Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which kinds of rocks form the core of the Greater Caucasus?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Caucasus
Caucasus Mountains in Russia.
The core of the Greater Caucasus is composed of different rock types depending on the sector:
- Western Sector: The core consists of hard, crystalline, metamorphosed rocks, specifically schists and gneisses, along with granites that predate the Jurassic Period (older than 200 million years).12
- Eastern Sector: The core is formed of softer, clayey schists and sandstones that originated during the Early and Middle Jurassic (approximately 200 to 160 million years ago).12
The spurs of the mountain range are composed of younger limestones, sandstones, and marls.12