Vol. 46 No. 1 (227) (2012)

In the present paper in the territory of Armenia are distinguished the following basic tectonic units from the position of plate tectonics։ 1) the Armenian folded zone as northern segment of known Peri-Gondvanian Cimmerian continent, which had been detached from Gondwanaland in Permian-Triassic in the Neo-Tethys basin initiation and the North drift by the basin widening in Mesozoic time; 2) this moving was accompanied by Paleo-Tethys oceanic crust subduction under the Hercinian base of Tran Caucasian massif that led to formation of Virahayots-Artsakh (Somkhet-Artsakh) island arc construction in a course of Jurassic-Upper Cretaceous time; 3) at the collision of Cimmerian continent with Virahayots-Artsakh island arc construction of Eurasia South Margin the obduction of a shattered and melanged material of the oceanic crust (at Aptian-Upper Coniacian time) fell down to the both sides of the suture zone forming the Amasia-Sevan-Akera and Vedi ophiolite belts. As a result the territory of Armenia had been created since Upper Coniacian time. At the same time in the South the Neo-Tethyan basin starts to narrow owing to its oceanic crust northward subduction under the Iranian margin of the Cimmerian continent. It gave rise to the Urmia-Dokhtar magmatic arc a development on the southern active margin of Iran; 4) on relation to the Urmia-Dokhtar magmatic arc the territory of present Armenia became as back-arc position on distance of 300–350 km to the North of the arc. and since Lower-Middle Eocene back arc stretching and riftogene break out of the earth's crust has taken place installing the Sevan-Shirak rift and its en-echelon continuations of Vayots Dzor-Bargushat-Megri rift. They appeared to be link in the uniform Paleogene back arc en-echelon rift system of Black Sea–Adzhar-Trialet–Shirak–Megri–Talish–Southern Caspian Sea. The Orogenesis of Caucasus started since Oligocene time owing to collision of Arabia with Iran following to closure of the Zagros oceanic pool. This closure was reasoned by the Red Sea opening; 5) in a South-North compression circumstances between Arabia and Eurasia and Anatolia westward drift the latitude stretching forces were developed in Lesser Caucasus giving rise to near-meridian tearing breaks of crust, generating Upper-Pliocene Quaternary volcanic ranges, en-echelon connected with each-other by right lateral slide-slip faults forming the uniform system of Dzavakhet-Gegham-Artsakh volcanic ranges.

As a result of field researches in 2009, in the area of the Dzoraget River head inflows, the author discovered fields of gold and copper mineralizations of Dzoraget, Snkadzor and Arjidzor. The geological-structural positions of mineralization areas and mineralogical-geochemical features of ore bodies were carried out and their genetic questions have been discussed. Chemical analyses of ore bodies have shown positive results of gold – 0,01–3,1 g/t, silver – 0,1–12,2 g/t, copper – 0,023–2,36% and also platinum and palladium – 0,001–1,2 g/t.

In the article problems of establishment of correlation connections between hydrogeophysical and waterphysical characteristics of volcanic formations are examined. These connections are based on well-known analogue between geoelectrical and hydrodynamical parameters. The results of the studies are used for solving geo-ecological problems in connection with estimate of groundwater flows' charges and determination of permissible reductions during the exploitation of groundwaters in volcanic regions.

This paper is devoted to seismic stability of subsiding undercompacted soils. Using grain-size limit curves after Tsushida and the coefficient of compaction of white soils it was established that saturated white soils with loamy and sandy composition lose their stability under seismic effects and liquеfaction takes place. For seismic zoning it’s proposed to take into account liquifaction factor of white soils.

Based on digital elevation model of the Aghstev River basin, some morphometric parameters of the earth's surface (hypsometry, slope and aspect) were calculated for the first time. Spatial distribution patterns of morphometric variables at scale 1:200000 were described and mapped. Taking into account the fact that within flat areas of the river basin there is a certain relationship between the altitudes and slopes, an attempt was made to find relationship between those morphometric parameters in mountain conditions, too.

Several possibilities and aspects of the agro-tourism development have been considered a relatively new tourist's direction in Armenia's touristic industry. The most important prerequisites for the development of agro-tourism in Armenia are: high potential of natural resources, ancient historical and cultural heritage (many touristic sights of archaeological, religious, historical character), state programs of agro-tourism development, improvement of infrastructure and rich traditions of national cuisine. Analysis of these assumptions leads to the conclusion that the development of agro-tourism in our country is rather promising.