Stone raw materials of Paleolithic locations of Northern Aral Sea (by materials of location Aral-1)

Purpose: Predominance during the Pleistocene arid conditions in western Kazakhstan caused very limited sedimentation, with the result that the vast majority of Paleolithic sites in this region do not stratified cultural layer, and their uneven surface artifacts have the same occurrence. To prove the chronological division of stone materials in mixed complexes surface occurrence, with the absence of accompanying and overlying unconsolidated sediments, we use the degree of preservation surface artifacts (deflation), which depends on the duration of weathering factors. This prompted the investigation steadfast uneven stone artifacts occurring at the same level. Conducted petrographic analysis of products with the location of Paleolithic Aral-1 allowed us to establish how helpful the using of this criterion is. Results: Geologically, the Northern Aral Sea region and Mugodzhary belong to the southern end of the structure of the Ural Mountains. Geomorphologically, denudation plains northern Aral region relates to the southern lowlands Mugodzhar. Taking into account that the area of Priaralye on paleoclimatic conditions was influenced by aeolian denudation constant predominance of westerly winds, the manifestation of this factor on the artifacts should be directly proportional to the time of its impact. As expected, deflation is much evident on the northern Aral’s region stone artifacts, which are not shielded from westerly winds of Mugodzhar longitudinal ridge. It was found that deflation artifacts were subjected to both source cavernous weathered surfaces on which it appears matte and polished detrital grains of quartz, and of shear surfaces defining artifact. Of shear on the surface of the artifact at a low degree of deflation occurs a frosting chopped detrital quartz grain. As a result, the light shaking artifact deflated on the surface there is a common dim glow, darting across the surface spalling. In strengthening deflation occurs grinding of these grains and their loss of cement, which leads to the formation cavernous - dropped by individual detrital grains of quartz - surface. When severe deflation surface artifact becomes cavernous - in association with small traces of fallen grains and destruction cement walls separating them form larger pits, sides and bottom of which were polished. Thorough review of all the artifacts revealed that on the site Aral-1 very often on the same artifact manifested varying degrees of deflation, not only surfaces from different sides of the artifact, but sometimes within the same cleaved surface. Conclusion: Petrographic analysis results allow us to make a conclusion that; first, petrophysical differences between raw materials of the first and second type - a general view of the breed, its color, character and weathering chipping - defined grit rock, mineral form and structure of cement. However, both species are of high quality stone materials, and a preference for one or another of them depended on the predominantly of each once on the site. Secondly - the degree of deflation artifacts of quartz sandstones cannot be used for age stratification.