How does the geology of the eastern Ural slopes differ from that of the western slopes?

The geology of the Ural Mountains differs significantly between the western and eastern slopes due to their distinct structural compositions.12

• Western Slope: This side is characterized primarily by middle Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as limestone and sandstone, dating back approximately 350 million years. It is defined by extensive karst topography, featuring numerous caves, basins, and subterranean streams. The region also includes oil-bearing foreland basins and deposits of red sandstones and evaporites.123
• Eastern Slope: In contrast, the eastern slope features an alternation of volcanic layers and sedimentary strata. It contains the Tagil-Magnitogorsk Synclinorium, the largest such structure in the Urals. Rather than the karst formations found in the west, the eastern slope is marked by frequent granite outcrops and rocky outliers. In the Central and Southern regions, these slopes transition into broad, peneplained foothills, while in the north, the geology is largely obscured by the deposits of the West Siberian Plain.12