to finds in the wide chronological range of the developed and late Middle Ages. It allowed to create a hypothesis of use of the cult family platform in two time intervals the developed and late Middle Ages.

The Impact of Climatic Humidity of the Southeastern Part of Western Siberia on Spring Deficit of Moisture in the Profiles of Eroded Chernozems

Noneroded and eroded chernozems in the southeast of Western Siberia are characterized by the great moisture deficit at the beginning of the winter season. By the end of the cold period, water reserves in the snow are sufficient to compensate for this deficit. However, snowmelt saturates only the upper 50 cm of the soil profiles. After the snowmelt season, soil moisture storage in the layers of 50–100 and 100–150 cm is equal to the pre-winter storage; in some years, it is even lower. The impermeable ice layer in the soil prevents full absorption of the snowmelt. The analysis of 80-year-long data on winter precipitation in three major geomorphic areas of the southeast of Western Siberia (Novosibirsk Ob region, Cis-Salair region, and Kuznetsk Depression) made it possible to distinguish between four climatic cycles—low-snow (1938–1962), normal snow (1963–1988), high-snow (1988–2012), and the current very high-snow (since 2013)—in all these regions.

THE MAIN FACTORS INFLUENCING EFFICIENCY OF SPRING COMMON WHEAT AGROCENOSIS

The paper presents the results of research (2015– 2018) into the main factors affecting efficiency of agrocenosis of spring common wheat, cultivar Siberian Alliance, with various systems of soil tillage and renewable bio-resources in a grain-fallow rotation. The research was conducted in the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression in a threecourse grain-fallow crop rotation (fallow-wheatpeas-barley, barley intercropped with melilot) in a long-term stationary experiment. Various soil tillage systems were applied (deep moldboard, deep combined, minimum combined, minimum moldboard) preceded by bare fallow and green-manured fallow with rape and melilot. The soil of the experimental plot was leached chernozem. Crops of spring common wheat were sown with all types of soil tillage systems by the tillage and sowing machine Tom’5.1. It was revealed that the main factor influencing the yield of spring common wheat is water availability in the planting periods – full tillering, (r = 0.9579), beginning of earring – yellow ripeness, (r = 0.9611; R = 0.9500). A positive effect on wheat productivity was made by cellulosolytic activity and soil structure. The direct correlation between these factors and the crop yield was established, r = 0.6366 – 0.7298 and r = 0.6343 – 0.7103 respectively. A negative effect on the yield of wheat was made by the development of root decay (Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoem), (r = – 0.4808). It was established that alongside the above-mentioned fac tors, the significant effect on productivity of spring common wheat was made by the systems of soil tillage (72.4%,) and the predecessor (22.0 %). The optimum conditions in agrocenosis of spring common wheat for formation of its yield during the years of research proved to be created by green-manured fallow (with rape) with minimum moldboard and deep moldboard soil tillage (2.72 and 2.78 t/ha respectively), which is 0.55 and 0.51 t/ha higher compared to analogous soil tillage systems preceded by bare fallow – control. Minimum moldboard soil tillage has an economic advantage over others with profitability of 193.6% and production cost at 5,000 rubles per 1 ton of grain.

Hydrogeological conditions of potable water supply the Kuznetsk Coal Basin, Russia

The article deals with hydrogeological conditions of the groundwater resources in the western part of the Kuznetsk depression, a coal and ore mining region. On the basis of a scheme of hydrogeological boundary conditions, a numerical geologic filtration model is developed for calculation of groundwater resources in the study area. The hydrologic budget of the numerical model is evaluated for assessment of infiltration recharge of groundwater resources.

TECHNOLOGICAL GRAIN QUALITIES OF SPRING COMMON WHEAT DEPENDING ON THE SYSTEM OF SOIL TILLAGE

The work presents the results of the research into studying technological qualities of the grain of spring common wheat, variety Siberian Alliance, depending on the soil tillage system in grain-fallow crop rotation. The research was conducted in the northern forest-steppe of Kuznetsk Depression in the experimental plot established in 1974, in a fourcourse grain-fallow crop rotation (fallow – wheat – peas – pure barley and barley intercropped with melilot). Various soil tillage systems were applied: deep moldboard, deep combined, minimum combined, minimum moldboard. The study of grain quality took place on crops of spring common wheat by three preceding crops on bare fallow and greenmanured fallow with rape and melilot. The soil of the experimental plot was characterized as leached chernozem, medium-textured, medium humus, heavy-loam. The humus content in an arable layer was 8.2%. Crops of spring common wheat were sown with all types of soil tillage systems by the multifunction tillage and sowing machine Tom’5.1. Optimum conditions for obtaining grain of spring common wheat of high quality were formed on green-manured fallow with intercropping of melilot and rape by moldboard and minimum combined soil tillage. On average, the mass of 1000 grains amounted to 37.0-37.4 g, in 2017 – 41.0 g, natural weight – 725-751 g/l, hardness – 80-81%, content of crude gluten – 32-33%, mass fraction of protein – 15.2-15.3%. Positive correlations between indices of grain quality, r = 0,40700,6594 were established. According to the State Standard Specification P 52554-2006, cultivar of common spring wheat Siberian Alliance confirms its belonging to the strong wheat type by the quality indices obtained.

Современное состояние и экологические проблемы Обь-Иртышского бассейна

Results of the comprehensive water/resources and ecological researchers of the OB-Irtysh basin current state are given. Assessment of the many-year dynamics of the main indicators characterizing the Ob River ecological status has been made. The data are quoted on the basis of the analysis of materials of many-year hydrological, hydro/chemical, ecological and water/economic researchers of Russian Academy of Sciences Siberian Branch Institute of Water and Ecological Problems. The main problems of water supply and water use special for this basin have been revealed: non-uniformity of water resources distribution, hazardous hydrological phenomena (inundation, flooding, and channel processes), as well as water pollution (of human and natural origin). The situation is aggravated by the Ob-Irtysh basin transboundary status. The anthropogenic transformation of the region has been estimated: its index is the highest in the steppe and Southern forest/steppe areas of the Ob-Urtysh basin, while it is much lower in the Northern part of the basin; in mountain areas of Altay, Salair and Kuznetsk Alatau anthropogenic transformation is not high, and in the regions of Transuralia and Kuznetsk depression the territories of environmental problems have been identified. Non-synchronism of water content changes many-year trends for different parts of the basin has been revealed. Over the past decades volumes of water use and water disposal somewhat decreased in respect of the whole basin. Bearing in mind the level of groundwater and surface water resources availability, 15% of the total population of the Ob-Irtysh basin live in the conditions of extremely low and very low potential water supply. New data obtained as a result of comprehensive expedition water/ecological researches in 2016 with the use of research fleet are quoted.

EGOZOVO BURIED TREASURE

Egozovo buried treasure was one of the first buried treasures found in Kuznetsk Depression. The paper deals with the conditions of this cult complex, a detailed characteristic of findings and their modern historical and cultural interpretation. A possible attribution of these findings to the final stage of Upper Ob culture during its assimilation with Srostki culture is considered. The analysis of the complex allowed supposing that the findings are associated to a ritual. For the fist time, the partly missing collection is presented in its entirety.

Spatial distribution of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression

This article concerns the spatial distribution patterns of small-leaved forests in the Kuznetsk Depression, where these communities are the forest components of zonal vegetation. Two levels of spatial forest heterogeneity are described. Depending on mesorelief, forest communities are organized into topo-ecological series, which differ in sets of components and area covered by different elements. On a larger scale, depending on climatic features in different parts of the depression, the spatial pattern of communities and topo-ecological series reflect the zonal structures. In general, the spatial forest distribution is considered as follows: the central part of the depression is covered by Artemisio – Betuletum communities in combination with Calamagrostio – Betuletum forests; approaching the eastern border of the depression, they change to Trollio – Populetum and Campanulo – Betuletum combinations; the southern part is occupied by communities of Campanulo – Betuletum, together with Saussureo – Populetum forests; in the north-western part the only forest association is Primulo – Betuletum. Throughout the entire region, in places with bad drainage occur communities of Carici – Betuletum. Based on climatic parameters, forest-steppe and sub-taiga sub-belts can be distinguished. Forest-steppe in its turn can be divided into an original fragment of plain forest-steppe and typical forest-steppe. In the eastern part of the depression, a sub-taiga sub-belt developed but in the western part, it exists outside the depression.

Activity stages and tectonic division in the Kuznetsk Basin, Southern Siberia

The fault system reflected in the topography and structure of Cenozoic cover sediments in the Kuznetsk Basin is mostly recent. The positions of recent faults match those of Paleozoic and Mesozoic disjunctive dislocations only at the Kuznetsk Alatau and the Salair Range boundaries. These marginal features are associated with the greatest amplitudes of vertical movements in recent time: 80–100 m; less frequently, up to 250 m in the north and within 600 m in the south. The recent disjunctive dislocations are generally fractured zones from 300 to 2000 m in width, which were occupied by watercourses during the formation of the erosion valley system. Except for marginal recent tectonic bodies, vertical movements along the majority of recent faults do not exceed 5–10 m, reaching 30–70 m at the boundaries of recent tectonic regions and subregions. There is no reliable evidence of notable horizontal movements. For particular bodies, it is conjectured to be within 300–700 m by analogy with other regions of the Altai–Sayan folded area.The recent fault pattern can be interpreted as a result of crushing by submeridional compression with a slight right slip. The types of recent tectonic activity are different in different areas of the depression. The smallest uplift is recorded in the north of the basin, where the elevations of the Late Cretaceous peneplain are within 300 m, being within 230–250 m in the near-Salair subregion. This points to an insignificant downwarping in this area. Vertical movements along recent faults within the region are small, and the most intense movements are at its boundary. The central region is slightly elevated with reference to the northern one, and the elevation of its planation surface is within 300–380 m. It is characterized by differentiated movements along block boundaries with amplitudes reaching 60–70 m. The maximum activity occurred in the southern region. The elevations of its Late Cretaceous peneplain vary from 400 to 600 m. This region is characterized by notable vertical movements along block boundaries in the form of straight tectonic scarps and valleys. The northern and central regions constitute the present-day Kuznetsk intermontane depression, whereas the southern region belongs to the periphery of the mountainous framing of the Kuznetsk Depression.

Kuznetsk chernozem: Anthropospheric importance and threat of elimination

Based on generalization of the available results of the investigation into the traits and properties of chernozem in the Kuznetsk depression (Kuznetsk chernozem), we concluded that these soils are the “gold fund” of croplands of the Kuznetsk Basin. These soils have served as an irreplaceable basis for grain crop production in this most highly developed industrial region of West Siberia. However, in spite of the high anthropospheric significance, they are subject to increasing erosion-deflationary destruction, since even the simplest soil-protecting measures are not implemented when using these soils as croplands. In addition, they are uncontrollably assigned for open (quarrying) coal production, whose major coal resources are localized within the Kuznetsk depression, where chernozem, arable soil of the best quality, is the soil prevailing in soil cover. Compulsory tight control over the reasonability of its assignment for the coal-producing industry is needed to conserve Kuznetsk chernozem.