The Middle-Urals Ring Structure (MURS) is a circular structure located in the central Ural Mountains.[1][2] The structure has a diameter in the range of 400 to 550 km and formed in the Precambrian prior to the Uralian orogeny.[1][2]
The structure is reflected in the bend of Ural Mountains at 56° N and in a concentric-radial drainage pattern seen in the Belaya and Kama rivers and their tributaries.[2]
The Middle-Urals Ring Structure has been identified as a possible impact structure[1][2] and it has also been posited that the pre-existing ring structure disturbed the development of the Uralian orogeny causing the east-convex bend of the mountains.[2]
The eastern rim of the structure contains the main Ural ore fields of iron, copper, chromite, nickel, titanium, gold and platinum.[2] On the western half of the structure there are important oil fields.[2] In addition the Middle-Urals Ring Structure hosts world-class deposits of gemstones.[3]