ISSN 08695938, Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation, 2010, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 331–348. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2010. Original Russian Text © G.A. Danukalova, 2010, published in Stratigrafiya. Geologicheskaya Korrelyatsiya, 2010, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 107–124. 331 INTRODUCTION The Cisuralian region is characterized by ascend ing tectonic movements and strong erosion. The presentday morphostructure of the Urals was largely formed by Late Pliocene–Quaternary movements (Puchkov, 2002; Puchkov and Danukalova, 2004, 2006, 2009), which is evident from the recent veloci ties of the Uralian surface rising, determined by topo graphic studies (up to 5–7 mm/year). The intense river erosion, which is explained by permanent changes in the base level of the basins that existed dur ing the Quaternary in the region occupied by the presentday Caspian Sea (Verbitskaya, 1974), deter mined the fragmentary distribution of sediments, which hampers the correlation of stratigraphic units. The latter is particularly true of the Eopleistocene, and Lower and Middle Neopleistocene sediments in areas adjacent to the Uralian Mountains. The quaternary terrestrial sediments of the Cisura lian region were studied by many researchers: Vakhru shev (1938), Yushko and Nikiforova (1937), Gromov (1948), Preobrazhenskii (1941), Rozhdestvenskii (1971); Sidnev (1977, 1985, 1988, and others), Yakhi movich et al. (1981, 1987, 1988, and others), and others. The elaboration of the history of the Quaternary stratigraphic scale for the Cisuralian region, including areas of southern Cisuralia, has lasted almost half a century. Yakhimovich, who worked in this region dur ing 1958–1983, is the main author of this scale. She was the first to establish the main succession of Qua ternary sediments, defining several horizons and sub sequently developed, together with her colleagues, the Unified stratigraphic scale for the Cisuralia region, which was approved in 1983 (Resoluition …, 1986; Yakhimovich et al., 1987, 1988). Stratigraphic works in the European part of Russia required the develop ment of regional stratigraphic scales with their subse quent unification and elaboration of an integrated scale of the Quaternary units for this region (Shik, 2004). Transition to a unified interregional scale is possible after completion of regional scales. MATERIAL AND RESERACH METHODS The geological data gained during longterm field and laboratory studies of Quaternary sediments in extraglacial areas of the southern Cisuralian and Bash kortostan regions, carried out by scientists from the Institute of Geology (Ufa Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences) in 1984–2004 (Yakhimovich et al., 1987, 2000; Dankalova et al., 2002; and others), served as the basis for this work. These works were accompanied by the study of reference sections through the entire region. The analysis of the obtained materials made it possible to fill lacunae in the strati graphic scale: stratotype and parastratotype sections The Refined Quaternary Stratigraphic Scale of the Cisuralian Region and Main Events in the South Urals G. A. Danukalova Institute of Geology, Ufa Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Karla Marksa 16/2, Ufa, 450000 Russia email: danukalova@anrb.ru Received May 16, 2006; in final form, August 7, 2009 Abstract—The refined Quaternary stratigraphic scale of the Cisuralian and Bashkortostan regions, approved by the Commission on the Quaternary System of the Interdepartmental Stratigraphic Committee in 2007, includes the Eopleistocene (with three superhorizons and seven horizons), Neopleistocene (with three super horizons and 13 horizons), and Holocene (one horizon and three subhorizons). The first defined Holocene Agidel Horizon with three subhorizons, the Middle Neopleistocene Klimovka, and the Upper Neopleis tocene Kushnarenkovo Horizon are correlated with the Shuvalov, Gorka, and Mikulino horizons, respec tively. New names and reference sections are proposed for all the Eopleistocene units. Local formations are proposed for the horizons, whose stratotypes are located in the northern Cisuralian region. The Quaternary stratigraphic scale is correlated with similar scales of the Urals, the East European Platform, and the Lower Volga region. The scale takes into account all the available data derived from the analysis of original (sedi ments, faunal and floral remains), published, and archival materials, which make it possible to trace in detail the main Quaternary events that occurred in the Cisuralian region. Key words: Quaternary, stratigraphy, Cisuralian region. DOI: 10.1134/S0869593810030081