Regional geology and tectonics: Principles of geologic analysis. Volume 1A / Региональная геология и тектоника: принципы геологического анализа. Том 1А

Regional geology forms an essential bridge between local and continental/global geology. Its purpose should be to simplify local surface and subsurface data to a scale that aids prediction and further illuminates the broader brush generalisations implicit in continent-wide and global syntheses.

Regional and supra-regional (e.g., continent-wide) geology thus connects global plate tectonics, global climate changes, global eustatic sea-level changes and underpinning studies in geoscience to the more pragmatic applications associated with the search and conservation of natural resources, that is, water, ore deposits and solid earth energy resources. For example, the steadily evolving seismic technology developed by both academia and the oil industry over the past 50 decades provides ever more detailed subsurface images. As a result, for selected areas there are now very detailed 3D seismic images available, but equally important are the available much longer and more widely spaced 2D profiles. Crustal scale seismic profiles, mostly acquired by academic institutions are even longer and typically have less detailed resolution, but have much deeper penetration as they are intended to map the base of the crust and parts of the upper mantle. Each of these and many other geophysical maps and profiles have their proper role. The same can be said for the large spectrum of geochemical/isotope studies. The purpose

and scope of regional geology is to judiciously reconcile insights obtained by studies and surveys of the various geoscience disciplines and to end up with a coherent, observation/data-based narrative that explains the geologic evolution of larger regions and is also tied to a narration of evolving, frequently changing global concepts, models and theories. <...>