The dipnoan assemblage typical of the local zone Gnathorhiza triassica beresnikiensis (Ustmylian Regional Stage) is described for the first time from the Lower Triassic of Upper Volga River Basin in the vicinity of Ivanovo city. It includes Gnathorhiza triassica beresnikiensis, G. triassica baskunchakensis, G. lozovskii, G. otschevi, G. cf. bogdensis, G. novikovi sp. nov. and Ceratodus gracilis. The presence of rare ceratodontids in this complex dates their first appearance in the Eastern Europe as the end of Early Olenekian.

Authors developed a geoinformation(GIS) method considering the degree of disagreement between the key horizons of the different ages for the detection and evaluation of the subhorizontal geodynamic active zones at the platforms. The method is based on the analysis of the digital elevation models and the model of detection of the azimuthal and angular displacements zones. The allocation graphics of these zones indicate a heterogeneous structure of the key horizons, which is the reason for the development of subhorizontal geodynamic active zones. It is assumed, the greater the disagreement between the surfaces of the different age, the higher the probability of the development of the zones which might be dangerous by causing the activation of geological processes.

The paper considers geochemical features of the Bazhenov Formation in the context of its petroleum potential and formation conditions. The major processes that had an impact on lithomineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the rocks were revealed by applying the G. Kharman’s factor analysis method. Four to eight factors were found that contributed to the formation of the current form of “bazhenites”. The main factors are facies environment of deposition and content of organic carbon, biogenic carbonate, and silica in deposits. Important factors were also mechanical differentiation of detritus in the sedimentary basin and autogenous mineral formation. The paper discusses possible reasons and results of unfavorable geochemical conditions that influenced the sedimentary strata (periodic contamination of bottom water by hydrogen sulfide, increased concentration of iron, cuprum, zinc, cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals and radioactive elements in deposits).

Main type of coals metamorphism in Beringovsky basin is stated to be regional. According to the degree of carbonification coals of the basin change from long-flame to fat (the I-III stages of a metamorphism). A degree of a metamorphism of deposited coals increases with stratigraphic depth and with increase of the thicknesses of strata covering them. The most metamorphosed coals are dated to the places of the greatest deileciions, the least metamorphosed - to the consedementation raisings. The area of distribution of the coked coals in the deposit is specified. A degree of a metamorphism of the coals in the Beringovsky basin was studied mainly on the basis of the reflective ability of a vitrinit (RAV)

It was found that within the Priamurskaya prov-nce of Late Me-ozoic age the depos-ts and occurrences of gold-quartz are wide-pread, and goldsulphide-quartz, goldsilver and goldpolymetallic formations are less popular. They all are the main producers of gold ore and determine the metahogenic specialization of the province. Deposits and oc-urrences of goldsulfide and goldcopper-mo-bdenum porphyry formations are less common, as well as goldskarn ore, goldmercury, gold and raremetal and goldantimony formations. It is shown that in the central part of the province deposits and occurrences of goldquartz are predominant, and on the periphery - the goldsulfide-quartz and goldsilver formations. Prospects for growth of the resource base of gold ore depostts are associated mainly with goldsulphide-quartz, goldquartz and goldsilver, to a lesser extent - with goldpolymetallic formation.

Large-scale reserves of uranium in Au-U deposits of the Elkon ore district are composed of newly discovered polyphase uranium-titanium metagel (UTM). Before, it was assumed that brannerite is the major mineral of these ores. However, it has been revealed that brannerite and uranium oxides and silicates are minor components of mineralization. Succession of UTM phases selection, their relations with brannerite are characterized. Few groups of UTM has been revealed by composition of major and trace elements. The filter cake of acidic leaching of a technological sample with residual uranium concentration of 0,02 wt.% and grain size of -0.16 mm was investigated. As it was established, the major part of uranium is in the fine grained UTM phases submerged in quartz-feldspar matrix of the cake particles. Taking into account a small size of the uranium phases (first microns, rarely n-10 mkm), recrusing of the ore to smaller grades will unlikely lead to a noticeable uranium yield into final product.

The paper proposes the risk classification of the economic activity for the enterprises in the gold mining industry, which allows to perform the structured description of a set of the possible risks in this industry and group the risk factors of the gold mining enterprises functioning in conditions of the uncertainty of the internal and external environments. This classification may serve as a basis for the further risk identification and assessment. As the classification criteria of the risks related to the gold mining industry the authors have identified eight features: sources of the origin; extent of the development; types of the economic activity; extent of the damage; objectivity; duration of exposure; nature of the costs and nature of the damage. The paper substantiates the necessity of using not only the economical and statistical methods of the risk evaluation, but also heuristic and simulation methods for the proper characteristic of the gold production and economic processes. This would allow taking into account the uncertainty of the initial information, as well as the high dynamism of social and economic processes and the subjective nature of the decisions for the risks assessing and prediction.

The features of a system methodology in relation to disclosure of the tasks and functions of the national industrial policy are stated. It is shown that it is crucial that backbone elements shall be surely regulated in the content of this policy. The features of the industrial policy in the mineral and raw complex are characterized, at the same time the importance of integration of education, science, production as factor of the increase of innovation and diversification of the raw companies is emphasized.

A new conception of the environment saving assessment during the oil production is presented. The modern methods of the biodiversity saving and the efficiency of oil production increasing, which exist in Russia and abroad, are analyzed. The results of the analysis formed the basis of the designing the system of parameters that can be used to assess the environmental impact of the oil production at every its stage. The efficiency of the system is proved on the example of testing the real objects of the oil production during the geological prospecting.

The paper considers the main tasks of the state and perspectives of the development of the engineering geological education and increasing its quality, which were discussed at the round table «Competitiveness of the education. Geological education: problems and perspectives», carried out during the 13th International exhibition «Nedra 2016: Studying. Prospecting. Production». One of the actual problems is a lack of budget financing of the resource universities, which lowers the competitiveness of our specialists on the international labor market, which leads to the deformation of the educational system itself, which is for the preparation of the qualified professionals in mineral-source sector of economics.

The 175th anniversary of Vladimir Onuphrievich Kovalevsky, an outstanding Russian scientist, considered as a founder of evolutionary paleontology, is celebrated in 2017 year. Before the classical works of V.O. Kovalevsky, paleontology dealt predominantly with the description of the fossils. V.O. Kovalevsky raised the paleontology to the level of science about the historical evolution of the organisms. With the correspondence to his evolutionary-paleontological method, Kovalevsky describes the modification of the fossil ungulates and refers them to the modifying environment and transformation of the corresponded organs in phylogenies.

The work is devoted to the use and results of the main methods of engineering geophysics in the study of flooding on the territory of Imereti lowland (Sochi, Krasnodar region). The complex research includes the methods of engineering seismic works, electrical DC (direct current) and GPR (ground penetrating radar). Geophysical surveys allowed to specify the geological structure and hydrogeological conditions in the study area, as well as to define the basic physical parameters of soils. It was found that the geological section has a layered structure to a depth of about 100 m, for the each layer the geophysical parameters were found, including the velocity of longitudinal (300÷1950 m/s) and transverse waves (100÷250 m/s), as well as a range of values of the electrical resistance (50÷1000 Ohm · m), relative dielectrical permeability (20-60 units).