Geological structure and the development of the relief
Uzbekistan lies on two large tectonic structures: the Tien Shan orogen (the mountain part) and the Turan plate (the plain part). These structures formed in the Hercynian and Alpine mountain-building periods. In the Paleogene the area was covered for the last time by a shallow sea (no deeper than 200 m); in the Neogene new tectonic movements began, the sea withdrew, mountain ranges rose and the basins between them sank and filled with more than 1000 m of sediments. The movements continue today, so earthquakes occur: in places their strength can reach 8–9 points (the Tashkent earthquake of 1966 and the Gazli earthquakes of 1976 and 1984 are examples). Among minerals, oil and gas are found in the Fergana Valley (Chimion, Polvontosh and others), in the Kashkadarya and Bukhara regions (Shurtan, Mubarek) and on the Ustyurt; coal at Angren (brown) and Sharghun (hard coal); copper around Almalyk (Kalmakyr); gold in the Kyzylkum (Muruntau); phosphorite in the Central Kyzylkum; salt and potassium salts in branches of the Gissar; also marble and building materials.
“Deposit search”: choose different signs for gold, copper, gas, coal and marble on an outline map and place 8 deposits in their regions.