How did the Uralian Sea contribute to the formation of the Ural Mountains?

The Ural Mountains were formed as a direct result of the closure of the Uralian Sea, a process that occurred through eastward subduction. This tectonic activity involved the collision of island arcs and small continental blocks from the east with the east European continent.1

During this collision, a major thrust transported numerous slabs of the Uralian ocean floor—known as ophiolites—onto the continental margins. These ophiolitic slabs are now distributed along the mountain chain and are associated with the region's significant mineral wealth, including deposits of chromite, platinum, nickel, copper, and gold. The final compression and mountain-building phase took place during the Permian Period and the Early Triassic Epoch.12