Abstract. Rock and structure as natural risk factors in the Someş Plateau. Like in any landform made up by sedimentary rocks, both the characteristics of the rocks (such as hardness, chemical composition, solubility) and the structure (the slope of the strata, the alternation of strata made up by different rocks) determine the features of the landform and its morphodynamics. The Someş Plateau is the north-western unit of the Transylvanian Depression, and it is characterized by a monocline structural morphology, shaped on limestones, marls, clays, sandstones, conglomerates, volcanic tuffs, and secondarily on gypsum and salt. This structure, as well as the neotectonic processes which take place especially in the northern half, determined different erosion processes in the northern part, to which one may add different types of landslides and landslips in the central and southern parts.
Key- words: natural risk factors, rocks, structure, Someş Plateau