ASIA & MIDDLE EAST

In the vast Eurasian continent, Russia, the northernmost country, has permafrost rich in a vast variety of rocks and raw minerals, including diamonds. South of Russia, China features unique landscapes formed by tectonic movements, including karst topography composed of tuff limestone and marble. Additionally, the summit area of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak spanning Tibet and Nepal, is formed from limestone deposits of marine microorganisms. The presence of fossils such as Ordovician trilobites and crinoids indicates that this area was once under the sea. The Japanese archipelago separated from the continent 15 to 20 million years ago, resulting in a mosaic distribution of igneous and sedimentary rocks.