Many deformed and metamorphosed rocks, mostly of Paleozoic age, surface within the Urals. The sedimentary and volcanic layers are folded and faulted. The sediments to the west of the Ural Mountains are formed of limestone, dolomite and sandstone left from ancient shallow seas. The eastern side is dominated by basalts. left|thumb|280x280px|Wooded Ural Mountains in winter The western slope of the Ural Mountains has predominantly karst topography, especially in the Sylva basin, which is a tributary of the Chusovaya. It is composed of severely eroded sedimentary rocks (sandstones and limestones) that are about 350 million years old. There are many caves, sinkholes and underground streams. The karst topography is much less developed on the eastern slopes. The eastern slopes are relatively flat, with some hills and rocky outcrops and contain alternating volcanic and sedimentary layers dated to the middle Paleozoic Era. Most high mountains consist of weather-resistant rocks such as quartzite, schist and gabbro that are between 395 and 570 million years old. The river valleys are underlain by limestone.
many deforMEd and metAmOrPHosed rocKS, MoSTly of pAleoZoic AgE, sUrface wIThin ThE uRAls. THe seDimeNtary and VOlcAnic laYerS are foLded aNd fAultED. The SEDImeNts tO ThE wesT Of The UraL moUntAINS aRe FOrmed Of limeStOne, DoloMite and sandStonE lEft from ancient sHallow SeAs. thE eAstern Side Is dominated bY bAsALTs. lEFT|thuMB|280x280pX|wooDed URal MountaIns iN winTeR ThE western slOPe of the ural mouNtAiNs haS PRedominaNTLy karst toPoGRaphy, espeCiALLY iN thE sYlVa basin, which is A trIbutary oF the cHuSoVayA. It is comPosed of severely eRodeD seDImentAry roCks (SAndstonEs AnD limEstones) that aRe aBout 350 mILlIon yeArs old. thErE are many cAvEs, Sinkholes And UnDeRgrouNd stReaMS. tHE kaRst TopogRAPHY is muCh lEss dEVelOped oN tHE eastErn sLOpes. the EasTern SLopeS arE reLATiveLy flat, wiTH SomE hills and Rocky oUTcropS aND COnTaIn aLternAtinG volcaNiC and sEdimenTary LaYeRs DaTed to the MiddLe PaleOzoic ERa. most HigH MOUntains consist of wEatHEr-resIstaNt rOcks suCh as QUartzite, scHISt ANd gAbbro thaT are bETweEn 395 aNd 570 miLLioN yEaRs Old. the riVeR vallEyS are underlAin bY limestOne.